The injury-hit Warriors face a daunting away assignment against Canterbury on Saturday night, but the Kiwi outfit only needs to look back to 2003 – and one of the greatest finals performances of all time – for some Sydney inspiration at the Bulldogs’ expense.
Regrouping from the previous season’s salary cap scandal, the Bulldogs laid down their premiership credentials in 2003 with a third-place finish – at one stage racking up 40-plus points in six straight games during the run home.
The Warriors, who were virtually handed the 2002 minor premiership courtesy of the penalty doled out by the NRL to the Bulldogs for rorting the cap, came home with a wet sail to land sixth.
Any notion of a week one finals mismatch at the Sydney Showgrounds was rapidly dispelled as powerhouse Warriors winger Francis Meli muscled his way through for two tries inside the first 12 minutes.
The Steve Folkes-coached Bulldogs found themselves 16-4 down at halftime but rallied to level the scores just eight minutes into the second stanza, with Hazem El Masri and Mark O’Meley dotting down.
The heavyweights’ revival was halted by one of the most incredible, irresistible attacking blitzes in playoffs history.
The Warriors piled on five tries in the space of 15 minutes as the freakish skill, instincts and adventurousness of fullback Brent Webb, enigmatic lock Sione Faumuina, dazzling centre Clinton Toopi and livewire bench utility Motu Tony left the Bulldogs’ shellshocked.
Faumuina, in particular, left the hosts’ defence in disarray. After laying on Meli’s third try and Webb’s second with sensational offloads, the gifted game-breaker blazed away for a 70-metre solo try to put the result beyond doubt at 42-16 with 15 minutes left.
But Meli gobbled up the headlines when he finished off the scoring in the dying minutes for a 48-22 final scoreline – completing an all-time finals record five-try haul.
Plaudits flowed for the Warriors’ willingness to release the shackles and let flair and natural ability do the talking…even if their carefree attitude to attack occasionally raised the blood pressure of their coach.
“I still get heart palpitations every now and then,” Warriors mentor Daniel Anderson said.
“Sometimes I sit in the box a bit amazed at the skill. They back themselves … so I can’t complain.
“I might whinge every now and then, but I can’t complain.”
The Bulldogs could only acknowledge they were comprehensively outplayed and look ahead to a second life a week later.
“We’re going to have a good look in the mirror and use it as a good wake-up call,” front-row enforcer O’Meley vowed.
The Bulldogs bounced back with a 30-0 semi-final shutout of Melbourne, but their campaign wrapped up via a 28-18 preliminary final defeat to bitter rivals Sydney Roosters.
Stacey Jones piloted the Warriors to a gripping 17-16 victory over Canberra a week later with a later field goal, before their memorable post-season charge ended in a gallant 28-20 loss at the hands of eventual premier Penrith.
The Warriors’ nine-try rampage has only been matched or bettered once in an NRL finals match since that stunning performance 22 years ago.
