The Warriors have won over countless fans and pundits with their resurgent form in 2023, and the most high-profile figure to have been turned into a believer is rugby league great Andrew Johns.
Prior to the Warriors' convincing win in their NRL semi-final against his former club the Knights, NRL 'Immortal' Johns admitted he didn't think the Auckland-based side had enough talent to seriously threaten Brisbane Broncos in next weekend's preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
After witnessing the Warriors' seven-try blitzkrieg first-hand from the sidelines of a deafening Mt Smart on Saturday, Johns has drastically changed his tune.
"Leading in, I thought whoever won that game over there yesterday, Brisbane would hammer them, whether it was the Knights or the Warriors, but I think the Warriors are a chance," Johns said on Australian network Channel Nine's Sunday Footy Show.
"They have to be absolutely at their best, but I think they've got a team that can definitely win. I think the Warriors can beat them."
The two sides have met just once previously this season, when the Warriors' late comeback fell short in a 26-22 defeat in Napier back in round 13.
Three-time Dally M Medallist Johns gave extra credit to centre Rocco Berry for his outstanding play this season, as well as Berry's centre partner, Adam Pompey, for his surprise revelation as an ace goalkicker.
Fellow two-time premiership winner Billy Slater backs up Johns' claims. While he has the Broncos ranked as his premiership favourites, the Queensland coach singled out the Warriors' suffocating defence as one area that could trouble their relatively inexperienced line-up.
"Their line speed was incredible and it was so consistent," said Slater. "The Knights had no answers.
"Obviously the start for the Knights wasn't great and that put them behind the eight ball to start with, but their line speed was great.
"If they can rush the Broncos and just put a bit of frustration in their footy – the likes of Ezra Mam and Reece Walsh – they mightn't have felt that before.
"They've got a footy team that just works hard for each other and they're doing a lot right to be in the position they're in at the moment."
Brad Fittler – who led the Roosters to victory against the Warriors in their first Grand Final appearance in 2002 - has his money on Brisbane.
But the NSW State of Origin coach concedes, if the Warriors' vaunted back three of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, and Marcelo Montoya are able to fire and limit their errors, they'll cause plenty of problems for Brisbane.
"When they're sound I think they're so hard to beat because they're so athletic and they've got a good halfback," Fittler explained.
The winner will advance to face whoever emerges from the first preliminary final between the defending premiers Penrith Panthers and Melbourne Storm in Sydney.
The defending two-time champion Panthers are the bookies' favourites to win a third-straight title, closely followed by the Broncos, with the Warriors and Storm at significantly longer odds.
