And then there were four. The NZ Warriors continued their awesome form in plucking the pitiful Sydney Roosters into oblivion with a 30-13 thrashing at Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, while the Melbourne Storm put on one of the most dramatic Houdini acts to beat the Brisbane Broncos up 16-14 at Suncorp Stadium in the dying seconds.

It sets up a mouth-watering preliminary finals where the Storm will attempt back-to-back premierships if they can overcome the Cronulla Sharks this Friday at the Sydney Football Stadium and be the first team to advance to the Grand Final.

Around 24 hours later, the Warriors' fairytale could be prolonged if they can maintain their devastating form and demolish their next opponents Manly Sea Eagles, who would now be waiting nervously, no doubt.

The Broncos’ heartbreaking loss means the NZ Warriors are the only club with both First Grade and Toyota Cup teams involved in this weekend’s semi-finals. Momentum and experience can go a long way towards achieving the ultimate goal and this is precisely what the Warriors don’t lack.

This on top of the team pact of sending out an icon who is admired and well-respected - the inspirational Ruben Wiki.

At the ripe old age of 35, the veteran Wiki does not know when to give up and is still playing with youthful exuberance which certainly rubs off on the team. The impact is obvious considering that there has been a fraternity between his team-mates to grow beards in honour of their workhorse, such is the mana Wiki possesses not just from a club perspective, but the entire rugby league community.

Despite his poor judiciary record based only on careless/reckless tackles, he just plays the game hard and fair. No other player can boast the same character and he is still going strong in his 16th year at the highest level.

On a sour note, why the Warriors forever seem to be getting the harsh calls is wearing a bit thin. The penalty try awarded to fullback Anthony Minichiello was a close call but it was always going to go against the New Zealanders. Time and time again, week after week, year after year almost every try they score is required to go ‘upstairs’ for confirmation, clarification, verification, ratification, heaven knows what else those ding-dongs get up to in that box, whereby the referee could’ve just simplify matters by making a decision on the spot.

Fair enough, not all are straightforward ones but when I say “most” go to seek the video ref’s approval, I could count on one hand those the referees do adjudicate on.

I have been watching rugby league long enough to endure such nonsense and this is where many of the Warriors’ supporters have suffered for far too long - because of ongoing inconsistent and biased calls. You only need to go back a few years to when a popular newspaper revealed that during half-time in the referees’ changing rooms, unnamed officials were caught on their microphones laughing and mockingly deriding a team playing that day, in what was surely a pre-conceived attitude to humiliate them. The team I’m referring to? Who else but the NZ Warriors. Quite frankly, enough is enough.

During Grand Final week 2002, when the Warriors were to play the Roosters, the papers also illustrated their participation with a picture of a sheep, daily, instead of the Warrior logo that represents the actual team (who had a few Aussies, too).

How much longer do Kiwis really need to put up with this Aussie hatred towards them? Sure, they can easily say, “You gotta have a sense of humour” and that it’s only friendly banter. B******s … it’s merely a cover-up to disguise the hidden truth of what they really do envy and despise accordingly, for no apparent reason. They say they hate the Poms, but heck, they hate the Kiwis just as much. Please.

Look, being a passionate supporter of this fantastic team I only wish that the Warriors are given a fair deal. Just let my team play footy because they are proud to be a part of the toughest league competition in the world.

There was a time when turmoil almost ruined the club to the point of extinction. Back then, I personally thought they were better off forming their own domestic competition in New Zealand and saving the ignominy of being a laughing stock for all the wrong reasons.

However, fortunately for the ARL/NRL, they bounced back with a fresh start and began to make their mark from 2000 onwards, when Daniel Anderson began his coaching reign and developed what was then the most skilful, entertaining and exciting squad. It culminated in their first finals appearance a year later, before dominating in 2002/03, leading to an ominous warning that they were becoming a genuine force.

They produced a razzle-dazzle style of football reminiscent of the glory days of the Harlem Globetrotters, with magical passes, smooth offloads and ferocious defence.

Plenty would witness one of the best attacking units at their peak, giant Ali Lauiti’iti and brilliant centre Clinton Toopi combining with evasive winger Frances Meli in pulverising the left-hand side with embarrassing ease. They were complemented by the likes of dynamic halfback Stacey Jones and the deft all-round skills of Sione Faumuina.

The flamboyant Henry Fa’afili even became a cult figure as ‘The Entertainer’ with his post-try celebrations, not to mention the brutal impact up front led by hitman Richard Villasanti, tough nut Kevin Campion, wrecking ball Jerry Seu Seu and the powerful Iafeta Palea’esina.

The left-hand combination has once again dominated the latest proceedings with Simon Mannering and Jerome Ropati linking up with powerhouse Manu Vatuvei to create havoc which will be vitally important this weekend.

Renowned hitman Steve Matai will be roaming with anticipation in marking these guys. But when the smoke clears, I believe the extra incentive of the emotion being generated to make Wiki’s dream a memorable year should be enough to take my team to their second Grand Final.

Not only that, but if they can beat Melbourne, surely they can beat anybody! Warriors by 12.