Warriors into finals

The Warriors have bumped the Newcastle Knights out of the top-eight to make the finals for the second year in succession following an emphatic 28-6 victory over the Eels at a wet Parramatta Stadium on Saturday night.

The Warriors needed either a win or a draw in this match to leapfrog the Knights into the eight and the result was never in doubt as the New Zealand side powered its way to a 14-6 half-time lead then went on with the job in the second-stanza, posting a further three unanswered tries.

The Ivan Cleary-coached side move into seventh position on the ladder, but will drop to eighth spot if the Raiders defeat the wooden-spoon bound Bulldogs in Canberra on Sunday.

Had the Eels shocked the rugby league world by defeating the Warriors by a margin of 55 points or more they would have snuck into the finals, but last season's preliminary finalists could now finish as low as 11th spot on the ladder following back-to-back losses to finish the year.

Enigmatic Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei starred with a hat-trick of tries as did full-back Lance Hohaia, who proved an adequate replacement for the suspended Wade McKinnon.

The Warriors struck early when Vatuvei batted back a Nathan Fien corner kick then was on hand to receive the final pass from Fien to barge over down the left edge.

Five-eighth Michael Witt's stunning sideline conversion put the Warriors out to a 6-0 lead after just four minutes.

The Eels were unluckily pinged for an accidental offside right in front of their own posts in the 12th minute, allowing the Warriors to skip a further two points ahead courtesy of Witt's right boot.

Parramatta sprung to life on the half hour when a superb Feleti Mateo face-ball 75m out set the wheels in motion for winger Luke Burt to sprint up the left touchline and kick in-field for half-back Kris Keating to score a breathtaking try under the sticks.

Burt converted from under the posts to see the home side trail 6-8.

When Vatuvei used his ample bulk to crash over in the left corner for his second try of the evening in the 36th minute, the Warriors jumped out to their eventual 14-6 half-time advantage following Witt's second sideline conversion.

Vatuvei made it a hat-trick in the 49th minute when he finished off a slick Warriors' backline movement to score in the corner, pushing his side out to an 18-6 lead.

Centre Brent Tate crossed the chalk in the 60th and 76th minutes to cap off a convincing 22-point win for the visitors.

Warriors 28
Tries: Vatuvei 3, Tate 2
Conversions: Witt 3
Penalty goals: Witt

Parramatta Eels 6
Tries: K. Keating
Conversions: Burt

Sportal's NRL Player of the Year:
3 - Manu Vatuvei (Warriors)
2 - Steve Price (Warriors)
1 - Lance Hohaia (Warriors)