Warriors

Tuivasa-Sheck, who joined the club from the Roosters in 2016, will remain at Mount Smart Stadium until the end of the 2022 season.

Warriors chief executive Cameron George said the 24-year-old "embodies all the qualities we want to see in our players".

"As one of the game's most exceptional athletes, Roger understandably attracted lots of interest, so we couldn't be more delighted to have him onboard for another four years," he said.

A home side missing several of their most-experienced players scored four tries to three on Saturday against the Storm, comprising personnel from reserve grade and feeder clubs.

Without their premiership-winning first-grade players - who beat Leeds 38-4 on Friday night in the World Club Challenge - Melbourne still put up a decent performance.

They opened the scoring with an exceptional team try finished by Sunshine Coast Falcons winger Matt Sopa-Lowler.

Saturday's matchup between the Celtics and the Warriors was the perfect cliched atmosphere. It felt like a playoff game, the two best guards in the league were battling back and forth in a potential NBA Finals showdown.

But there was nothing cliched about Curry and Irving's performances at Oracle Arena.

Two-time MVP Curry dominated the second half, but did so getting to the line just two times before the final minutes of the game, finishing with 49 points, five assists and four rebounds.

The message is simple - work hard.

Players have started on an even keel competing to impress at the upcoming trials ahead of game one of the season against South Sydney Rabbitohs in March.

"There was a gap we needed to close in certain areas, hence why we made a decision on the back end of the year to bring someone to the club like Alex (Corvo)." says Kearney.

"It's pretty demanding but that's because that's what the game asks for and the boys have really responded."

The other finalists Simon Mannering, a record five-time winner, and halfback Shaun Johnson.

While he wasn't able to lead the Warriors to their first finals appearance in six years - the club finished 13th - Tuivasa-Sheck appeared in all but one of their 24 matches.

The other backs to receive the award previously are Manu Vatuvei in 2010 Francis Meli (2003), Stacey Jones (1997) and Tea Ropati (1995).

Mannering won the People's Choice Award after a season in which he went past Jones' club record of 261 appearances.

Staring down the barrel of an eighth consecutive defeat, which would equal the club's record losing run, the Warriors are languishing in 13th position with two games remaining. 

‌‌But centre Blake Ayshford told NRL.com there was no chance his side would lack motivation come kick-off at Mount Smart Stadium.

"We have got the fans, it's our last home game, we are looking to build for next year, there's players playing for contracts and then obviously Benny Matulino, who has played over 200 games for this club, he will play his last home game," Ayshford said.

While it's understood that the news that Watson could relinquish control of the Warriors has sparked interest in other prospective buyers, Davys says he's pressing ahead with his interest in the club and he's not being swayed by who the other potential owners might be.

"That's for Eric to decide, I'm focussed on what I'm doing to be fair," Davys said.

On Thursday, Warriors great Monty Betham launched a campaign for Warriors fans to buy the club.

Despite being well beaten in a 36-16 defeat to the Canberra Raiders last Sunday, the Warriors powered through the middle of the park, averaging 49 metres on every set in Round 23.

Their total haul of 1814 metres was beaten only by the St George Illawarra Dragons last week, with Jacob Lillyman, Ben Matulino and Simon Mannering all running for over 100 metres individually.

For rookie big man Isaiah Papali'i, it has been heartening to get the job done without the presence of injured frontline props James Gavet and Albert Vete, as well as veteran back-rower Bodene Thompson.

It was perhaps the worst performance of the season against the club that looks set to pick up the NRL's wooden spoon for the third straight year, but the players are left with no choice but to dust themselves off and move on to Sunday's game against the Raiders.

That result ended any hope of the Warriors finishing in the top eight and they've got to get through four meaningless games before the season ends.

Mannering, who has played 276 games for the club, admitted it wasn't easy to get over the Knights defeat. 

"To be honest, it was hard," Mannering said. 

Fox Sports handed out that unwanted accolade to Stephen Kearney's side on the back of their latest loss to NRL cellar-dwellars the Newcastle Knights.

Fox produced a scathing assessment of the Kiwi franchise.

"Forget Newcastle and forget the Wests Tigers. They might be anchoring the NRL table but they're not the biggest disappointment in rugby league this year. That honour goes to the New Zealand Warriors," their story began before they flung a stiff-arm at the Mt Smart outfit.