The Warriors last season had a few flaws, but none were more glaringly obvious than the consistent no shows of their big boppers. We all know how the Warriors get lumped in to the biggest forward pack conversation, for no real reason besides it just being because they're the Warriors. It's kind of true as they are definitely pretty big lads, but the size of your forward pack isn't really that important and for evidence of that we just have to look at Jacob Lillyman.

The bull was an absolutely beast last season despite being smaller than Sam Rapira, Ben Matulino and Suaia Matagi. Lillyman was our best prop simply thanks to his effort, enthusiasm and determination which is what you would expect of a lad who is consistently on the brink of State of Origin footy.

While there's a few other key factors such as defence and Shaun Johnson controlling a game consistently that could result in a championship charge, the work of our props is perhaps the most important. Firstly, they have to be healthy which is much easier said than done as injuries are a huge part of any sport. However, that only leads me to look at the depth as well because it's a near certainty that one or two, or three of our top 4 props will suffer a few injuries.

You would have to imagine that Lillyman, Rapira, Matulino and Matagi will fill the prop spots in our best 17, even though Matulino on an edge was freakish last season. The Warriors simply need the same from Lillyman, but more from Rapira and Matagi especially who despite both being at different periods of their careers have to show that they are unquestionably NRL props. Rapira has had to battle injury while Matagi was largely absent last season after a huge debut season which meant that the Warriors always seemed to be missing some ruggedness. These four lads need to set the tone by getting up of their line quickly and dominating the contact on defence, while simply making metres on attack.

Maybe the big boppers enjoy the break that their outside backs offer them a bit too much as the likes of Konrad Hurrell, Manu Vatuvei (praise), Ngani Laumape etc all get involved on the first few hit ups of a set. This allows the props to ease up for the first three tackles, but there was rarely much punch to finish off the set. Shouldn't it embarrass you as a prop that the outside backs bring the ruckus more than you?

To add a bit of spice, many NRL teams are blurring the lines which seperate the different positions within the forward pack. The key being the lock position being used as an extra prop, or everything just being 'middle' forwards and 'edge' forwards. This helps out with the depth aspect of ensuring the Warriors are a dominant forward pack as guys like Sione Lousi, Sebastine Ikahihifo, Albert Vete, Agnatius Paasi, Nathaniel Peteru, Sam Lisone and Charlie Gubb can offer plenty of cover.

It's important to note that non of the guys named above have consistently impressed at NRL level. That might be a bit harsh on a guy like Lousi who I like, but the Warriors need him to really go to another gear and be a monster through the middle, which he can do. Ikahihifo played plenty of NRL footy last season and he gives you effort and enthusiasm but we don't really know if he's a prop, lock or simply a middle forward. Hopefully the likes of Vete, Paasi, Peteru, Lisone and Gubb can step up a level to put pressure on the starters because I think comfort has a lot to do with the rather sedate nature of our big boppers.

All that leads me to the fork in the road which I think 2015 will be. The 2015 NRL season will be the last chance, regardless of contracts and what not for the current big boppers. It has to be. For far too long the Warriors haven't had the forward pack that lays a solid foundation, can ruffle feathers and charge down the field as well as execute all the little skills that are creeping in to the core roles of the modern prop. Personally, I reckon the back line is sussed, we've got two fantastic edge back rowers in Simon Mannering and Ryan Hoffman, all we need is an awesome group of big boys to do the dirty work.

2015 is the fork in the road for a variety of reasons. As lovely as it seems, you can't keep injury prone players on your books. Nor can the Warriors spend another season paying players X amount but getting performances worthy of much less than X, that's not smart business.

More importantly and on a more positive note, we have some solid depth in the big boppers and the time has come for them to try their hand at the NRL. Will Vete, Lisone and Gubb just continue to battle away in NSW Cup or will they knock the door down for NRL selection? The Warriors need them to do the latter and keep the starters honest, or else the cycle of comfort will continue.