While the mainstream media jokers swing rumours about 2018 recruitment gains and losses around, don't expect us to deviate from worrying about the here and now. The Warriors might sign Leivaha Pulu, they've definitely signed Tohu Harris who returns to Melbourne's team this week (so Warriors fans should have a geeze at most Storm games this year), they might bid farewell to Tuimoala Lolohea and Manu Vatuvei and Albert Vete and well, any other player Stephen Kearney doesn't view as fitting into what he wants.

They will bid farewell to Kieran Foran.

With all sorts of change sweeping through Mt Smart and to continue to do so (along with the rest of the NRL), all we can do as fans is enjoy the solid but improving Warriors team that we have in 2017. Plain and simple; our Warriors are kinda good at defence!

That will be tested this weekend against Penrith Panthers, over in the wild west of Sydney. Simon Mannering will apparently miss a few games and the typical view point to take after hearing that news is to wonder how the Warriors are going to continue their defensive development. That's kinda superficial though as it ignores Mannering's attacking prowess that I've highlighted numerous times and then it implies that the defensive improvements this Warriors team has made, depend greatly on Mannering.

Mannering does do a lot of defensive work, although most players who play 80 minutes in the middle of the park are going to average 40 tackles a game. When you're also averaging 8m with each run, throwing passes into the bread-basket to your left and right, while also leading minor details like kick-chase and decoy-runs, then you're Simon Mannering.

I suspect we'll see Ligi Sao start at lock with Bunty Afoa coming on to the bench. As is the case in the modern NRL, we need to view these guys as middle forwards, not props/lock and the Warriors have enough depth in middle forwards to cover Mannering. This will also mean that a guy like Sam Lisone could be given more minutes and more ball-playing responsibility as he's shown that he loves a cheeky no-look pass.

With Lisone, we don't really know if he's going to execute a pass perfectly or create an error. He's shown that he can do both and that inconsistency is stink, however without Mannering, Lisone is now given a chance to level-up. Just as the middle forwards are now graced with a chance to collectively level-up in terms of busting their gut to cover the inside, slowing the ruck down and getting a third man into tackles - as Mannering would.

No individual will 'replace' Mannering, but a collective effort can and as Kearney's impact on the defence is already evident, I'm confident that he can whip the middle forwards into a defensive frenzy.

Should the Warriors control this game against Penrith, the need for that defensive frenzy decreases. Penrith haven't shown any ability to limit opposition points and this is an interesting match up of a team who have a defence that is trending downwards and another team who have a defence that is trending upwards. In theory, Penrith should struggle to slow down the power of the Warriors, especially with Solomone Kata returning and Manu Vatuvei possibly set to make his return as well.

Even if Vatuvei doesn't play, Ken Maumalo isn't far off Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in metres this season.

Many will view this as a crucial game for the Warriors because Mannering isn't playing and they want to see how the Warriors perform without their talisman. I reckon this is a crucial game because if we see the Warriors roll through their footy blueprint, they'll be too quick, too powerful and too skillful for Penrith's leaky defence.

I can't see Penrith stopping any of the Warriors spine, let alone when that spine combines for a set-play. That's what we can hang our hats on with this Warriors team and we should see it live, in full effect against Penrith; so you're gonna try stop Issac Luke out of dummy half, well then try to stop Tuivasa-Sheck around the ruck or out wide where he's one-on-one, after Shaun Johnson or Kieran Foran has engaged a few defenders. This spine commands defensive attention as individuals and I don't think Penrith can hang with that, let alone when they combine their powers.

Usually with the Warriors, I'd highlight the need for big performances from the forwards but we simply can't restrict that to the forwards. Tuivasa-Sheck is responsible for 200m every game, Maumalo earns 150m a game, then you've got Kata and David Fusitua who at least get a quick play-the-ball, ideally 10m.

Integrating the footwork and speed of the outside backs with the pure grunt of the forwards means that the Warriors could be very difficult to stop. James Gavet and Jacob Lillyman have delivered the goods so far this season; ponder what it's like to try tackle a nimble Fusitua and then tackle Lillyman who is a completely different body-shape.

And then deal with Luke scootin' with his speed.

All these minor details combine to form the blueprint of Warriors footy. That blueprint isn't automatic and when playing against quality opposition, they can take aspects of that blueprint away. Penrith aren't exactly tough, rough or gritty and if the Warriors can dictate terms via a high completion rate (over 80%) then we should see the Warriors roll through that blueprint and score a few points.

Must I remind y'all every time?