Sports Call - Wellington Phoenix and New Zealand Breakers shared the same hurried charter flight out of New Zealand in November but only one side will return.
Covid-19, long-term injuries, players on international duty, overseas players released mid-contract and slumps in form are some of the shared struggles in the ongoing - and disrupted - 2021/22 A-League and NBL seasons.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Decisions made by the New Zealand government also form a backdrop to the men's second stint stationed in Australia.
Five months after the players touched down in Sydney, the footballers are in the playoff race and a few weeks away from playing two games in front of their fans in Wellington and Auckland.
Whereas the Breakers are odds-on to pick up the wooden spoon and will not be back in New Zealand before the end of the season.
For two clubs that started the journey in the same place this season, the end point will be very different.
The A-League and NBL are different competitions. The Phoenix found ways to win and the Breakers found ways to lose.
On 24 March, a full-strength Breakers side lost to the Brisbane Bullets by one point in overtime. In a barely believable set of circumstances, the Breakers were ahead by two points with five seconds remaining. An Australian player in Breakers' colours made a bad pass which cost the struggling side a win.
In contrast, two days later the Phoenix, who were missing their head coach to Covid-19 isolation protocols and several key players to injury, were level with the Perth Glory when time added on started. Seven minutes into the eight allocated minutes an Australian player in Phoenix colours finished a good play and snuck an unlikely win.
Those are just two of the latest examples. There are plenty more.
The Wellington Phoenix players celebrate with the flag after winning the Round 16 FFA Cup match against Avondale FC. Photo: AAP / www.photosport.nz
In the season so far, the Phoenix have achieved new highs, including a club record unbeaten run and making the semi-finals of the FFA Cup for the first time.
The Breakers have set records too, including the franchise record for consecutive losses to begin a season.
March has been a month of records for the Breakers. They were part of the highest scoring game of the season a 104-102 loss to the Perth Wildcats, as well as the lowest scoring game of the season a 66-62 loss to new side the Tasmania JackJumpers.
Another unwanted record is for the lowest attendance at a game that was open to the public. Just 1477 tickets were sold for the Breakers game in Hobart against the JackJumpers in January.
Mody Maor, assistant coach of the New Zealand Breakers speaks to Jeremiah Martin - the import the club let go in February. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The Phoenix spoke often of the desire to return to New Zealand and what it would take for it to happen this season.
Last week, the stars aligned.
Coach Ufuk Talay and general manager David Dome were clear home games were desirable but the conditions needed to be right. The club only had so much control over where they played.
The club could play further home games in New Zealand if they make the top-six playoffs.
Wellington Phoenix fans show their support in Wellington. Photo: Photosport
The Breakers resolutely ruled out a homecoming. A club spokesman said "opening the borders makes no difference". The discussion was shut down quickly.
The Breakers will play out their season with 'home' games in several stadiums in different states and outposts in Australia.
The MC skills of the club's general manager, Simon Edwards, who has a history of donning the mascot costume, will be called on to hype up the non-existent crowd in closed stadiums instead.
Breakers fans in New Zealand won't watch their team live this season. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Both clubs have packed schedules for the remainder of their seasons as the competitions try to catch-up on postponed games.
The Phoenix will play seven games in April - including five in 15 days from a game against Melbourne City on 2 April and the Central Coast Mariners homecoming in Wellington on 16 April.
The A-League regular season ends in May.
The Breakers have four rounds remaining in the NBL, including three games in six days in the next round starting on 7 April which includes fixtures in Perth and Bendigo - places separated by travel time of at least six hours.
The Phoenix and Breakers won't share a flight home to New Zealand at season's end. They also won't share the same levels of fanfare from those who have had to watch the majority of the season from afar.
-RNZ
