Marcelo Montoya (C) of the Warriors celebrates a try against the Redcliffe Dolphins. Photo: Photosport
In the space of 12 months the Warriors have bounced back from their worst National Rugby League season on record, to one of their best.
Last season the club finished in 15th place with only six wins.
This season they are among the top four sides in the competition and have a growing fan base pushing them to perform in a finals series which starts with a game against the Penrith Panthers in Sydney on Saturday night.
In 2018 the Warriors were beaten by the Panthers in the first round of the play-offs.
Five years later the opponent is the same - but the Auckland-based club now have two chances to keep their season alive.
If the Warriors beat the Panthers, who are the minor premiers, they'll head straight into a home preliminary final in a fortnight.
If they lose they'll host a knockout finals match next weekend.
Hooker Wayde Egan knows not everyone expected the Warriors to be in this position.
"Before the year had started, I think we were voted for the (wooden) spoon by a couple of the reporters and stuff," he said.
"We don't look for outside noise, we sort of focus on what we can control from the inside."
Coach Andrew Webster always believed his players were capable of making the post-season.
"Finals isn't the same as every club game but what you practise that week is," Webster said.
"The mentality around finals football is, you've got to put the ball in the corners and you've got to make sure you're not first to break.
"The intensity's going to be harder. The boys know that and they're going to be prepared for that."
The Warriors haven't beaten the Panthers since 2019 and face a big challenge against the defending champions.
Tohu Harris of the Warriors after his 100th game. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Captain Tohu Harris is one of four current Warriors who were part of the 2018 team who lost in the first round of the finals.
He's aware of what they'll face in Penrith this time around.
"We've got a big night ahead of us and it starts up front," Harris said.
"Their outside backs are dangerous, they're good ball runners. They've got a strong forward pack as well so our group in the middle, we've got a big job to do."
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary is looking to mastermind a victory against his old club, having played and coached for the Warriors, leading them to the Grand Final in 2011.
He's full of praise for Webster, who was his assistant coach at the Panthers for a couple of seasons before he crossed the Tasman.
However Webster does have some inside knowledge of the Panthers' process that he'll call on.
"In big games, they always like to throw something that you have seen at you," he said.
"And we just back our principles and our awareness around that. Something will come, but what it is we don't know. We'll have to be on our toes for it.
"Not one team in the world is perfect, in any sport. Whilst they're very good, we've identified some things that we think that we can have a crack at."
Kickoff is at 6.05pm (NZT) at Penrith's BlueBet Stadium in western Sydney.
- RNZ
