Two grand final appearances in eleven years is not the worst record in the National Rugby League.
But for the New Zealand Warriors, it always has been a case of one step forward and three steps back.
The year was 2011 and the Warriors rollercoaster ride to the decider at ANZ Stadium had New Zealanders across both islands jumping for joy.
Granted, the mighty All Blacks are the pride of the land over there, but this NRL franchise had the entire country behind them.
Casual fans headed out to buy merchandise in their droves and record numbers tuned in on televisions for the final match of the season.
The Warriors were soundly beaten by the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, but the groundwork had been laid for a golden era of rugby league to follow.
Young stars like Shaun Johnson, Kevin Locke and Ben Matulino had fans beaming.
Then reality hit.
2012 came around and the Warriors went into remission once again.
Those casual fans grabbed the remote and changed the channel back to the Super Rugby and folded their Warriors flags and caps back into the bottom draw.
Last weekend was the perfect time to get their season back on track. A trip to Wellington and a clash with the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in front of over 30,000 fans at Westpac Stadium.
They shot out of the blocks and looked destined for a famous victory.
And then it happened again.
The Warriors fell away like they always seem to do.
“I think it’s pretty much the same as the last few weeks. It’s obviously something in preparation that we need to tidy up,” coach Matthew Elliott said after the loss to Canterbury.
“It’s not as though we’re not addressing it. We’ve just got to do a better job of it that’s for sure.
“I thought our effort to hang in there and get ourselves back in the game again was really positive. We just didn’t play positive footy… it’s too hard to be stuck in your end for 40 minutes and try and hold on.”
After appearing in the 2002 grand final the Warriors missed three of the following four finals series.
Prodigies like Ali Lauitiiti and Clinton Toopi quickly faded into rugby league history.
Almost like clockwork, the Auckland-based club self imploded last season, finishing 14th despite showing so much promise the year before.
Is this just a young side trying to find their feet? Is it time these players were held accountable? Or will this group of youngsters fade like prodigies past?
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