The potential for the New Zealand Warriors to win the premiership this year would be one of the greatest stories in NRL history - and the tough times of the COVID era have played a major role in their resurgence.
After being tipped for the wooden spoon by many experts and fans - including right here in our own backyard - rookie coach Andrew Webster has turned the struggling organisation around in incredible fashion.
The comparison between the Warriors from a statistical standpoint over the past 12 months is simply remarkable, with their defensive efforts and improved attack pushing them towards a top-four berth.
And with the potential for a home final in Auckland, this could be the year the Warriors make it back to an NRL decider for the first time in over a decade.
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Speaking on Six Tackles With Gus, former club consultant and current Bulldogs boss Phil Gould was full of praise for the fifth-placed Warriors and believes the hard times they faced a number of years ago have helped build them into a much tighter unit, both on and off the field.
"Given where they were back in 2020 with COVID and borrowing players off other clubs and relocating and living at Tamworth, Central Coast and Redcliffe... it was a very testing time for the club," he said.
"I remember Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith going into the dressing room after a game, they just beat them by 50 or 60, and saying ‘We really appreciate what you’re doing, heads up, it will turn’.
"Thankfully I got to spend a little bit of time with them, just doing some consultancy back around that time, and I got a very close insight into what they were going through.
"I also got to see the culture of the club, the passion of the owners and CEO… and their views for the future and their holistic views for rugby league in New Zealand. I knew it was a club that was going to be going places.
"The COVID period was a very difficult time for them, but it’s going to give them strength going forward.
"Getting back home to New Zealand and player being with families and having some home ground support… those tough times have really steeled them. I think the club has really learnt from it and done well."
Shaun Johnson, Andrew Webster tipped for Dally M honours
Along with the team's performance as a whole, the renewed confidence of experienced playmaker Shaun Johnson has been another tremendous story for the NRL.
The 32-year-old has been one of the form players of the competition and has been pushed into Dally M Medal contention, with other contenders such as Nathan Cleary and Payne Haas missing time through injury.
Gould claimed the performances from Johnson have taken the side to the next level, but believes the widespread resurgence from the Warriors can't be placed on one man's shoulders.
“The X-factor has been Shaun Johnson, he’s really tied it all together and brought everyone else together," he said.
"I talked about those two forward leaders last week, Tohu Harris and Addin Fonua-Blake, but there’s a host of really good players there. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak is very experienced; Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Dylan Walker, resurrecting his career in a different position.
"It’s a wonderful team – this is not individuals, everyone is doing their job and playing really well and they’re playing a brand of football that is very hard to beat.
"Their defence is strong, it’s not what we’ve expected or seen from the Warriors in previous eras. It’s a controlled game, it’s measured, it’s very structured and it’s pretty resilient."
As for Webster, who came in as a relatively-unknown entity despite finding success at Penrith, and the surprise nature of the Warriors' season has placed him at the top of the league's best.
"I think he’s the coach of the year, I think he’s been phenomenal," Gould said.
Can the Warriors win the NRL premiership?
With a beautiful run into the finals and the potential for a qualifying final at Go Media Stadium, there's plenty to like about the Warriors chances in September.
After their Round 21 clash with the Raiders, the side will have a bye and then play five teams that sit outside the top-eight, including wooden spoon contenders the Tigers and Dragons.
New Zealand Warriors run home
- Round 21 vs Raiders [H]
- Round 22 - BYE
- Round 23 vs Titans [A]
- Round 24 vs Tigers [A]
- Round 25 vs Sea Eagles [H]
- Round 26 vs Dragons [H]
- Round 27 vs Dolphins [A]
Gould however believes the likes of the Warriors may struggle to topple the defending champions on grand final day.
"Eventually [they can win it], probably not this year... they can, but there’s a lot to play out – injuries, suspensions, anything can happen between now and the end of the year," he said.
"On face value, everyone at full-strength and playing at their best, Panthers win the comp. The dangers to those at the moment I think are the Cowboys, even though they’ve got to make a long run to get there.
"At the moment, no one is going to match the Panthers at that time of year and in that type of football. It comes back to Warriors, Rabbitohs and Cowboys as the likely challengers."
