Statistically speaking it could turn out that way if we don't beat the teams outside of the top 8 in the closing games.People go on about an excellent effort etc ,but truth is this is a terrible year and likely to be one of the worst years in Warriors history.
However, taken in isolation that game on Sunday when we had no bench by halftime and both our starting props had to play the full 80 minutes was monumental, especially so in a season where even teams at the top are losing by 40+ at times with the rule changes.
The worst season in the 26 year history has to be 2000 where the club was completely broke and within a whisker of losing its license. That's the least optimistic time I've ever felt supporting this club and if someone told me we'd be in the grand final two years later I would have thought they were dreaming.
At least as of now we know we have a passionate owner who knows a lot about Rugby League and business - the right ingredient for success. We have the most talked about rising Australian superstar in the comp in Walsh. We have the best Warriors junior backline prospect in years in Berry. We have the most exciting second row forward in years in Katoa. We have the best prop in the game in Fonua-Blake and the nucleus of a very well balanced side emerging from the work of the best recruitment manager in the game in POS where other clubs are footing much of the cap meaning we have options ahead.
This year has been a very weird season - the game on Sunday was probably the closest thing to a home crowd atmosphere we've had for two years. I like our 'home' ground and how we get to use it, but a few hundred fans in a total crowd of 3-4 thousand at Gosford depending on which Sydney team is playing still doesn't really cut it. Also the rule changes and the way they have been officiated have been bizarre to the extreme. Not really the on field refs fault but the instructions they have to follow at times have been farcical. Ultimately this season should be taken collectively as one big experiment and an extended trial for 2022 where we should at least have some more certainty by kick off. and a pre-season when the entire squad is together. We've never experienced a season so bonkers since the Super League era.