Reaching the NRL finals with Melbourne is one thing.
Doing it with the Warriors is something else altogether. Just ask key off-season signings Adam Blair, Tohu Harris and Blake Green.
All three have enjoyed finals runs with Melbourne, tallying six grand final appearances between them and two premierships – to Blair in 2009 and Harris last year.
It’s the sort of success which is the expectation at the perennial powerhouses from Victoria.
Not so in Auckland. The Warriors still lack any silverware and are entering the finals for the first time in seven seasons when they face Penrith on Saturday.
For tough forward Blair, it’s a totally different sensation to his three finals campaigns with Melbourne a decade ago and three more with Brisbane from 2015-17.
“I’m quite nervous to be honest,” the 288-game veteran said.
“Maybe that’s a good thing. I’ve played in a few and this one feels a little bit different for some reason. I think it’s that bit of excitement.”
Blair’s advice to the numerous teammates who are finals rookies has been to keep things simple and enjoy the theatre of the occasion.
Harris agreed the finals felt “different” while Green said there was every reason for the less experienced players to take self-belief into their quest for four straight wins in September.
Although they finished ranked eighth, they were only one win short of matching the record of the competition’s leading teams, such is the log-jammed nature of the top eight.
Five-eighth Green said having a collection of players not versed in play-off football could also be a bonus.
“There’s pros and cons I guess. The boys who haven’t been there don’t know what’s coming,” he said.
“But hopefully a lot of energy and enthusiasm takes them a long way.
“I’m really proud of what we’ve done this year, we’ve played some really good footy at times. We’ve earned everything we’ve got.”
The Warriors were delivered further reason for positivity late in the week, with captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (ankle) and retiring 300-game forward Simon Mannering (sternum) both cleared to start.
With Green (calf) also back, it will be the first time they’ve fielded a full-strength team for nearly three months.