Finally… the Warriors will be playing finals football again.
It’s been six long years of suffering for the club's faithful but finally they can celebrate, after beating the Penrith Panthers 36-16 on Friday to confirm their spot in the 2018 NRL playoffs.
That's a long time between drinks for the Warriors. So long, in fact, some may have forgotten how previous visits to the knockout rounds have fared.
Let us take you for a trip down memory lane to reflect on the other seven times the Warriors played in the playoffs.
2001 - Baby steps
Position: Eighth (Won 12, lost 12, drew two)
The Warriors snuck into the finals for the first time in their seventh season, with four wins and a draw in their last seven games. Sadly, it was over fairly quickly, as the Eels claimed a record 56-12 win in the opening round.
2002 - Grand Final I
Position: First (Won 17, lost seven)
The Warriors won the minor premiership, after the Bulldogs lost 37 competition points late in the season for severe salary cap breaches. They beat the Raiders 26-20 to claim their first-ever finals win in the first playoff game held outside of Australia.
" [Jerome] Ropati, a fend on [Israel] Folau, a pass to [Manu] Vatuvei, he goes inside and away from [Cooper] Cronk, he gets away from Jeremy Smith, he gets the ball to Michael Witt,” said commentator Ray Warren.
"Michael Witt is going to score. What's he doing? Put it down, put the ball down, son." The Warriors came away 18-15 winners, with a home game against the Roosters next. They trailed 13-6 at the break, but scored 24 unanswered second-half points to win 30-13.
2003 - Short of the mark
Position: Sixth (Won 15, lost nine)
The Warriors went on another finals run, which included a romp over the Bulldogs, where Francis Meli scored five tries in a 48-22 win.
The following week, they scraped past the Raiders 17-16, with a Stacey Jones field goal in the dying moments. But their run was halted when the Penrith Panthers ended the dreams of back-to-back final appearances with a 28-20 win.
2007 - Return to the playoffs
Position: Fourth (Won 13, lost 10, drew one)
After three years out of the finals, the Warriors were back with a favourable draw and a fourth-placed finish. They failed to take advantage though, as the Eels waltzed into Auckland and left with a 12-10 win.
That meant the Warriors had to make the daunting trip to North Queensland, where they were destroyed 49-12 by the rampant Cowboys.
2008 - The miracle run
Position: Eighth (Won 13, lost 11)
Only victory over the Cowboys in their final game secured the eighth and final playoff spot for Warriors. In total, they spent just three weeks in the top eight all season.
They faced a trip to the Melbourne Storm in their opening playoff game and it seemed very unlikely they would win. With minutes left on the clock and 80 metres from the try-line, commentator Peter Sterling didn’t think the Warriors would win - but the impossible happened.
"[Jerome] Ropati, a fend on [Israel] Folau, a pass to [Manu] Vatuvei, he goes inside and away from [Cooper] Cronk, he gets away from Jeremy Smith, he gets the ball to Michael Witt," said commentator Ray Warren.
"Michael Witt is going to score. What's he doing? Put it down, put the ball down, son."
The Warriors came away 18-15 winners, with a home game against the Roosters next. They trailed 13-6 at the break, but scored 24 unanswered second-half points to win 30-13.
Next up were the Manly Sea Eagles, but the Warriors' magical run ended with a 32-6 defeat in Sydney.
2010 - Another early exit
Position: Fifth (Won 14, lost 10)
After winning four of their last five games, the Warriors finished fifth on the ladder and earned a trip to the Gold Coast. The Titans beat the Warriors for the third time in the season, 28-16.
There was hope they'd still get a second life, with only the two lowest-ranked losers eliminated, but the Roosters (sixth) and Raiders (seventh) upset their higher-ranked opponents, so the season ended abruptly.
2011 - Grand Final II
Position: Sixth (Won 14, lost 10)
Things started poorly for the Warriors, when the Broncos destroyed them 40-10 in the opening playoffs round.
Luckily, other results went in favour of the Auckland-based franchise and they progressed to the second round, where the heavily favoured Tigers were waiting.
Wests had won nine straight and led by 12 points twice in the game, but some late heroics from Krisnan Inu, who scored the match-winning try in extraordinary circumstances, meant the Warriors had a date with the Storm.
The Warriors dominated 20-12 to seal their spot in the Grand Final against the Sea Eagles, who won their second title in four years, 24–10.
The 2011 season is considered the Warriors' greatest, with the club's junior and reserve sides also reaching their respective finals.
2018 - The Unknown
Curren position: Seventh (Won 14, lost 10)
As it stands, the Warriors could still finish in the top four, although that is unlikely. If they finish fifth or sixth, they will host a finals match, but if they come seventh or eighth, they will have to travel to Australia.
They are tied on 30 competition points along with the Dragons, Sharks and Panthers, while the Broncos could join them if they beat the Roosters on Saturday night.
If the finals were to start today, they would be travelling to Penrith to face the Panthers.
Overall record: Played 17, won eight, lost nine
2001: Lost to Eels 56-12
2002: Beat Raiders, 26-20, bye, beat Sharks 16-10, lost to Roosters 30-8 (F)
2003: Beat Bulldogs 48-22, beat Raiders 17-16, lost to Panthers 28-20
2007: Lost to Eels 12-10, lost to Cowboys 49-12
2008: Beat Storm 18-15, beat Roosters 30-13, lost to Sea Eagles 32-6
2010: Lost to Titans 28-16
2011: Lost to Broncos 40–10, beat Tigers 22-20, beat Storm 20-12, lost to Sea Eagles 24-10 (F)
2018: ???
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