Almost 150 days after they departed, NZ Warriors will finally return to Auckland to begin their 14-day quarantine on Monday night.
After finishing the season on a high with a 40-28 win over Manly Sea Eagles on Sunday, attention now turns to next season and what might await the men from Mt Smart.
"I've seen some of our boys become men and some of our men become real leaders," says coach Todd Payten.
The Warriors finished in 10th place, just four points outside a playoff spot.
But now the focus turns to what next, with plans to be based either at Mt Smart or Australia again in 2021.
"There are no surprises this coming year, where in the past, we've been shooting from the hip," Warriors chief executive Cam George tells Newshub.
Incoming coach Nathan Brown is eager to spend time with an NZ-based training group during the off-season, while the rest remain in Australia.
If the team is based across the Tasman again, they'll then reunite in Tamworth in the new year.
"If the borders are open, it's back home here," says George. "If the borders remain shut before Christmas, that's what we'll execute."
The newly retired Adam Blair won't be part of the playing group, but will stay at the club in a non-playing capacity.
"He brings a lot to the club in terms of his welfare support for players, young players," says George. "He's got so many attributes."
After Sunday's big win over Manly, the veteran forward was sent off with a rousing haka from his teammates.
"I never went out to be the best player on the field, just to be a player that people loved playing with and hated playing against," Blair reflects.
They're also traits that the 2020 Warriors, as a whole, should be remembered for.
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