On Sunday, NZ Warriors will chase their fourth straight win to keep their NRL top-eight chances alive.
After losing three senior players for the season and seven straight defeats, even coach Nathan Brown said their season was all but over - but a former Warriors star believes that's just what they needed to turn things around.
The Auckland side face Brisbane Broncos on Sunday evening, with a win to solidify their hopes of reaching the NRL playoffs.
"I think it's something you've got to tap into," says winger Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. "Me, for example, it gives me something a bit extra, knowing we're a chance of making the finals."
But after another rocky year and their season all but done after seven straight defeats, where did it all go right?
Former star Adam Blair believes it's a change in mentality.
"It's a mindset," Blair says. "It's once all the distractions are gone, that all they can do is focus on playing footy for each other."
Those distractions include losing captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and having their first home game in two years cancelled.
Even the most diehard fans were left dejected, but Blair believes it may have been just what they needed.
"It's been a blessing in disguise," he adds. "I feel it's an opportunity now those guys are there, they can't expect someone like Roger to be there to do the work that he does."
Gritty, if unflattering wins over teams in a similar position on the ladder, give them a mathematical chance, but what's more important, is the way they're playing.
"The games that they're playing haven't been the best games or flashest style of football, but they've managed to come over the top and win games," adds Blair.
"We did have a few bad games on the trot," says prop Addin Fonua-Blake. "But now we're coming good and if we can push [into] the top eight, we can definitely give teams a run for their money."
Hardly anyone would have bet that money the Warriors would still be in the mix at all.
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