The countdown to the Warriors' homecoming is officially on with tickets to their July clash with the Tigers at Mount Smart on sale from Wednesday.
The club admit it will take "years to recover'' what they've lost while they've been stranded in Australia. But owner Mark Robinson has reinforced his commitment to rebuilding the club, and its culture.
For the first time in a long time, the Warriors' top brass were back at Mt Smart Stadium on Tuesday.
Robinson hasn't even seen his team play at home since he took sole ownership of the club - but it hasn't dimmed his passion for success
"Until we win a grand final - or two or three of them - I'm not giving up," Robinson said.
While the Warriors will return to New Zealand, Robinson revealed he's now permanently based on the Gold Coast.
That prompted comparisons to former owner Eric Watson - accused of being "asleep at the wheel" during his time in charge, a comparison Robinson refutes absolutely.
"I'm not like Eric Watson," he added. "Eric Watson treats people like s***, or not very nicely. That's not how Autex and my crew work. We work as a family."
Robinson and the club leadership are determined to make sure that happens when the team returns home.
"We needed to create a connection back to New Zealand," captain Tohu Harris said. "Back to what the New Zealand and Māori culture is, so each player knows what they're playing for."
"We have to now rebuild this club when we come home," chief executive Cameron George added.
"We've invested more into junior pathways and development systems in the past two years than this club has even done in its history."
While resolute in their commitment to the future, the Warriors are aware of how tough the recent past has been too, and they're promising a special homecoming in July.
"The hardest thing has been for the fans in New Zealand who have missed out on a journey," Robinson said.
"If you're buying a ticket tomorrow from the general public, you're coming to an event that will be an event for a lifetime," added George.
A match that promises to be worth the wait, for long-suffering fans.
