As the NZ Warriors bandwagon hurtles towards the NRL playoffs, Auckland's Coco King has become the unexpected posterchild for a season that has defied all expectations.
Last week, Coco surprised the nation, when she declared her support for the Auckland-based rugby league team on the AM Show.
"Have you enjoyed the Football World Cup?" quizzed weather guy William Waiirua. "Who's your favourite team?"
Coco blurted: "Up the Wahs!"
Her response had Warriors coach Andrew Webster in fits of laughter.
"Love it," he said, after "I just love where their focus is at….on the Wahs, so that's good.
"That's awesome. I'm disappointed in the three before who didn't get the right answer.
"One dad is very proud and three other dads are very disappointed."
Coco and dad Tommy King have visited the AM Show, with Coco giving host Ryan Bridge a lesson in Warriors enthusiasm.
"Was that good?" asked Ryan.
"No," Coco shook her head. "Be more energetic.
"UP THE WAHS!"
Tommy King sat on the couch beside her, beaming with pride.
"It was pretty surprising," he admitted. "It caught us a little bit offguard as a whanau.
"It was nice to see how confident she was to express who she is."
Coco admits she's a "huge, huge, huge, huge" Warriors fan and would rather watch them play league than play for her football team.
"They're always so confident," she said. "It's the main sport we watch in our house, so I know more about it."
Turns out Tommy King has been a Warriors fan since before Coco was even born.
"It's been really nice to not only have them back in New Zealand after so long, being a day-one fan riding the highs and lows," he said. "I think if you're a fan and watch how they express themselves, and the coach talk about where they're going, it's been really nice to watch how much success they've had.
"Hopefully they go all the way this year."
The Kings will be in the crowd at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart for Friday's soldout clash against St George Dragons, when a win would see the Warriors lock down a top-four spot and a home playoff game.
Join Newshub at 8pm Friday for live updates of the Warriors v Dragons NRL clash
