New Zealand Warriors - 2007

The Warriors were unmistakable overachievers in 2007, though a straight-sets NRL finals exit took some of the gloss off a great year.

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In the wake of the salary cap fiasco that cruelled their 2006 season, starting the year on level pegging with their NRL rivals was a welcome relief for the Warriors as 2007 loomed. The Warriors were overdue for success after three years out of the finals picture, but the club had a vacuum of experience to contend with following the off-season departures of stalwarts Awen Guttenbeil, Clinton Toopi, Brent Webb and Sione Faumuina.

That left Lance Hohaia, Wairangi Koopu and returning club great Logan Swann as the only survivors of the 2002 grand final line-up. But Wade McKinnon shaped as an ideal fullback replacement for Super League-bound Webb, while another pair of Aussies – half Michael Witt and winger Michael Crockett – were judicious additions depth-wise.