Warriors fullback Taine Tuaupiki reflected on a missed opportunity following a 26-16 qualifying final defeat to the Dolphins at Mt Smart Stadium, which saw his team eliminated from the chance for a home preliminary final.
Despite the disappointment, Tuaupiki remains focused on moving forward, expressing determination to "work the arses off" for the upcoming elimination match against Newcastle on Sunday.
The 27-year-old capped off an impressive performance by scoring all of the Warriors' points through a spectacular try and six successful conversions, including five penalties.
His solo effort included tallies of 227 meters gained, two line breaks, and nine tackle busts, echoing the skills of Warriors greats like Stacey Jones and Shaun Johnson.
While the atmosphere was electric with 26,131 fans in attendance, the loss stung as they were leading 16-8 with only 20 minutes to play.
Tuaupiki noted the physical toll of the game, mentioning injuries to teammates Leka Halasima and Jackson Ford that affected their performance and preparation.
Despite feeling battered, he expressed a calm resolve to not dwell on what could have been, saying, "In the scheme of life, it's small, but I guess right now at present it is big."
Tuaupiki acknowledged areas for personal improvement as well, stating, "There's still plenty of things I needed to do well," demonstrating his desire to enhance his contribution to the team.
He concluded by emphasizing the Warriors' resilience, suggesting that despite their struggles, they still have an opportunity for a successful finals run ahead.