Mike Hosking: The Warriors homecoming was glorious

What a difference a home ground makes, eh?
The Warriors 300th win.
They hadn’t held a side tryless for yonks.
The crowd was there; that alone says a lot about the warriors and the fans.
To be in the position they are, to be having the season they are, to be on the table where they are and still get a full house says a lot about loyalty and consistency.
It really was quite the afternoon.
They also broke a 7 game losing streak.
It seemed the tonic they needed.
Back home with family, extended family at the park and a half decent game to boot.
Johnson couldn’t miss in kicking despite the fact he doesn’t kick much anymore.
The rest of his kicking was spot on, in many respects he personified what a home coming meant to the team.
He played like you wanted him to play all season. He looked at peace.
It’s a reminder, and we are all guilty of forgetting just how long it is they have been away, and what sort of extraordinary toll it must have taken.
We were all on board at the start, all full of sympathy; it was a major talking point until it wasn’t.
And that is human nature.
We sympathise until we get a bit bored with it, it’s a cold hard reality, but those who live it bare and battle on and we really only focus again when it’s right in front of your eyes as it was yesterday.
Crowds matter, home grounds matter, if elite sport is mainly in the head, what better ingredient than peace and familiarity and so it was with the Warriors.
The Tigers are about the same place on the table, so it’s not like we beat the Panthers.
But the NRL is a brilliant comp because it’s so even.
We played well, we looked good.
We did things consistently we hadn’t done in ages, lots of people contributed and lots of enjoyment was to be had in the victory.
It did a lot of things, not least of which was adding another 2 points to a meagre tally.
It, as far as the season goes, had an “if only” kind of feel about it.
But we will take it. It shows the side is actually pretty good and that a lot more is possible.
It ain’t over ‘til it’s over.
I wish this was our year, I wish every day was like yesterday.
I hope next week is like yesterday, but what we saw was plenty enough to keep the faith.

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