NZ Warriors fans will have to wait until at least 2025 for it to be the club's year.
The Warriors were officially knocked out of NRL Finals contention when the St George Illawarra Dragons defeated the Gold Coast Titans 32-16 in Round 24 on Sunday at Wollongong's WIN Stadium.
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That left the Warriors seven points out of the top-eight with three rounds remaining (two matches and a bye) and a maximum of six points available.
"Obviously you want to play for finals and once that's over, you want to play for each other, your club and your fans," Warriors head coach Andrew Webster said.
It is the fifth time in the last six seasons the Warriors have missed the NRL Finals and a big disappointment after finishing fourth and qualifying for the Finals for the first time since 2018 last season.
The Warriors opened the season with losses to the Cronulla Sharks and Melbourne Storm but recovered with wins against the Canberra Raiders, Newcastle Knights and South Sydney Rabbitohs, and a draw with the Manly Sea Eagles to sit in the top-eight.
Losses to the Dragons, Titans and Knights followed, before a season-best four-match winning streak against the Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers, Dolphins and North Queensland Cowboys.
Their season came off the rails with big defeats to the Storm and Titans, leaking a combined 104 points, with close losses to the Canterbury Bulldogs and Raiders in July. A win over the last-placed Wests Tigers gave them hope but a three-match losing streak (to the Parramatta Eels, Dolphins and Sea Eagles) ended their chances.
The Warriors host the Bulldogs in their final home match on Friday night (kick-off 8pm), before finishing their season against the Sharks in Sydney on August 31.