Bay of Plenty were first, taking on a perennial superpower in Waikato. A casting change in 2015 when Sean Botherway took over as coach left them treading water in the Premiership and Bay of Plenty, mercifully, dealt the killer blow.
Northland fans felt the hit nearly as keenly as it now came down to either Southland or Hawke's Bay, who'd picked up a solitary victory between them and been soundly beaten by the Taniwha, to play the improbable spoiling role.
It wasn't Southland, who went down in a heap as southern rivals Otago locked in third position.
It instead came down to the final match of the round. The two-part finale that has plagued television in recent times.
The first part seemed to go to early season form with Manawatu racing out to a 17-0 halftime lead.
Northland's season appeared over. This was one of the great cliffhangers as no one really expected what would happen next.
The likes of Brad Weber, Ihaia West and Richard Buckman quickly became the saviours for Northland as they took the previously underperforming Magpies to within touching distance of not only a win for them, but one for the Taniwha.
But there was another twist in the tale that left Northland fans barely able to keep their eyes on the screen as they hid behind their couches, snacks left strewn on the living room floor.
With Hawke's Bay leading 36-32 heading into injury time, Manawatu gave everything they had before losing the ball with a semifinal spot in their sight.
Hawke's Bay, thrashed just eight days before by Northland, had turned into their greatest ally and put the protagonist of this story into the semifinals.
If that isn't great television drama, what is?
