KEY POINTS:
One of the first rules of playing cards, somewhere between knowing when to fold and never counting your money at the table, is to keep a poker face.
Ivan Cleary is one of the best at this. You can never quite tell if he's been dealt a winning hand and, in truth, it's hard to know if he's holding one at the moment.
There's optimism the Warriors are on the verge of something special and they certainly believe it, having said reaching next year's grand final would fulfil their three-year plan.
It would be a spectacular and welcome change from the disarray of a couple of years ago. The club has built sound foundations, with solid players on the back of a solid gameplan and is well aware that premierships are built over time. There are few weaknesses in the present squad but, to take it to the next level, it wouldn't hurt if they were dealt an ace.
A scan through the champion sides of recent years highlights one thing - the importance of a classy half. Darren Lockyer (2006), Benji Marshall (2005), Brent Sherwin (2004), Craig Gower (2003), Brad Fittler (2002), Andrew Johns (2001), Kevin Walters (2000) and Brett Kimmorley (1999) were instrumental in helping their clubs to a title. Greg Inglis and Johnathan Thurston bring these qualities to their sides this year.
"To go to the next level, you need a very dominant half," former Kiwis and Warriors coach Frank Endacott said. "I think the Warriors are still a quality half from being a grand final-winning team."
Michael Witt and Grant Rovelli were solid without being spectacular in 2007 - although Witt was a spectacular goalkicker - and it's difficult to see whether they can take it to the next level.
The Warriors should comfortably make the playoffs again next year but something different is needed when it comes to finals football.
Cleary has said his young charges will be better for the experiences of the past two games but we won't know if they learned anything until they are in the same situation again.
The Warriors are close to finalising their 2008 roster and the past few weeks may have influenced their thinking around whether they need to add to the squad.
Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said they would sit down over the next few weeks and sift through the list of players off contract to see whether there's somebody of value there. The reality is they might discover a rough diamond but not the ace of diamonds. That might have to wait 12 months until money is freed up when Ruben Wiki and Steve Price come off contract.
While the arrival of Australian centre Brent Tate will add some much-needed venom into the outsides and hooker Ian Henderson is said to be a handy recruit, the arrival of Dean Bell as development manager could be the most significant signing.
He could become an important figure in identifying and persuading top New Zealand talent to head to Mt Smart Stadium rather than Australia.
There is said to be plenty of potential among the youngsters already signed and the Warriors are likely to fill the majority of the vacancies left in the top 25 from their development squad. Players such as Sonny Fai, Russell Packer, Malo Solomona, Constantine Mika and Scott Jones all come with big reputations and they might just get the chance to prove it.
Of course, the fact we are talking about the Warriors and premierships in the same sentence is a significant advancement.
After three years of wishing for finals football, it was gratefully accepted in 2007. The next task is playing their cards right so they can get a seat at the top table.
