The right men, for a mighty difficult job.
Chief executive Mark Robinson, left, and managing director Rob Croot of Autex Industries, the company who own the Warriors. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/Photosport
Just 16 months after it started, the joint ownership partnership between Autex Industries and The Carlaw Heritage Trust came to an end on Tuesday.
Carlow Trust, the financial arm of Auckland Rugby League, has sold its two-thirds share in the Warriors to the Auckland business, making Autex outright owners.
Warriors chief executive Cameron George was confident Autex - namely boss Mark Robinson and managing director Rob Croot - are the people to finally take the NRL club to the promise land.
"They're the right owners," George said.
"I know Mark Robinson and Rob Croot very well and they wouldn't have done this if they weren't in it for the long run.
"I know their reasons and they're very genuine and they're very passionate.
Listening to Croot speak, that's hard to doubt.
Also now chair of the Warriors board, Croot said that passion extends to investing more money into the team, New Zealand's lone NRL franchise.
And he said it was that - not so much a difference of opinion with former partners The Carlaw Heritage Trust - that was behind Autex taking full control.
"From a commercial point of view, [the club] needs money and it needs investment.
"Ultimately the decision for the two of us was that shouldn't come at the expense of the Auckland clubs, as owners.
"Autex, as a successful private business, has got the opportunity, the willingness and the passion to put the money in and do what needs to be done."
Exactly what that entailed was still being worked through but it wouldn't include any kind of exit for chief executive George and head coach Stephen Kearney.
Cameron George has signed off on the departure of Shaun Johnson. Will he be looking for a new coach come the end of the 2019 season? Photo: Photosport
It would include a lick of paint for the Warriors offices, and Croot said they did intend to steer the club in a slightly different direction.
"There has to be change, otherwise we're not going to be any better than we have been in the past.
"What those changes look like needs to be fleshed out but we expect consistency, we expect the team to be performing at the top of the table and we expect them to carry the pride of the nation."
For the chief executive, more money meant more ability to invest in technology he believed could provide the edge they're missing.
George said that wasn't the only benefit of no longer having joint owners.
"The ability to get things done will be much easier under the one ownership model.
"It will only be great for the club and [we'll be able to] get things done in a very quick time frame, which is what's required in this high performance area."
Only time would tell what the change ultimately means.
But Croot said the Warriors long suffering supporter base should be optimistic better days were on the horizon.
"The only thing that I can say to our fans is hang with us, we're one of you.
"We believe in the club and we believe that we've got an opportunity to make you all proud.
"I'd love to say we could snap our fingers and turn it all around but the competition just doesn't allow that. But we absolutely believe the Warriors can fulfil the destiny we all want."
As the catch-cry goes in Warrior-land, it's all about keeping the faith.
