2011 was a very mixed year for Kiwi rugby league. Kiwi league fans experienced the massive highs of seeing the Warriors make every Grand Final possible and then crashed down to earth seeing the Kiwis plumb new depths in the international game.
We might as well get down to the depths first.
It was a horror year for the Kiwis and their coach, Stephen Kearney. It was probably to be expected after the high of unexpectedly winning the 4 Nations last year in Brisbane - the Kiwis had a poor 2009 after winning the World Cup in 2008.
Nothing went right for the Kiwis and they were thoroughly outclassed by the Kangaroos. They continued their poor run in England and were also thrashed by the English. Yes there was one win against Wales but the 2nd half epitomised the Kiwis of 2011.
The Kiwis will look to rebuild in 2012 ahead of their World Cup defence in 2013.
Certainly by that time, they could be making full use of the Warriors' nursery which has finally started to bear its first fruit this season.
The success of the junior Warriors has been so immense that the seniors no longer have the need to hire as many Australians as they did. The likes of Brett Seymour and Shaun Berrigan have been released and one feels that the loss of James Maloney after 2012 may not be too bad with Shaun Johnson developing quite nicely.
It is probably the one positive to come from the salary cap debacle of 2006 and this must be credited to John Hart as well as John Ackland and the Warriors coaching staff.
What will be interesting to see is whether Brian 'Bluey' McClennan can take the Warriors to the next level - his predecessor, Ivan Cleary has definitely set the bar high with a Grand Final the last game of his highly successful tenure as Warriors coach.
McClennan is a Kiwi rugby league legend in the true sense and has achieved success as Kiwis and Leeds coach. He knows how to win. He knows the Warriors culture too. I think he could be the final piece to the Warriors' long quest for NRL glory.
But to the present, while Ivan Cleary did a magnificent job with the Warriors only missing the playoffs twice - one of those times they would have made it but for the points deduction due to the salary cap debacle - there was a feeling this season that he may have taken the Warriors as far as he could have.
The Warriors had a horror mid-season run but ultimately recovered to finish 6th and make the playoffs. They were outclassed on the first weekend by Darren Lockyer's Broncos but recovered to beat the much favoured Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm and make a shock Grand Final appearance.
This was probably more impressive than the time they made the Grand Final the first time in 2002 as they finished lower than they did in 2002 and thus had a far more difficult run to the Grand Final.
Ultimately on the night, the Warriors lost to a Manly side destined for the title. They played as well as they had in the last two weeks but in the end, the better side won and deservedly so. Nevertheless, the Warriors did themselves and their fans very proud and the future is bright for the Auckland club - especially with the Junior Warriors winning their 2nd Toyota Cup earlier in the day after beating North Queensland in extra time.
Of course, there is life outside the Kiwis and Warriors especially that 2011 should be considered as Darren Lockyer's year. Yes he fell short of making the Grand Final but he won a 4 Nations title and helped Queensland maintain its dominance over New South Wales in State of Origin.
It was still a remarkable end to a remarkable career for one of the game's greatest players and gentlemen.
So to my team of the year:
1.Billy Slater, Melbourne
2.Akuila Uate, Newcastle
3.Jamie Lyon, Manly
4.Chris Lawrence, Wests Tigers
5.Manu Vatuvei, Warriors
6.Benji Marshall, Wests Tigers
7.Darren Lockyer, Brisbane
8.Brent Kite, Manly
9.Cameron Smith, Melbourne
10.Matt Scott, North Queensland
11.Simon Mannering, Warriors
12.Sam Thaiday, Brisbane
13.Glenn Stewart, Manly
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