Too early yet for a post-mortem examination, but the New Zealand Warriors aren't hiding their disappointment over a National Rugby League season that has gone way off course.
The bookmakers' third favourites pre-season to win the premiership, the Warriors will need a miracle over the remaining six rounds just to scrape into the playoffs.
They languish in 13th place, five points below the cut, as they head into their away match on Saturday night against Penrith, one of four top-eight teams they still have to face.
Director of football John Hart admitted on Thursday that the Warriors' season had deviated from the script.
"It's too early for a post-mortem, but it's not too early to say we're extremely disappointed," he said.
"I don't think any of us would have seen us being where we are in the competition."
Hart said cited the cut-throat nature of the NRL and the fact that "maybe come players we've recruited haven't quite measured up in the areas we thought they would" as factors.
Hart also said the loss of promising young forward Sonny Fai and the unavailability of Kangaroo and Queensland centre Brent Tate had affected the Warriors' attack.
Fai disappeared at a west Auckland beach in January after rescuing his brother and four cousins, while Tate suffered a season-ending knee injury in round three.
"Sonny Fai's untimely passing is not something that's in any textbook and it had an horrific effect," Hart said.
"But none of these things can be excuses.
Potential
"We've had some players who haven't measured up in terms of playing to their absolute potential this year.
"We're going to look hard at how we're going to turn that around, because I'm very confident with our roster that we are a very competitive force."
While second-rower Jacob Lillyman has been an ever-present, either in the starting 13 or off the bench, it hasn't been the case for fellow new signings Joel Moon and Denan Kemp .
Moon has also been moved from his preferred five-eighth spot to centre, while winger Kemp has managed just one touchdown in 10 appearances, although he has had fewer opportunities than when he became Brisbane's top tryscorer last year.
The halves remain a key issue for the Warriors, who enticed veteran Stacey Jones out of retirement while giving early releases to Grant Rovelli, Michael Witt and Nathan Fien.
Hart said the Warriors were close to signing sacked playmaker Brett Seymour for next year.
Seymour, 24, was shown the door by the Sharks a month ago, and by Brisbane in 2007, because of alcohol-related incidents.
Hart said the Warriors hoped to be able to conclude an agreement over the coming week.
Life changing
Part of the process was a meeting with the NRL, which has said it won't register Seymour unless it is convinced a move to another club is in the player's and the game's best interests.
Hart said joining the Warriors would provide Seymour with a real chance to turn his life around.
"We're not bringing someone in who will not be sharing the values and culture of the organisation," he said.
"He knows if he comes in, he's got one chance left in his career probably."
Hart added that Jones, 33, had yet make a decision about whether he wanted to continue beyond this season.
"We've made it pretty clear that we're really keen to have Stacey around in 2010," he said.
"But in the end, it's about how Stacey feels about his game, how he feels about his drive and what he wants to do."
If Jones decided to hang up his boots, the Warriors were likely to look to sign a replacement as cover in the halves.
