Roger Tuivasa-Sheck said he's confident the New Zealand Warriors can return to post-season action in 2020 if they consistently show self-belief.
The Warriors captain was instrumental in sparking his side's come-from-behind 24-20 win over the Canberra Raiders at GIO Stadium, which ended their season on a high.
New Zealand had been slogging through a horror stretch to end the year, suffering a string of injuries and giving up an average 35 points a game over the previous five weeks.
However, with their backs to the wall Tuivasa-Sheck said the win over Canberra showed the side what they are capable of despite now only making the finals twice in the past eight years.
"I'm really confident in the team and the depth we have and the organisation, it's just about everybody else believing in us," Tuivasa-Sheck told pan66.com.
"Trusting what the coaches are showing us and backing ourselves to come in and do more of this.
The Warriors submit their entry for try of the year
"We knew we were going to go out against a tough team in Canberra, they're a top-four team and they're doing really well for themselves.
"But we knew we just had to come out here and put it all on the line for the boys who won’t be here next year, and we had a few milestones.
"A 100th game (Kodi Nikorima), a 50th game and debut for the club (Taane Milne), so we were lucky there was a bit more to play for."
Green gets the Warriors into the lead
New Zealand were in the game from the start but a soft try to Raiders hooker Josh Hodgson "hurt" the side going into half-time.
"That hurt big time, I thought we did really well to get to 12-all just to contain their boys because they're a tough team," Tuivasa-Sheck said.
"But giving up that try it was really tough to find some positives [going] into the break but coach knows how to get the boys going and he did the same thing today and got us going for the second half."
Fittingly for the reigning Dally M medallist, Tuivasa-Sheck started and finished one of the team tries of the season.
The Warriors fullback touched the ball three times as it went through 14 sets of New Zealand hands.
"I just felt like I wanted to do it and had to do it," Tuivasa-Sheck said of injecting himself at the end of the game.
"You want to get your game breakers involved in the game, so I put my hand up and tried to make something happen and I'm glad I did and we were able to get the win.
"It was crazy man, I'm glad it's being called a team try.
"I'm still wondering how Ligi Sao got the ball out, I thought he was out for the count and then it managed to make it's way back to me and I was in the right place."
