Unlike the well-known NRL with its league clubs, function rooms, fields and stands, the Timaru Warriors started their season at the opposite end of the scale.
Their team was mostly made up of rugby union players, with only six having played league before.
Their unmarked field came complete with wonky goal posts and long grass to sit on, their function rooms-cum-changing facilities were a tight fit for the after-match functions and their uniforms were two years old.
But none of these things fazed the 20 players who signed up to be Warriors, because it was about doing something different and recreating what was once a successful league team, Warriors president James Blisset said.
Mr Blisset said his love for the game gave him the confidence to ignore the lack of luxuries and produce a team Timaru could be proud of.
"The team's goal this season was to be competitive. We needed to get the guys playing the game and enjoying it. They far exceeded that goal and made it to the semi-finals," he said.
Former Timaru Warrior Sonny Hammond helped the club to find sponsorship and by the first pre-match game the club was able to invite its opposition to their new after-match function rooms - otherwise known as the No. 8 Wired bar.
"The No. 8 Wired bar started around the same time as we did, so it helped us both out," Mr Blisset said.
Timaru Warriors captain Amosa Anglem said he was nagged by his friends to play for the team and when he gave in, he never looked back.
He said his confidence grew and, like his friends, he was determined to play league in the rugby-filled town.
"The guys in the team are loyal to the game. They play for themselves, their wives, their families and for Timaru," Anglem said.
Jinny Reynolds is a journalism student at Aoraki Polytechnic.
- Jinny Reynolds