I have to admit that I am merely quoting what one of the commentators said during an away game a couple of weeks ago. I think it was Harper, though I'm not sure, who was talking us up and saying that our finish this season would be something to be proud of given that we'd be the first NZ club to finish higher than 8th.
??We are the only NZ soccer club in the A-league at the moment and the previous competitions had more than 8 teams. Also, if you considered Basketball and League (who both have only one NZ club in an Australian competition), they both have placed higher than 8th and have been in play-offs.
Previously the best soccer placement is the Football Kingz being 8th out of 16 teams which is just above the midpoint of the table. So until we actually nab 4th position out of the 8 teams, we can't really claim to be on equal terms with the Kingz's first season.
Anyway, wasn't Harper being just "cheeky" rather than "talking us up"? I am sure that the Warriors and the Breakers still have a better winning form than us yet although it took them a number of seasons to get it.