A pretty decent season, but it could have been superb.
The Hurricanes were third in the Super 12 under new coaches Colin Cooper and Murray Roulston, and similarly-new coaches John Plumtree and Chris Boyd pushed the young Lions in the NPC to the first final held at the Westpac Stadium.
Auckland, unfortunately for the Wellington support and players, proved too strong on the night but the effort was a noteworthy one in a season marked by injury and unavailability.
Support for both teams - after a slow start to the NPC - continued at a high level, with an average of 30,628 attending Super 12 and 27,292 the NPC matches.
With the success for both teams came representative rewards for the players, with Tana Umaga, Rodney So'oialo, Jerry Collins and Ma'a Nonu making it to the Rugby World Cup All played tests during the season.
The major disappointment, especially for the player concerned, was the knee injury to Umaga in the very first match against Italy - and his loss was to be vital to New Zealand's efforts at the World Cup.
Other Wellington union players at the World Cup were Manu Samoa's Lome Fa'atau, Kas Lealamanua, Fa'atonu Fili, Dominic Feaunati and Earl Va'a, while Tonga had Milton Ngauamo, David Palu and long-term Lion Inoke Afeaki as its captain.
On the other side of the coin, leading players Christian Cullen and Paul Steinmetz were farewelled to finish their playing careers with Irish teams in the northern hemisphere.
The Wellington Colts had another outstanding year and won the quadrangular tournament - a feat which followed youngsters Tim Fairbrother, Kane Thompson, Thomas Waldrom, Tamati Ellison and Ross Kennedy representing the successful New Zealand team at the under-21 World Cup in England.
Tafai Iosa, Roy Kinikinilau, and Justin Wilson were members of the successful New Zealand Sevens side as well.
Erin Rush was the sole Wellington representative in the Black Ferns.
Poneke cracked the Jubilee Cup after a couple of lost finals, and history was made when Northern United won its first big event by taking the Swindale Shield. Western Suburbs took the Hardham Cup.
Not surprisingly, after becoming the All Blacks' strong man, Jerry Collins was named Wellington's "player of the year", with Poneke's Ross Bond taking the coach award. His veteran Poneke lock Tau Tapasu was the club player of the year.
A major move was the completion of the union's training venue at Rugby League Park after some seasons of frustration. Financially the union also did well with a profit of over $300,000.
Played 13. Won 6. Lost 6. Drawn 1.
Points: For 368 Against 349
August 3 v Otago at Dunedin: Lost 33-38. Tries: W Lafaele, R Flutey, S Waldrom, S Bobo. Conversions: D Holwell (2). Penalties: Holwell (3). Referee K H Rowe (Canterbury).
August 9 v Taranaki at Porirua:Lost 17-27. Tries: Cullen, S Waldrom.
Conversions: Holwell (2). Penaty: Holwell; Referee L J McLeod (South
Canterbury).
August 16 v Southland at Westpac Stadium (NPC). Won 34-28. Tries:
L Fa'atau,R So'oialo, M Nonu. Conversions: Holwell (2). Penalties: Holwell (5). Referee P G Honiss (Waikato).
August 22 v Waikato at Hamilton (NPC). Lost 18-23. Tries: Bobo, Nonu.
Conversion: Holwell. Penalties: Holwell (2. Referee P D O'Brien (Southland).
August 29 v Auckland at Auckland (NPC & Fred Lucas Cup). Won 46-42.
Tries R Filipo (2), T Waldrom (2), Spice, Bobo. Conversions: Holwell (5). Penalties: Holwell (2). Referee S R Walsh (North Harbour)
September 5 v North Harbour at Westpac Stadium (NPC): Lost 3-15. Penalty: Holwell; Referee K M Deaker (Hawke's Bay).
September 13 v Bay of Plenty at Westpac Stadium (NPC): Won 33-13. Tries: T
Waldrom (2), S Waldrom, P Steinmetz. Conversions: Holwell (2). Penalties: Holwell (3). Referee K H Rowe (Canterbury).
September 20 v Taranaki at New Plymouth (NPC & John F Henning Trophy): Won
48-20. Tries: Fa'atau (3), Cullen, Bobo, So'oialo. Conversions: Holwell (6). Penalties: Holwell (2). Referee G J Wise (Hawke's Bay).
September 27 v Canterbury at Christchurch (NPC, RS & Harry Saundercock Memorial Trophy): Draw 38-38. Tries: C Smith (2), IMotusaga, N Tialata, T Waldrom, Bobo. Conversions: P Weepu (4). Referee: P G Honiss (Waikato).
October 3 v Otago at Westpac Stadium (NPC & Mike Gibson Memorial
Trophy): Lost 8-26. Try: Spice. Penalty: Flutey. Referee: B J Lawrence (Bay of Plenty).
October 11v Northland at Whangarei (NPC): Won 31-9. Tries: Bobo,
Cullen. R Kinikinilau, Tialata, S Waldrom. Conversions: Flutey (3). Referee G J Wise (Hawke's Bay).
October 17 v Waikato at Hamilton (NPC Semi final): Won 30-29. Tries:
Smith, Kinikinilau, L Andrews, S Waldrom. Conversions: J Gopperth, Flutey. Penalties: Flutey (2). Referee G J Wise (Hawke's Bay).
October 25 v Auckland at Westpac Stadium (NPC Final): Lost 29-41. Tries: Cullen (2), Filipo, Bobo. Conversions: Holwell (2), Gopperth. Penalty: Holwell. Referee L E Bray (Wellington).
NPC = National Provincial Championship
RS = Ranfurly Shield