But that was a Covid year and promotion to the Premiership was not on the table.
This time it is and that raises the stakes.
The Whalers dispatched the Southland Rams 34-0 in the South Island Championship final to earn a berth in the final.
Aside from a narrow escape on the West Coast in their opening game of the season, the Whalers have been utterly dominant.
But their opponents, the Auckland Vulcans, boast some impressive talent and also charged into the final on the back of an unbeaten run.
They will have home advantage as well. The game is broadcast live on Sky from 11am.
It will be a big day for the Whalers and in particular coach Dave Reedy.
He took over the reins in 2007. He took a break for three years from 2014 to 2016, but has otherwise been part of the furniture.
A win today will mean a lot to Reedy.
"It would be huge, not just for myself but just for rugby league in the region," he said.
"It is something we’ve been trying to do ever since the Premiership became a thing [in 2017] which was to try and get an Otago team into it.
"The last six years we’ve definitely been punching above our weight considering we only have a four-team local comp."
There are four teams now but there was no senior club competition in Dunedin in 2010 and 2011. Reedy managed to cobble a Whalers team together all the same and helped keep the sport alive in the city.
"It just became about grabbing whatever players were available."
These days there is genuine competition for spots and Reedy believes it is the strongest Otago side he has had.
"We’ve got depth right across this year. We picked a squad of 25 and it has been hard to give everyone game time."
The Whalers will need to take a different approach into the final.
They are missing massive second rower Champ Betham and powerhouse winger Tafatu Solia. But there are still plenty of other powerful ball carriers.
Israel Otunuku really stepped up last week, and Mika Mafi returns to the line-up after missing the South Island final.
Veteran prop and captain Ricki Allan will start on the interchange bench and is another player who takes the direct route.
But the Whalers will be undersized compared with their opponent and that means shovelling it wide and trying to stretch the Vulcans.
Playmakers Jordan McEntee and Mackenzie Haugh will direct traffic. They both have pace and an eye for the gap.
Haugh’s spiral punt can be weaponised and brought plenty of success against Southland last weekend.
The Vulcans will lean on halfback Tevin Arona to generate the play. He runs the backline and is dangerous in space. Centre Mike Williams is an experienced campaigner and knows his way around the defence.
Second-rower Matti Tuitama takes some stopping as well.
The game is the curtain-raiser for the National Premiership final between the Canterbury Bulls and Akarana Auckland.
National Championship
Auckland, 11.10am
Otago Whalers: Tama Apineru, Piliu Tavake, Sione Fa’aoso, Tyron Pelasio, Kiardyn Hatch, Mackenzie Haugh, Jordan McEntee, Mika Mafi, Troy Anstiss, Cameron Brown, Lawrence Ualesi, Israel Otunuku, Hagan Free, Jayden Hollander, Ricki Allan (captain), Sam Wyber, Michael Mata’afa, Layne Opetaia, Ben Fosita.
Auckland Vulcans: Korey Craig, James Watersom, Mose Kapeli Esera, Mike Williams, Siapo Pasene, Dylan Tavita, Tevin Arona, Mosese Faeamani, Marcus Fraser, Trent Schaumkel, Roydon Gillett, Matti Tuitama, Christopher Sio, Kalani Ili, Clive Tuifua, Hawaiiki Annandale, David Jardine-Ngauamo, Ethan Jardine-Ngauamo, Timor Williams, Trent Bishop, Sioeli Vaka, Failoa Henry Pei.
