Getting back on court had always been the dream.
Winning a title was very much secondary.
Winning two — well, that was never really in the equation at all.
It is easy to forget that this time three years ago the Otago Nuggets were out of action, and still looked a way off returning.
They had been five years out of the league when they returned for their sensational run to win the 2020 NBL Showdown.
That was an outlier of a year — not to detract from it — and the nature of that league was completely different from any other.
To win a second championship just two years later, this time in a full league, was scarcely believable.
"The focus was to get back to give an opportunity and a pathway for the players and the fans.
"I know the excitement I got as a fan watching the Nuggets play. Win or lose, it didn’t matter. Having a team to follow, watching the excitement of basketball on a court in your hometown — it was an awesome experience.
"They were my goals. Winning is something everyone likes to do, but certainly not the focus initially."
Perhaps making it more significant were the barren years in this team’s history.
The Nuggets enjoyed success through the 1990s, but they never quite cracked the final or a championship.
There was a tough period through the 2000s, before they withdrew from the league in 2009.
They returned with essentially a team of teenagers a year later, former coach Alf Arlidge guiding that era from a winless season through to a return to the playoffs three years later, before going into a five-year hiatus.
Ruske said the title had represented the work of all of that.
"I think it’s significant," she said.
"I had a phone call yesterday from Graeme Heazlewood, who was involved with the Nuggets back when Glen Denham and Euan Lockhart were around.
"Comments he made around this is something they always hoped the Nuggets would achieve.
"Funding has always been the biggest hurdle and it’s great to see the Nuggets back and actually achieve what people in the past have had in their mindset as well.
"I think it’s significant not just for this generation, but also for the generations going back to creating the Nuggets when they first started in the 1990s."
She added that seeing the performances of the local players had been a thrill.
Sam Timmins and Nikau McCullough both getting Tall Blacks call-ups was significant, as was Jack Andrew getting a two-week trial for a development player spot at the Perth Wildcats.
She also felt Matthew Bardsley, Josh Aitcheson and Darcy Knox had performed well.
The import trio had been exceptional and, while nothing official had been set out, she said all were open to returning to the Nuggets.
However, it was more than just on court that she hoped to grow the team.
"There’s so many things that represent what the Nuggets are about.
"Getting in your solid team is important. But it’s even bigger than that — it’s making sure we grow in a direction that benefits our team, our players, our volunteers and also the community.
"There’s been a bit more of a push in looking at how we can be more engaged with the community, as well.
"It’s bigger than just winning. We need to win in all aspects of the organisation."
