Two years ago, the Highlanders ship was listing badly, and its crew was considering mutiny.
Now it is sailing soundly, with a committed crew. But still they are one or two officers short of a full deck. They are yet to be invited into the first fleet.
They will only do that when they make the playoffs. And how does that happen?
Nothing stands out more than getting a marquee No 10.
This is a rugby team that needs a quality quarterback. A man to direct the side around the paddock, and find the space the back three of the Highlanders need to thrive.
Colin Slade was supposed to be the man but his future in the sport must be in question after a terrible run with injuries.
He could come back next year and be as good as gold.
Let's hope.
But with his track record in the Highlanders jersey, not many would bet the family silver on that scenario.
The Highlanders had a back three this year which was the equal of any side in the competition.
But too often, those players did not get the ball in enough space, or the final pass did not quite go to hand. What was happening inside them was often the cause of that.
With the dearth of talent around in the No 10 spot, Slade may be the only option for the Highlanders.
The same goes for Lima Sopoaga. Both are contracted to the Highlanders next year so it may simply be a case for the franchise to hope, and pray, the duo get their bodies right.
Getting bodies in tip-top shape was a never-ending battle for Jamie Joseph's side.
People will say all teams get injuries, and they do. But the Highlanders got them in spades.
Every midfield back had a significant injury at some stage. The Highlanders had to summon Mike Delany from his planned holiday to Las Vegas to come and play. And the loss of flanker John Hardie, through injury, was a huge blow, perhaps as much as Slade.
Hardie's dynamism and ball-running ability was sorely missed, and though his replacements tried hard, they were not quite up to it.
With injuries come questions about depth in a squad, and unfortunately the back-up players were often not up to the task.
There were some improvers - Ma'afu Fia and Chris Noakes got better - but the likes of Elliot Dixon and Telusa Veainu went nowhere.
Sides such as the Crusaders and Stormers have quality back-up players to give their key guys a spell. Matt Todd, Tom Taylor, Deon Fourie, and the like.
The Highlanders did not have that depth and that was a big contributor to the fade in the second half of the year.
The draw did not help. The Highlanders did not play the lowly Lions and Force - although the Highlanders lost to both last year - and having the bye in the final round suited no-one but the players' holiday agents.
But overall, things are reasonably rosy.
Six All Blacks from the Highlanders, a flash new stadium to play in, and renewed interest in the team.
All the Highlanders need now is a couple more decent players and a bit of luck with injuries.
Never heard that before.
2012 Highlanders: the record
STATISTICS
Appearances (substitution appearances in brackets).-Gear 16, A Smith 16 (4), Rutledge 16 (13), Ellison 15, Manu 15, Thomson 15, Mackintosh 15, Hore 15 (2), Bekhuis 15 (2), Cowan 15 (11), B Smith 14, King 14 (2), Burleigh 13 (2), Noakes 13 (6), Haskell 12 (5), Crosswell 11 (2), Fia 10 (4), Retallick (10), Popoali'i 9 (5), Delany 9 (4), Murray (9), Poki 8 (1), Treeby 6, Tietjens 6 (5), Boys 6 (3), Piutau 5 (1), Baker 5 (3), Hardie 4, Slade 4 (1), Sopoaga 3 (1), Lynn 3 (3), McDonald 2 (1), Fuglistaller 2 (2), Dixon 2 (2), Jacob Ellison 1 (1), Mitchell 1 (1).
Record.-beat Chiefs 23-19; beat Crusaders 27-24; beat Waratahs 18-17; beat Hurricanes 19-17; lost to Brumbies 33-26; beat Rebels 43-12; lost to Stormers 21-6; beat Blues 30-27; beat Cheetahs 36-33; lost to Sharks 16-28; lost to Hurricanes 26-20; beat Bulls 16-11; beat Blues 27-20; lost to Crusaders 51-18; lost to Chiefs 27-21; lost to Reds 19-13.
Highlanders scored 359 points (36 tries, 42 penalties, 25 conversions and a drop goal). Opposition scored 385 points.
Leading scorers: Chris Noakes 86 (16 pen, 14 con, 2 tries), Mike Delany 59 (17 pen, 4 con).
Leading try-scorers: Adam Thomson 6, Hosea Gear 5, Aaron Smith 3.
HEPBURN'S AWARDS
Best performance: v Bulls, won 16-11. The Bulls came to town and were top of the table. But the Highlanders stood firm, moved them around and kept their line intact for all but the last few minutes to record a second win in a row over the men from Pretoria.
Worst performance: v Reds, lost 19-13: Too many sloppy errors from individuals and a REAL lack of spark. Shame to end this way in a season which started so well. Also smashed by the Crusaders in Christchurch but no side would have got near the red and blacks that night.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) A bit like saying Greece could do with some financial help but the Highlanders need a quality number 10. Do they stick with Colin Slade and back him that he can get fit by next year?
Or do they go elsewhere?
And is there anyone left on the shelf?
2) Do the two veteran hookers come back again next year?
Or is it wiser to ditch one?
And if so, who should they get rid of?
3) Is it not time for some of these promising Otago players to make the next step into the Highlanders?
There are going to be vacancies in the Highlanders next year. It is time some Otago lads staked their claim.
