About 300 fans gathered at Auckland airport to welcome the Warriors home after making it through to the National Rugby League grand final.
The "Warriors" chant reverberated through the arrivals terminal as they waited for the players to come out following their epic win over the Melbourne Storm on Saturday night.
Fan favourite Manu Vatuvei was taken aback by the turnout and and coach Ivan Cleary was impressed so many people gave their time up to meet them.
Cleary, who was fullback in 2002 in the Warriors' only other appearance in a grand final, remembered the reception was similar nine years ago.
Bidding to win the NRL title for the first time in the club's 17-year history, they head to Sydney on Wednesday ahead of their showdown with Manly on Sunday.
