In the last 10 years, winning 3 games out of 4 would have gotten you the minor premiership 6 times, 2nd 3 times, and 3rd once. In every year but 2008 and 2009, winning 50% of your games would have been good enough to get you into the top 8.
We are perpetually almost there. Either we have been in the top 8 and then lost form in the final month, or have been outside clawing at the heels. We only needed to improve by maybe 5% and we would be in the finals a few more times. Whether that 5% comes from kicking conversions, the last pass sticking for a try, not giving away that stupid penalty, the right option on the last tackle, or the players scrambling in defense, we always just seem to come up short.
Then a year like 2005 comes along and everything clicks at the right time - magic.
Other years are just heartbreaking. But I like to think they are character-building…