We start as we mean to go on – 1-nil, 19-6 – Warriors, this is our year!

Sport over the weekend once again reminded us of its value and place in our lives.

Not everyone is as obsessed with the Warriors as I am, but most of us have our passions.

That flotilla on the water, for example. Think about the pictures going out to the world: Thousands on the New Zealand waters, blues skies; you can’t buy that sort of publicity and branding.

Extraordinary technology, a contest for the ages, and yet again need I say it, but when the America’s Cup actually starts, all the misery and woe from the bitter and twisteds who call it a millionaires folly fade away and are replaced by the vast majority of us who see this for what it is.

A show case of sport, of technology, of perseverance, of dreams and aspirations.

In other sports, the Crusaders did what the Crusaders do, and whether you support them or not, Super Rugby is still to my eye as exciting as it was last year: every contest is a headliner given the quality and depth available to us in this country.

But back to the Warriors. Their sacrifice yet again cannot be overstated.

If we had a government of aspiration, there would be a two-way bubble – just ask Scott Morrison.

But we don’t, and they’re stuck there, which makes what they’re doing even more admirable and remarkable.

The Titans had a good chunk of the ball but didn’t do enough with it. When we got it, we looked sharp, we looked fit and fast, and we looked like the winners we turned out to be.

The recruits looked like good buys and repaid the faith. Three tries, three conversions, a drop goal on full time, some new rules that may or may not help the game.

But a win - you can’t start a season any better than being 1 and zip.

Sport, it’s amazing. Yachting, rugby, golf, league, motor racing, pick your favourite, but what a joy a weekend and sport is.

As for the Warriors? This is our year.