Even within the context of the multiple years Tom Hooper has played for the Brumbies, 2025 has felt like a different beast.
While the Canberra side has copped several surprise losses at home in 2025, the year has also seen the side turn out just as surprising results on the road, with wins in Fiji and breaking a 12 year drought to defeat the Blues at Eden Park.
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As they prepare to head over to New Zealand for their fourth consecutive home semi final, the lessons from all previous failings are front of mind for the Canberra side.
"[We're] far more prepared," Hooper told reporters on Tuesday.
"This group's been together for a long time and having the nucleus together for a fair chunk of this season has been really beneficial.
"We've changed and made alterations throughout the year. We've grown a lot as a team across the season which has been really nice. I think we're heading in the right direction and we're very confident about this weekend."
The competitiveness of the 2025 season has certainly left it's mark on the side, and while Hooper didn't feature the last time the two sides squared off - a 49-34 win to the Chiefs in Hamilton - the Brumbies utility forward believes the ACT side has enough left in the tank to go all the way to a third title.
"It'd mean everything," Hooper said candidly.
"That's what I've been working towards this whole year. That's why I've been flogging myself on the weekend.
"Benny Mowen came up to me last week and said, 'How's the body, Hoops?' I said, it usually comes good about Thursday and then do it all over again and get sore.
"I've been draining myself every week. Everyone in the forward pack and all the pretty boys are doing their job nicely.
"We've got two more games of hard yakka, putting our heads down and our bums up and making sure that we're just going to work for this team and for this club."
The Brumbies are likely expected to be the underdogs coming into the match - having not defeated the Hamilton side since 2022, in New Zealand - in addition to the imposing losing record Australia has across the ditch during the Super finals.
However, on the flipside, there is plenty to suggest the Brumbies could spring a win - with the four sides to beat the Chiefs in 2025 - the Hurricanes, Fijian Drua, the Blues and the Waratahs - all are sides the Brumbies have knocked off over the course of the year.
That, even before the consideration that Stephen Larkham has named an unchanged side to the one that took down the Hurricanes - a side close to full strength for the Brumbies.
"The Canes, they're a classy outfit, they beat the Chiefs a few weeks back," Hooper added.
"[The Blues] were amazing, they fronted up in the areas they needed to and the Chiefs really took it to them in the first half.
"I was watching it before the game actually and I thought this is a great brand of footy that both of these guys are playing - so we're going to have to match it with that.
"I think if we can win all those little moments, we're just fighting for every inch of grass on that Hamilton pitch - then that'll go a long way to making us win the game.
"Ultimately, we don't want to be leaving it until the last second like we have in previous years."
Hooper will be off to Exeter Chiefs at the end of the season - and while there is plenty of rugby still to play, the star admitted he has taken time to pause and think about where the Brumbies sit the context of his development.
"It is on my mind," Hooper said, when asked about his departure.
"It's like driving down a highway. You don't need a full tank to make it to the end of the road.
"The end of the road's coming up and I've filled up my tank this week, but I'm about to empty it again and I'll do it again next week - then after that I'll just be filling it up with a couple of pina coladas somewhere, with the trophy in my hand.
"This club changed me into the person I am - I came down to Canberra, met my partner here. From a role model point of view I've had a lot positive role models - both players and people at this club.
"When I was a young fella I was living with Darcy Swain, he was a positive role model for me on what it meant to be professional and a good person. Noah Lolesio certainly paved the way for what young blokes from Tuggeranong could do.
"It's been awesome to grow up with those guys, come into the system with guys like Rory Scott, Luke Reimer, Billy Pollard, go from strength to strength with those guys.
"It's been really special - a great part of my life that I will look back on very fondly. It's definitely helped me grow as a player and as a human being - and I love Canberra: it's a big country town, that's why they call it the bush capital.
"Hopefully I can land back here in the future, but we'll wait and see what it has in store."
