Last year the team suffered six defeats and many had consigned them to the rugby scrap heap.
Especially when they made it to the semifinals and were to face competition favourites Tauranga Sport.
But Whaka smashed Sports and went on to lose the final against Te Puke, but it shows you can never count this team out.
On Saturday, Whaka were outmuscled up front, making it hard for stand-in first-five Maurice Stone (regular first-five Tyson Ripia is out with a hamstring injury) to get quality front foot ball to spark up his backline.
Despite this, half of Whaka's four tries were scored by the backs with Courtney Mita and John Ririnui dotting down and hooker Trent Sweeny and Theo Heta grabbing the other two tries.
Stone was solid with the boot, snaring three conversions and two penalties.
But the day belonged to Te Puna with first-five Te Aihe Toma regularly combining with Chad Tuhoro to cause havoc; making half breaks which gave Te Puna's hungry forwards plenty to feed off.
The visitors scored five tries to Whanahou Peita, Turoia Kuka, Heywood Kuka, Tapene Mika and Marty Stevenson with Toma kicking four conversions and three penalties for his side's 42 points.
The silver lining for Whaka would have to be the Kelly Haimona, Tamati Ryan and Daniel Ngawhika factor.
Haimona and Ryan are on overseas contacts and are understood to be returning in time for the second round of the Baywide competition, while Ngawhika - who is studying in Hamilton - is expected to finish his course shortly. Ryan and Ngawhika are powerhouse locks who would add great depth to the Whaka ranks.
What has to be asked is what has happened to the likes of Sam Cameron? The hulking prop was a great anchor to the Whaka scrum last season.
Whaka, in the first half, were stung an incredible eight times for not releasing the tackler, compared with Te Puna's one penalty for the same offence.
Meanwhile, in other results in the division, Te Puke Sports have consolidated their lead with a 28-0 win over Opotiki, Tauranga Sports smashed Rangataua 99-9, Greerton Marist won a tight tussle with Waikite 36-15, Mount Maunganui came away with a narrow 25-19 win over Rotoiti.
In Division One, Kahukura upset Paroa 25-11, Whakatane Marist beat Marist St Michaels 34-17, Rangiuru triumphed over Reporoa 77-0, Te Teko beat Ruatoki 26-16 and Ngongotaha drew with Poroporo 22-22.
The Colts' division saw Tauranga Sports come away with a resounding 59-19 win over their rivals Rangataua, Mount Maunganui beat Marist St Michaels 25-17, Te Puke Sports beat Waikite 45-15, Te Puna were too strong for Whaka 44-25, Greerton Marist thrashed Kahukura 90-3 while Ruatoki won by default.
Scorers:
Te Puna 42 (Whanahou Peita, Turoia Kuka, Heywood Kuka, Tapene Mika, Marty Stevenson tries; Te Aihe Toma 4 cons, 3 pen) Whakarewarewa 32 (Courtney Mita, Trent Sweeny, John Ririnui, Theo Heta tries; Maurice Stone 3 cons, 2 pen) Halftime 20-19.
