The incredible turnaround of the North Queensland Cowboys in 2022 has surprised almost everyone.
Somehow, the side that finished 2021 in 15th spot as the competition's worst defensive side has just booked itself a home preliminary final.
North Queensland have languished in the bottom eight since 2018. But head coach Todd Payten has managed to change their fortunes.
With the 2022 Cowboys in mind, we will explore eight other times in which teams have been able to climb from one end of the ladder to the other in a single season.
6. South Sydney Rabbitohs - 2018
It had been 43 years since the Rabbitohs had claimed a premiership when they won the competition back in 2014.
But in the years following that premiership win, Michael Maguire's South Sydney side had scarcely fired a shot.
They were sent packing by the Sharks in the opening round of the 2015 finals, and could not crack the top eight in the two years that followed.
After finishing 12th in 2017 Maguire was succeeded by then-rookie coach Anthony Seibold.
The Rabbitohs already possessed a formidable squad, when Seibold joined in 2018.
With the Burgess brothers, Sam, George and Tom in the front row and Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker in the halves.
An edge forward combo of John Sutton and then rookie Angus Crichton.
Not to mention getting Greg Inglis back into the squad after he had missed almost the entirety of 2017 with an ACL injury.
The notable new addition being Origin player, Dane Gagai from the Newcastle Knights.
However, Seibold's real masterstroke came in unlocking the potential of Damien Cook at dummy half. Form that would see Cook crack the NSW Blues side.
The breath of fresh air Seibold brought to South Sydney was reflected on the ladder, as the Rabbits finished third with 16 wins from 24 played.
Their run would last until the preliminary final when they fronted old rivals the Roosters on their march towards the 2018 premiership, losing 12 -4 in the final game at the old Allianz stadium.
Panthers 2003: 12th to minor premiers and premiers seems to eclipse several of these.
Knew I would miss at least one. Where would you rank it amongst the others then?
It.s your article, so I don’t want to be presumptuous. I’m also a Panthers’ supporter, so I will acknowledge my bias. It perhaps ranks somewhere between 3 and 5 – They didn’t have the bounce-back effect of internal drama like the Roosters in 3, but didn’t necessarily climb as far. However, they were also wooden spooners two years prior and sat in fifteenth in the second week of the 2003 season. Based on that, I’ll leave it to you to judge… but it certainly ranks 5 at least and I would argue higher.
If I am honest the criteria for the rankings were kind of hard to pin down. Is it more impressive to come from 9th – 12th to win a prem or 13th – 16th and play deep into finals? Also how much do you factor in previous years in a one-year turnaround? Guess to some degree it’s quite subjective. Without delving too deep into the 02 Panthers I would say 03 Penrith is comparable to 13 Roosters so probably 4th or 5th.