The NRL season is just about halfway through, with all clubs having played either 11 or 12 games, and the State of Origin period about to kick into gear.
For many teams, the next two months with missing players will be the most challenging period of the season, although injuries have already put a significant dent in this year's competition for a number of sides.
Some of those sides sit at the bottom of the table, while others were expected to be there during the pre-season.
Either way, there are now clear contenders to take out the wooden spoon, and leading online sportsbook means you'll need to know exactly who is taking out the NRL's bogey prize.
Here are the contenders, and how they can avoid picking up the spoon.
Wests Tigers
Currently: 16th place, 2 wins, 9 losses
The Tigers have won the wooden spoon two years in a row and unsurprisingly sit close enough to the bottom of the table yet again in 2024.
At one stage, it looked like the embattled joint venture were turning a corner with a few wins, but they have now lossed eight games on the trot and are equal last with the Rabbitohs, only avoiding the bottom spot by for and against.
It has been a difficult induction to head coaching for Benji Marshall, and his side will need to turn things around quickly if they are to avoid making it three on the hop.
Wins over the Origin period will be critical given both Apisai Koroisau and Stefano Utoikamanu were overlooked for selection by New South Wales coach Michael Maguire.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Currently: 17th place, 2 wins, 9 losses
The Rabbitohs have been the competition's biggest disappointment over the opening three months of the new campaign.
Following last season's horrific fade out which saw the club go from top spot on the ladder after Round 11 to missing the finals, they started the new season without learning to walk and Jason Demetriou paid for it with his coaching job.
There has been no immediate rebound under interim coach Ben Hornby either, with South Sydney dealing with an enormous injury toll.
They will need some strong performances in the second half of the 2024 NRL season to avoid the wooden spoon.
Parramatta Eels
Currently: 15th place, 3 wins, 8 losses
The Eels have been the other major disappointment so far this year, and like South Sydney, had a change in the coaching chair recently with Brad Arthur making way over a dismal start to the season.
He wasn't helped by injuries to key spine players Clint Gutherson and Mitchell Moses, but the Eels have been a disaster class so far this campaign, not helped by the track record of their crumbling in 2023.
The Eels can certainly avoid the spoon and will be helped by the return of their injured stars, but the finals look a bridge too far for the blue and gold this season.
Gold Coast Titans
Currently: 14th place, 3 wins, 8 losses
The Titans seemed an almost certainty to finish bottom of the table at one point, losing all of their first six to commence life under new coach Des Hasler.
With continuing off-field contract speculation over key man David Fifita, and the long-term injury for Tino Fa'asuamaleaui, the Titans have done well to begin turning things around.
Three wins have kicked them clear of the foot of the table, but they are still in the bottom four and certainly not out of danger when it comes to the wooden spoon conversation just yet.
