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Either way, things can get away from you fairly quickly when you’re on a losing streak, and while the Dragons will make all the right noises about this season not being over and that there’s still plenty to play for, the reality is that they are now in a phase where the planning has begun for 2024.

The Tigers, with the same two win, eight loss record as the Dragons, aren’t about to sack Tim Sheens, but they have already begun planning for 2025 with Benji Marshall set to take over the head coaching role after a two year apprenticeship.

But what happens if the Tigers find themselves in the same predicament next season?

History tells us the board members at Tigers HQ have opted for the easy decision in such circumstances, preferring to remove the coach rather than fumble for answers as they pick up their skim latte at the local café as to why the team is yet again headed for a holiday in September.

So, if we can put a red line through the Dragons and Tigers regarding contending for the Top 8 this season, who else is on the cusp of ringing their travel agent to plan their spring break earlier than anticipated?

Working our way up the ladder, the Bulldogs have improved from where they were at the same stage last season, but four wins from 11 games will be a disappointment for fans of the Belmore boys who held out great hope of at least pushing towards Top 8 contention.

Injuries have been unkind to firstyear coach Cameron Ciraldo, and the search for a halfback continues, with the task of sneaking into the Finals more than likely requiring them to win at least eight of their remaining 13 games. At this stage of the rebuild it would seem beyond them.

The Eels find themselves in the same predicament as the Bulldogs, and while recent history would tell us there’s more potential for Parramatta to reel off a string of wins, their season might be on the line over the next week when they play the top-of-the-table Rabbitohs and fast-improving Cowboys. Failing in both games, slumping to a 4-9 record, would be lights out for last year’s Grand Finalists.

Queensland have woken from their early season slumber you’d expect them to continue to move towards the Top 8, however their sloppy beginning has put them under more pressure than they’d like. Of the remaining teams outside the Top 8, there’s a five-bell alarm ringing at the Sea Eagles as their season slips through their fingers, the Knights and Titans need a sports psychologist pronto to work

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out their savage mood swings, and the Roosters are showing signs that a 10-year cycle of contending has left the veterans in the squad wondering if they can still get themselves up for the weekly grind of the NRL. That group, ninth to 12, have a huge few weeks ahead of them that might just define their season.