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THE fickle nature of sport has been highlighted by the Rabbitohs' last month. Flying high, competition favourites with no signs of slowing down and suddenly an injury to Greg Inglis, they lose to the Dragons.
They get things back on track against the Gold Coast Titans before a disastrous trip to Townsville where they are belted by the Cowboys, and worse lose another key man, John Sutton.
On a bright note, both men are expected to be back for the finals.
But for all the big four teams, the Roosters, Souths, Manly and Melbourne, it shows the vulnerability of how a season's hard work can be washed away by a key man's simple twist of an ankle.
All the big four teams, of which the 2013 premiers will most certainly come from, have one player that they simply cannot afford to lose.
These are the men that they simply can't win without.
STORM - CAMERON SMITH
Surprise, surprise. The greatest big game player of the modern era, and you can throw them all in, Wally, Alfie, Joey, Bozo, Lazzo.
When a player achieves success, while it fuels performances, over a period of time it tends to kill desire, but the fire in Smith's belly is showing no signs of burning out.
If the Storm were to lose a Cronk or a Slater, it certainly would put a dent in their chances, but only the absence of Cameron Smith would make me put a line through them.
Let's not forget back in 2008 when the Storm took the field on grand final day, with the chance to be the first team since the Broncos of 1998 to go back-to-back.
Manly 40 to Storm 0. Cameron Smith was on the sidelines suspended.
SOUTHS - GREG INGLIS
Everything about South Sydney changes when Greg Inglis is not at fullback.
Inglis' brutal kick returns immediately gets Souths on the front foot, and from there, they just roll up field using Issac Luke as the focal point of their attack, off the momentum that Greg has created.
Without Inglis, they lack thrust and penetration on early tackles and as a consequence play too sideways, in an attempt to get something started.
If Greg returns from this knee injury 100 per cent fit, this little stint on the sideline will be a blessing, as it will allow him to freshen up after a tough State of Origin campaign.
ROOSTERS - JAKE FRIEND
Sonny Bill provides the class, Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney provide the direction, but Jake Friend is the driving force through the middle.
Nothing gives a football team punch and spark like a dummy-half with dynamite in his boots, and Jake has plenty in 2013.
Without a doubt, the competition's most improved individual, if Cameron Smith had broken down during Origin, they tell me Jake Friend was in.
Over the past month the Roosters' attack has become more direct and much more effective, much of that can be attributed to Jake Friend.
The frequency and speed of Friend's runs out of dummy-half means Roosters halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney have no choice but to push up and play direct at the defence, or else be left behind.
To me it explains why Maloney and Pearce played so differently at Origin level.
But the other factor which makes Friend so important to the Roosters is his toughness.
Trent Robinson, said to me recently, "He doesn't get injured, but don't think he doesn't get hurt."
MANLY - BRETT STEWART
Kieran Foran is probably the form player in the competition at this moment, while Daly Cherry-Evans just continues to get better and better, but Brett Stewart is still Manly's most important player.
Foran and Daly put on the plays, but it's Brett who gives the play energy and life.
He also gives Manly great direction to where the ball needs to go.
Stewart will pop up on an inside ball through the middle if he senses vulnerability there, or you'll see him link up with his brother Glenn on the far right hand side if he sees the opposition short.
Every year, everyone seems to forget about Manly, but if Brett Stewart is fully fit and firing they will take a power of stopping.
THE fickle nature of sport has been highlighted by the Rabbitohs' last month. Flying high, competition favourites with no signs of slowing down and suddenly an injury to Greg Inglis, they lose to the Dragons.
They get things back on track against the Gold Coast Titans before a disastrous trip to Townsville where they are belted by the Cowboys, and worse lose another key man, John Sutton.
On a bright note, both men are expected to be back for the finals.
But for all the big four teams, the Roosters, Souths, Manly and Melbourne, it shows the vulnerability of how a season's hard work can be washed away by a key man's simple twist of an ankle.
All the big four teams, of which the 2013 premiers will most certainly come from, have one player that they simply cannot afford to lose.
These are the men that they simply can't win without.
STORM - CAMERON SMITH
Surprise, surprise. The greatest big game player of the modern era, and you can throw them all in, Wally, Alfie, Joey, Bozo, Lazzo.
When a player achieves success, while it fuels performances, over a period of time it tends to kill desire, but the fire in Smith's belly is showing no signs of burning out.
If the Storm were to lose a Cronk or a Slater, it certainly would put a dent in their chances, but only the absence of Cameron Smith would make me put a line through them.
Let's not forget back in 2008 when the Storm took the field on grand final day, with the chance to be the first team since the Broncos of 1998 to go back-to-back.
Manly 40 to Storm 0. Cameron Smith was on the sidelines suspended.
SOUTHS - GREG INGLIS
Everything about South Sydney changes when Greg Inglis is not at fullback.
Inglis' brutal kick returns immediately gets Souths on the front foot, and from there, they just roll up field using Issac Luke as the focal point of their attack, off the momentum that Greg has created.
Without Inglis, they lack thrust and penetration on early tackles and as a consequence play too sideways, in an attempt to get something started.
If Greg returns from this knee injury 100 per cent fit, this little stint on the sideline will be a blessing, as it will allow him to freshen up after a tough State of Origin campaign.
ROOSTERS - JAKE FRIEND
Sonny Bill provides the class, Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney provide the direction, but Jake Friend is the driving force through the middle.
Nothing gives a football team punch and spark like a dummy-half with dynamite in his boots, and Jake has plenty in 2013.
Without a doubt, the competition's most improved individual, if Cameron Smith had broken down during Origin, they tell me Jake Friend was in.
Over the past month the Roosters' attack has become more direct and much more effective, much of that can be attributed to Jake Friend.
The frequency and speed of Friend's runs out of dummy-half means Roosters halves Mitchell Pearce and James Maloney have no choice but to push up and play direct at the defence, or else be left behind.
To me it explains why Maloney and Pearce played so differently at Origin level.
But the other factor which makes Friend so important to the Roosters is his toughness.
Trent Robinson, said to me recently, "He doesn't get injured, but don't think he doesn't get hurt."
MANLY - BRETT STEWART
Kieran Foran is probably the form player in the competition at this moment, while Daly Cherry-Evans just continues to get better and better, but Brett Stewart is still Manly's most important player.
Foran and Daly put on the plays, but it's Brett who gives the play energy and life.
He also gives Manly great direction to where the ball needs to go.
Stewart will pop up on an inside ball through the middle if he senses vulnerability there, or you'll see him link up with his brother Glenn on the far right hand side if he sees the opposition short.
Every year, everyone seems to forget about Manly, but if Brett Stewart is fully fit and firing they will take a power of stopping.
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