The Wests Tigers experienced a downturn after a promising start, raising questions about Benji Marshall's leadership.
In the preseason, Marshall had candidly stated to his players that the team's professional standards and integrity would be paramount in 2026.
"At the Wests Tigers now, we f***ing stand for something, and if you're not prepared to follow what we stand for, guess what, there's the f***ing door," he proclaimed in a club docuseries.
Fast forward to July, and one might ponder whether that door was more of a revolving kind.
The team kicked off the season with remarkable success, suggesting that Marshall's vision and strategies were taking effect.
It feels like ages ago, but the joint venture won five out of their first seven matches.
They triumphed against formidable opponents, including a dominant win over the North Queensland Cowboys, scoring 44 points against them.
They held their ground against the South Sydney Rabbitohs and achieved a victory over the now top-four New Zealand Warriors in Auckland.
The Tigers bested the Newcastle Knights at home, clinched a tight Easter Monday match, and defeated the Canberra Raiders in a game that marked the start of their struggles.
The only other setback came from a loss to the Brisbane Broncos at their home ground.