Four new teams might join the playoffs as last year's finalists struggle, while the Tigers and Rabbitohs excel.
In order to break into the top eight, you need finals teams from last year to fall out, so could we be seeing four new teams make it into the playoffs this year?
So far we have watched last year's grand finalists fall to second last, the minor premiers only rake in two wins, and the fourth-placed Bulldogs drop four losses.
On the flip side, the Wests Tigers and Rabbitohs are two of the league's scariest attacking sides, while North Queensland and Manly are showing new-found resilience.
Few would've believed in the pre-season that the Tigers, Rabbitohs, Cowboys and Sea Eagles would all be sitting above the Sharks, Bulldogs, Raiders and Storm after Round 8.
While it's still early, and the competition is still anyone's game, here are how those teams are tracking and what their realistic chances are of turning things around.