What didn't break them has made North Queensland duo Tom Chester and Heilum Luki stronger as they fire the side's imminent return to finals football.
Chester, whose blistering speed and toughness have shone brightly this year, spent 600 days on the sidelines after his second ACL rupture before returning to action in Las Vegas in round one.
Luki, who has been a standout in the second-row, had his 2025 wiped out after he appeared destined the year before to make his Queensland debut. It was also his second ACL tear.
The Cowboys need one more win to play finals and with Parramatta (away), Canberra and Wests Tigers (home) on the horizon, along with a bye, they should get the job done.
Chester was in the State of Origin discussion for the Maroons due to his red-hot start to the season. He attributes his form to making up for lost time and a good mate.
"I had 600 days without playing a game of NRL but I had big Heilum Luki next to me (in rehab)," Chester said.
" That makes the tough times a bit easier and he has probably become one of my best mates.
"There is a positive out of all that. It was a fair while between NRL games but I have only missed one game this year.
"I am just stoked to be playing footy again.
"Run hard and tackle harder. That is the way I play. I have good people around me."
Luki is certainly one of those. Last week against the Gold Coast he scored a try double and defended to his usual high standard in a 30-8 win.
"He is an absolute athlete ... a beast. I am just glad to see him go well," Chester enthused.
Luki was back in the Maroons squad for game two of this year's Origin series but did not play.
"I''d had a taste of what Queensland footy was like so it made me hungry to get back next year and hopefully make the 17," he said.
"It just gave me a lot of motivation to come back to club footy and really put my best foot forward."
Luki said there was no secret to getting back to his best after his injury.
"Just working hard," he said, adding he felt top form would come in the end.
The Cowboys have been up and down this year, with the 82-12 hiding at the hands of Sydney Roosters a fortnight ago the lowest ebb.
Luki said the Titans win was a solid response and he has no doubt his side can make a title tilt.
'I think we can definitely go all the way, and we've shown throughout the year that we can defend really well," he said.
"It's just doing it for the whole 80 minutes."
