North Queensland coach Todd Payten is all smiles again as the last time the fifth-placed Cowboys were in the NRL's top eight after seven rounds was five years ago.
After four consecutive seasons finishing in the bottom four, the Cowboys are the competition's surprise package, with their next big test coming against third-placed Parramatta in Darwin on Saturday.
Naming the same 17 that easily disposed of Gold Coast in the last round by 26 points, Payten is revelling in their new-found continuity that was missing a year ago.
"This season our form corresponds with that continuity," he said.
Co-captain Jason Taumalolo has strung together eight consecutive games for the first time since rounds 14 to 21 last season, winning more games this year (4) than he did all of last season (3).
"Jase is playing great because of that," his coach said of the Tongan's recent form.
"Everyone else has benefited from same combinations, match fitness, continuity."
In the only major injury-enforced change this year, Scott Drinkwater has thrived at fullback since Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow's PCL injury against the Sydney Roosters in round four.
The Cowboys have been impacted by concussion protocols but it's nothing as compared to 2021 when they lost Taumalolo to three hand injuries, Michael Morgan to medical retirement (shoulder) and Reuben Cotter (foot) for the majority of the year.
They have since changed their preparations for the Eels after falling way short of the mark with a 28-4 hiding at home against the Sydney Roosters.
Payten said instead of focusing on their opposition, this time it's about adapting their style of play to suit the hot and humid conditions.
"The way we prepared for that game, we spoke a lot about the Roosters and this week against a top-four team we've put it back around what we need to do," he said.
"We also proved to ourselves over the past month that when we play the game the right way, and our style of footy, we're good enough to win matches. So I've seen the belief grow in the group."
Darwin has been a happy hunting ground for Parramatta, who have won six of their last seven in the Territory.
But their last loss there came at the hands of the Cowboys in 2017.
The Eels are unchanged from their big win over Newcastle with Dylan Brown to start in the centres again and Jake Arthur at five-eighth.
Saturday's contest will also bring up 200 NRL games for Cowboys halfback Chad Townsend in a milestone game for their marquee playmaker.
