North Queensland's new defensive system at its best, as it was last week, has given coach Todd Payten and his team belief they can do something special this finals series.
That all starts with Saturday night's home elimination final against Newcastle. The system has been a work in progress but now it's starting to click into gear at the right time.
Assistant coach Justin Morgan, previously at the Warriors, came across to replace Dean Young this season as 'Minister for Defence' and work on a new way of doing business.
The Cowboys had the worst overall defensive record of all teams in the top eight through 24 rounds, conceding 564 points.
However, since the round 16 bye they have given up 179 points in nine matches at an average of just under 20 per game. Still not where they want it, but it is on the improve.
They won seven of those nine matches to surge into fifth position and there were three wins - 16-6 over Penrith, 42-4 against Canberra and last week's 44-6 demolition of Canterbury - that showcased the system at its best.
That is what Payten wants from here on in.
"Part of the job for myself and the rest of the coaches has been to manage the group and I think it has been more of a challenge this year than others in my four years," Payten said.
"We had some distractions along the way and the defensive system did take a little bit of time for everyone to get a grasp of.
"I feel like we all completely understand what is expected of that now.
"I did take a bit longer that I expected but we've had players doing the same thing for a long time so to change those rusted on habits were time consuming and a matter of reps."
Canterbury won the 1995 title from sixth in a top 10 finals system.
But no team has managed to come from outside the top four to win a premiership since finals were changed to a top eight. Payten said it would happen eventually.
The Cowboys have the best record of all teams against top-eight sides this year, having won seven of 10 games.
"If we are to go on and do something special we have to create some history and we understand that," he said.
"It's not that common that people from outside the top four get in a grand final and win it but it has been done in the AFL (by Western Bulldogs in 2016) and done a long time ago in our game. We are very capable but our focus is on (the Knights)."
Knights gun No.1 Kalyn Ponga is crucial to the result and in top form but second-rower Tyson Frizell said the side was far from a one-man band.
"I think we've been slowly building. Individually we've been more accountable on how we're playing," he said.
"When everyone else is doing their job, it does free up Kalyn. He's starting to play some of his best footy towards the back end of this year.
"When he's playing well, we're doing well too. Our forwards are playing some good footy and laying that platform for him.
"If we're not doing our job, we're not getting the best out of him. We always need to be at our best to unleash him."
