The start of the season for the Brisbane Broncos began with Wayne Bennett apparently losing the dressing room, with a lot of well known NRL pundits putting a line through the Broncos final aspirations.
The Broncos started the year facing last years top four, coming out of that with two wins and two losses. Along with a few injuries, they came through the Origin period facing an uphill battle with star half Anthony Milford injured.
Hitting their straps late in the year as Milford returned with a bang they started to put teams to bed with authority. Reality hit as Parramatta piled 54 points on them, then finishing out the regular season strong with a 10 point win over the Cowboys in Townsville.
I couldn't see how the likes of Peter Sterling could write this team off, with players like Milford, Hunt, Gillett, McGuire, Boyd, the speed of Jimmy the Jet along with the muscle of Oates and Moga.
Even with key injuries to key players this year, the Broncos have assured themselves a Top 4 spot, as every week they silence their critics.
Most of those pundits who put the line through the Broncos are now eating their words with all of them stating if anyone is going to beat the almost unbeatable Melbourne Storm, it will be the Broncos.
The Broncos had a lot of players coming off contract in 2017. They're losing Ben Hunt and Benji Marshall but managed to make a lot of key re-signings including Matt Gillet, Anthony Milford, Alex Glenn and landing their first million dollar man in Jack Bird.
The future looks bright for the Broncos as they look to win their first premiership since 2006.
Is 2017 the year they go all the way?