With the home and away season winding towards a conclusion, opportunities for teams to break into the eight are rapidly declining.
For some clubs, fantasies of playing finals this season were dashed long ago, but for others, the dream is still alive - albeit fleetingly.
Each team outside the eight is far from the finished product. They all require an injection of talent in at least one major position on the field.
Whilst contemplating these gaps, we found ourselves pondering a hypothetical question – if each club outside the eight could select one legend to help boost their finals chances, who would they choose?
After scouring the stats, team sheets and possibilities, these were the champions we thought would make the best additions.
Sitting two wins outside the top eight, the Wests Tigers are still a slight chance to play finals footy.
Although in somewhat of a rebuild phase, the Tigers still have arguably the club's greatest player at their disposal in Benji Marshall.
Together with Harry Grant admirably filling Robbie Farah's boots at hooker, we had to cast a wider net and our minds back to before the merger to make our selection.
With a weakness at the lock position, our selection logically became Wayne Pearce.
Although a Tiger of the Balmain variety, ‘Junior' never lined up for the amalgamated club. He did however coach the side in their inaugural season of 2000.
Having represented Balmain, New South Wales and his country admirably, a peak Pearce's skill and knowledge would almost certainly propel Wests into the eight.
In a fortunate position, the young Dragons have a myriad of immortals available for their fantasy selection.
With names like Norm Proven in the second row, Johnny Raper at lock and Graeme ‘Changa' Langlands in the number one jersey obtainable, it would be hard for even the Dragons to stuff this selection up.
However, with Tyson Frizell, captain Cameron McInnes and the in-form Matthew Dufty already filling these spots, we cast our eye to elsewhere on the paddock.
It is for this reason that we have selected one of the original four immortals and ‘The Prince of Centres', Reg Gasnier.
in 125 games for the Red V, Gasnier won a staggering six premierships. His international career saw him lace the boots as a Kangaroo on 39 occasions, eight of which he was skipper.
Before his death at the age of 74, Gasnier was honored with a statue of his likeness at the SCG.
With a resume as strong as this and a habit of premiership success, Gasnier's re-selection would doubtlessly have the current Dragons breathing fire.
With franchise player and electric speedster Tom Trbojevic sidelined, the Sea Eagles have a hole at fullback.
If they are at all keen on arresting their slide this season, they would almost certainly be keen to select Brett Stewart to slip back into the number one jersey.
In his eleven seasons at Brookvale, ‘Snake' was a mainstay at the back for Manly. Often lining up alongside brother Glenn at club level, Brett also represented his state of New South Wales and his country.
With two premierships to his name, Stewart would undoubtedly have the attention of the modern day Manly men every time he opened his mouth.
Having played the entirety of his 233 game and 163 try career as a Sea Eagle, the addition of Stewart at his best would not only have the Brooky' crowd buzzing, but would even act as an upgrade on ‘Tommy Turbo'.
Having recently lost not only a great half, but also a great leader in Blake Green, the Warriors are desperate for more than just quality in the position.
With their selection, the Auckland based franchise should look no further than the greatest ever Warrior – Stacey Jones.
In his 261-game career over two stints with New Zealand, Jones played as a model halfback, with sublime vision, foot skills, passing ability and jinking runs his trademark.
Although never a winner of a premiership ring, Jones represented the Kiwis on 46 occasions across a 12-year span.
Having spent the entire season away from home, the young Warriors roster would also benefit from the presence of veteran Ruben Wiki. As a man who helped build the club's culture, Wiki would act as more than handy inclusion if the Warriors sought to select him instead.
The Gold Coast Titans have been open about their rebuild and it is clear to every league fan that they are desperate for quality across most of the team list.
When pondering who their pick would be, it was only natural that Scott Prince's name came to mind. However, with the Titans' aim more than likely to aide the maturation of Ashley Taylor in the position, we went in a different direction.
As an inaugural Titan, Preston Campbell was undoubtedly tasked with creating and maintaining the club's culture.
With damaging ability and wise head on his shoulders, Campbell would not only aide Taylor's progression, but that too of the entire roster.
With Campbell hypothetically back within the four walls of the club, he would be able to re-inject the values he constructed to this new breed of fledgling Titans.
I mean seriously, who else could it be?
Cowboys fans are reminded of his legendary status every time they walk past his bronzed presence outside Queensland Country Bank Stadium.
Their DVD copies of the 2015 premiership would be closer to liquid than solid after repeat viewings of his greatness that night.
If you were to give the Cowboys a theoretical selection, it would only ever be the man they call ‘JT'.
You can still see him on the field now. Running water, barking advice and looking fit as a fiddle.
It wouldn't take a Mensa member to tell you that Allan Langer would be filthy about the current state of his once proud club.
If the Broncos were to give him an opportunity, I'm sure that ‘Alfie' would jump out of his skin to pull the boots on again and right Brisbane's wrongs.
In his 258 games in maroon and gold, Langer was deadly from the halfback position scoring 100 tries and setting up a plethora more.
‘The Ipswich connection' finished his career with four premierships, a record amount of Queensland origin appearances and the legendary honour of having a bar named after him.
Langer currently has a position coaching the current crop of Broncs', but there is nothing like leading by example.
Canterbury currently sit flat last and look devoid of energy as well as talent.
Their high profile five-eight Kieran Foran is in desperate need for an insertion of talent beside him.
To help avoid further blues for the blue and whites, we suggest that the club's brass pick up the phone, call the lab and get them to genetically construct another Terry Lamb.
Across 262 games for the Dogs, Lamb was as consistent as death and taxes, winning a record total of 18 Dally M awards and skippering the Pups to premiership glory in 1995.
No doubt irate about his club's current state, if the Dog's could add Terry Lamb at his zenith to their contemporary roster, then there would be no need to clear room for the 2020 spoon.
Put simply, the man bled for Canterbury, and he'd do it all again.