They were the feel-good story of last season and the Penrith Panthers say nothing short of NRL finals football will suffice in 2015.
Few would have dared predict Ivan Cleary's side would make it to within one game of the grand final last year.
But, led by resurgent playmaker Jamie Soward, the no-frills side persevered through what should have been a crippling injury toll to be the season's surprise packets.
In the process the Panthers put the competition on notice that their future was bright and there is plenty more in store in 2015.
Local products Matt Moylan, Bryce Cartwright and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, along with former Cronulla back-rower Tyrone Peachey, established themselves as some of the best young talent around.
James Segeyaro, Brent Kite and Elijah Taylor proved shrewd buys and lent credence to general manager Phil Gould's "five-year plan" for the club.
After beating minor premiers the Sydney Roosters in the first week of the finals, Penrith's run came to an end against Canterbury in the preliminary final.
Winning when they had little right to was a feature of the Panthers' 2014 season.
"We might have surprised a lot of people but as a squad we had faith in the talent that we had here," says halfback Peter Wallace.
"We might have had a new team but we gelled quickly. We did more than a lot of other people thought we were set to achieve but we want to keep improving as a group this year."
Going into the season, Josh Mansour and Jamal Idris are the club's only injury concerns.
Taylor (ACL), Cartwright (ankle), Peachey (pectoral) and Wallace (ACL) have all recovered from injuries which cut short their 2014 campaigns.
Mansour (shoulder) underwent surgery after appearing for Australia in the Four Nations while Idris (back) had an operation to repair nerve damage. Both are expected to miss round one but scheduled to return soon after.
The Panthers were one of the least active clubs in the off-season market, their only significant signing being ex-South Sydney rake Apisai Koroisau.
Koroisau was back-up to Issac Luke last season and capably filled in for the suspended New Zealand No.9 in the Rabbitohs' grand final victory.
He will fight it out with Segeyaro for the Panthers' No.9 jersey.
Segeyaro was the No.1 hooker in the NRL for line breaks in 2014 and his creativity took pressure off Wallace and Soward.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Premierships: 2 1991, 2003
Finishes over the past three seasons: 2014 - 4th, 2013 - 10th, 2012 - 15th
Coach: Ivan Cleary
Captain: Peter Wallace
Gains: Apisai Koroisau (Rabbitohs), Tupou Sopoaga (Sharks).
Losses: Tim Grant (Rabbitohs), Kevin Kingston (retired), Ryan Simpkins (Titans), Wes Naiqama (London Broncos), Matt Robinson (Titans), Eto Nabuli (Dragons), Kierran Moseley (Titans).
Strength: The Panthers have some of the best youngsters in the competition. Matt Moylan has been earmarked as a future representative star while Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak have quality written all over them.
Weakness: They say you need a superstar to win a competition. So the question remains, can Ivan Cleary's band of journeymen and youngsters deliver?
Money Man: Playmaker Jamie Soward's NRL career looked over when he made a mid-season switch to the London Broncos in 2013 but just over 12 months later he led the Panthers' charge to the preliminary final. The side's fate will rest on his shoulders again.
One to watch: Josh Mansour. The winger topped the Panthers' try scoring list in 2014 and capped the year by earning selection in Australia's Four Nations squad. He should be all the better for that in 2015.
Best team: Matt Moylan, Josh Mansour, Dean Whare, Jamal Idris, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace (capt), Brent Kite, James Segeyaro, Sam McKendry, Bryce Cartwright, Tyrone Peachey, Elijah Taylor. Interchange: Apisai Koroisau, Adam Docker, Jeremy Latimore, Nigel Plum.
Predicted finish: 7th
Betting: $9
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