Six months ago, few would have thought Curtis Sironen's return from an injury could help kick-start Manly's NRL finals campaign.
Firstly, because Sironen spent most of 2016 in the Wests Tigers' reserve grade side.
And secondly, because no-one thought the Sea Eagles would be playing in the second weekend of September.
"We've already proved a few people wrong," Sironen said.
"I don't think anyone thought we were going to be there.
"They thought we were going to be bottom dwellers."
Sironen will play his first finals match after six seasons in the NRL against Penrith on Saturday night, and his importance in the Allianz Stadium fixture shouldn't be understated.
His turnaround in form from last season has been immense.
In the nine games Sironen missed with a pectoral injury before returning against the Panthers last week, Manly dropped five of them.
In comparison, the Sea Eagles are 10-from-15 in games with the 24-year-old in the side.
Depth was always going to be an issue at Manly this year, as has been conceded a number of times by coach Trent Barrett.
But Sironen has developed into more than just a number this season.
Instead, he is the glue to Manly's crucial right-edge nestled either side of Daly Cherry-Evans and Dylan Walker.
"Playing outside Chez, he makes me look pretty good," Sironen said.
"All I've got to do is go out and do my job. Just talk to my middles and talk to Chez and just make sure everything is going smoothly.
"They make me look good."
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