It’s why Cronulla’s incredible 15-game winning streak this season was accompanied by the usual whispers that they could “use a loss” before the finals. Some took it further to say they flat out “needed” one. They’ve since had two of them, and a draw, and the Sharks faithful, so accustomed to failure, are getting restless. Shane Flanagan isn’t.

“All teams go through it at different stages,” Flanagan said after his side’s loss to the Dragons last week.

“We’ve won enough games this year to prove we can play footy. Good teams sometimes fall out of form but they find it again.”

Of course he’s supposed to say that but his comments do have the backing of history. 

While the general theory that even the best sides will plateau at some stage of the season is almost universally accepted, it was the old mastercoach Wayne Bennett who was the first to actually implement a strategy around it.

In 2006 the Broncos were sitting in first spot at the conclusion of round 13 heading into the traditionally tough Origin period. Much like they have this season, the Broncos then won just two of their next nine games. It included five straight losses, a run Bennett famously refused to acknowledge as a ‘slump’. 

Instead he saw it as the natural manifestation of a strategy where he put his players through a mini preseason midway through the year. He was willing to accept that his players would be flat and tired during games and, as occurred, a few losses along the way.

The payoff was the rest he could give them over the closing rounds, leaving them refreshed and recharged for the finals. They won their last three games heading into the finals, dropped the qualifying final, before going on to win the premiership. 

It’s a pattern that has repeated itself in ensuing seasons as the premiership contenders run into sides either fighting tooth and nail to reach the finals or out of contention with nothing to lose. Last year, North Queensland won 11 straight games between round four and round 15. They then lost five of 10 games, including three of their last five, to finish third before making their charge at the premiership. 

In 2014 South Sydney’s longest winning streak was five games and they lost two of their last three regular season games to also finish third and mount their premiership charge from there. The 2013 Roosters also lost two of their last three games.

Melbourne started their 2012 campaign with nine straight wins but won just three of 10 games through the middle of the season. From there they regrouped and strung together eight straight wins, the last of which came in the decider. The 2011 Sea Eagles bucked the trend slightly but still lost two of their last six including their final game. The Dragons in 2010 lost four of their last nine, the Storm in 2009 lost three of their last six while the Manly side of 2008 lost three of their last seven.

Cronulla aren’t alone in hitting some late season wobbles. Melbourne got out of jail against Souths before being soundly beaten by Canberra while the Cowboys two straight losses have been well-publicised. The common denominator is State of Origin with those three sides all heavily represented in this year’s series. 

At their best they’re still the three sides most capable of winning this year’s title.