I'd suggest the 2003 Broncos, who finished in 8th position despite losing their last 8 matches. They gave a fair account of themselves in the 1 vs 8 final at Penrith, leading 18-2 with a gale at their back before capitulating and conceding 26 unanswered points in better than even time to the eventual premiers, who put the cue in the rack in the last 20 minutes with a cricket score beckoning.
Last year's Broncos would come close too.
Then there's the Manly side of 2005. They scraped in ahead of a gaggle of teams after disposing of an extremely inept Raiders side in the last round, but would not have beaten any other of the bottom 8, especially the wooden spooners, Newcastle, who had won 8 of their last 11 (after losing their first 13 in a row) with A Johns in vintage form. Manly were duly demolished by the minor premiers Parramatta, who themselves were gunned down unceremoniously well before the last dance.
