After appearing in just two games in 2017 courtesy of a torn ACL, Cowboys co-captain Matt Scott returned with a point to prove in 2018.
Scott's importance to the Cowboys amplified after star recruit and front-row partner Jordan McLean went down with a long-term foot injury in Round 4.
The 33-year-old didn't miss a beat returning from his own serious injury, appearing in all of the Cowboys first 12 games.
Scott would then be forced through a neck ailment for much of the back half of the season, missing six games in total, but returned with a vengeance late in the season.
'Thumper' ran for at least 130 metres in each of his last four appearances of 2018, including a vintage 182-metre effort against arch-rivals Brisbane in Round 22.
Scott also became just the third player in club history to appear in 250 games, celebrating the milestone at 1300SMILES Stadium against Parramatta in Round 24.
2018 stats:
Games: 18
Runs per game: 11
Run metres per games: 104
Post-contact metres per games: 37
Tackles per game: 22
Tackle efficiency: 88%
