Any other NRL season and the Wests Tigers bus rolls right into September.

Ivan Cleary's Tigers are desperate to post their 13th win of the season against South Sydney on Thursday night to cap a year most in the game never envisaged.

Nobody's bunny: Moses Mbye gets in on the action against the Rabbitohs. Credit:AAP

Since the NRL kicked off in 1998, only Canberra in 1999 have won 13 games and failed to make the finals.

When Mad Monday officially starts on Friday for the Tigers, you have to wonder if the players will be elated or deflated with the season.