St George Illawarra
Position: 1st
Points: 23
Next five rounds: Broncos (a), Manly (h), Knights (h), bye, Sharks (h)
Where they’re at: Right we’re they want to be. They have lost twice and had a draw. Phenomenal effort. Origin and injuries have taken some of their momentum, but they look the team to beat. At full strength, they will surely finish with a third consecutive minor premiership.
What needs to improve: Points. There are plenty of teams who put of more points week-in, week-out. Wayne Bennett’s game is based about fearsome defence and error-free football and it works a treat. Certainly no need to change.
Prediction: Minor premiers
Melbourne Storm
Position: 2nd
Points: 22
Next five rounds: bye, Warriors (a), bye, Bulldogs (a), Raiders (a)
Where they’re at: Most observers would be surprised to see the Storm this high this far in, but we have to remember they still have three of the best six players in the world. Craig Bellamy continues to get the maximum possible out of his talent, while English pivot Gareth Widdop has been impressive.
What needs to improve: Forwards. Simply put, the Storm lost a lot of up-front grunt after the salary cap scandal. They were bounced around by Canberra and New Zealand in the middle third of the field in their two most recent losses. Also the Storm have had a lot of home games – things never go as well on the road.
Prediction: 4th
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Position: 3rd
Points: 22
Next five rounds: Eels (h), Dragons (a), bye, Rabbitohs (a), Knights (a)
Where they’re at: Some would say the real surprise packets to date this season. Most pundits would say they are the team best-equipped to tackle the Dragons. A lot of their standing is based on a good record at Brookvale Oval, but bruising defence has also played a part.
What needs to improve: Again, there’s lots of road games in this team’s future. Not good. Also, their attack – led by rookie halves Daly Cherry-Evans and Keiran Foran – lacks the explosiveness of the 2008 premiership-winning side.
Prediction: 5th
North Queensland Cowboys
Position: 4th
Points: 20
Next five rounds: Warriors (h), Panthers (a), bye, Knights (a), Wests (h)
Where they’re at: This was the team Yours Truly had for the spoon – some tipster I am. Going good. With Thurston running the show, Scott the forward charge and guys like the Sims boys, Glenn Hall and Dallas Johnson on the edges and Matty Bowen at the back, the sky’s the limit for the lads from the Deep North.
What needs to improve: Defence. Manly tore them apart the other night and they are fifth-worst in the league at missing tackles. That must improve if they are going to do anything in September.
Prediction: 3rd
Brisbane Broncos
Position: 5th
Points: 20
Next five rounds: Dragons (h), Rabbitohs (a), Eels (a), bye, Titans (h)
Where they’re at: Sitting pretty – haven’t got the class of Manly or Melbourne, who both beat them recently (sans Origin stars) but they look certain to play finals football. There were plenty of observers who thought they couldn't achieve that this year after Ivan Henjak was canned just before the start of the season. It’s been defence so far for the Broncos under new coach Anthony Griffin.
What needs to improve: No second phase play: the Broncos average only 10 offloads a game, meaning their attack can be a little bit one dimensional.
Prediction: 6th
Wests Tigers
Position: 6th
Points: 16
Next five rounds: Storm (h), Dogs (h), bye, Eels (a), Cowboys (a)
Where they’re at: Inconsistent. Got out of jail big time against the Warriors on the weekend. Therein lies the rub – the Tigers are brilliant, but brittle. The week before they had to rely on golden point to beat Newcastle. There are rumours coach Tim Sheens wants to clean out his roster and reports of blues at training. However, if they get it all together, the Tigers could well be the club to knock off the Dragons come play-off time.
What needs to improve: Go forward. The Tigers spent too much time going sideways and are the only club to produce less than 950m gained in one contest this season. At their best when the forwards get a roll on and create space for Benji, Farah and the rest.
Prediction: 2nd
New Zealand Warriors
Position: 7th
Points: 16
Next five rounds: Cowboys (a), Storm (h), bye, Titans (h), Dogs (h)
Where they’re at: Good stretch coming up – ample opportunities to climb the ladder. Rated dark horses. Won seven of eight at one point. Feleti Mateo has been influential, particularly in offloads category, where the Warriors lead the competition.
What needs to improve: For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction – while the Warriors lead the league in offloads, their error rate is also up.
Prediction: 7th
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Position: 8th
Points: 16
Next five rounds: Sharks (h), Tigers (a), Panthers (a), Storm (h), Warriors (h)
Where they’re at: Hmmm. This could be a telling month for the Dogs – get on a roll, up the table they go. Lose a few times and they could be on the outside looking in when the play-offs come around. Jamal Idiris’ suspension for missing training is a worry, as are the whispers Kevin Moore could be on the way out.
What needs to improve: They concede more metres than anyone in the competition and also struggle to turn field position into points. Not good problems to have if you want to contend for the title. Fortunately, the Dogs have the quality to get themselves out of a jam.
Prediction: 8th
Newcastle Knights
Position: 9th
Points: 14
Next five rounds: Panthers (h), Roosters (h), Dragons (a), Cowboys (h), Sea Eagles (h)
Prediction: 11th. Things will just tail away from here for the Novocastrians. Better luck next year.
Penrith Panthers
Position: 10th
Points: 14
Next five rounds: Knights (a), Cowboys (h), Bulldogs (h), Roosters (a), Eels (h)
Prediction: 9th. They could well squeeze in, but they’re not that good. They have to beat everyone below them and games against the likes of the Bulldogs and Panthers.
Parramatta Eels
Position: 11th
Points: 13
Next five rounds: Sea Eagles (a), Raiders (a), Broncos (h), Wests (h), Panthers (a)
Prediction: 13th. Ugh. Another failed year beckons. Some of the blame has to the go the old regime for buying the likes of Chris Hicks, Carl Webb, Chris Walker and the like. Daniel Mortimer has been a bust. The Eels are likely to keep going backwards.
South Sydney
Position: 12th
Points: 10
Next five rounds: Titans (h), Broncos (h), Sharks (a), Sea Eagles (a), Roosters (h)
Prediction: 12th. Too many injuries to the engine room. Their halfback got paid and is out the door. So is the coach. They’ll turn up once a month but otherwise it’s more disappointment for the Bunnies.
Sydney Roosters
Position: 13th
Points: 10th
Next five rounds: bye, Knights (a), Raiders (h), Panthers (h), Rabbitohs (a)
Prediction: 10th. Now or never for the Bondi boys. After last year’s fairy tale run to the decider, this season has been a hangover of epic proportions.
Gold Coast Titans
Position: 14th
Points: 10
Next five rounds: Rabbitohs (a), Sharks (h), bye, Warriors (a), Broncos (a)
Prediction: 15th. Another disappointment. Finished one game from a grand final last year but it always seemed they were a bit old to repeat this year.
Cronulla Sharks
Position: 15th
Points: 10
Next five rounds: Bulldogs (a), Titans (a), Rabbitohs (h), Raiders (h), Dragons (a)
Prediction: 16th. Unfortunately, pluck can only take you so far. Cronulla are running into a tough part of the season and just haven’t got to the depth.
Canberra Raiders
Position: 16th
Points: 8
Next five rounds: bye, Eels (h), Roosters (a), Sharks (a), Storm (h)
Prediction: 14th. They’ve given up too much ground, which is a shame cause they started this season as a favourite to win the whole thing.
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