2. Melbourne Storm: Great victory over the Bulldogs with the ‘big three’ backing up after Origin. This might be Craig Bellamy’s best effort with the southern franchise, given they are under the cap and still in line for the minor premiership.
3. North Queensland Cowboys: Wins without Johnathan Thurston are as rare as hen’s teeth, but that’s what’s they achieved against a red-hot Newcastle last night. Although the Kangaroos half will be out for at least another four weeks, signs are good for the Townsville-based outfit.
4. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles: Lucky, rather than good against the wasteful Rabbitohs on Sunday. Kieran Foran could well take advantage of Thurston’s injury to take the lead in the Dally M running while Glenn Stewart has been outstanding.
5. Brisbane Broncos: Had the weekend off but get a chance to keep their form going against the sorry Gold Coast Titans this weekend. Darren Lockyer’s farewell is getting closer and closer and the Broncos will be keen to send the legendary pivot out a winner.
6. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: Wow. Simply wow. Four wins in a row. If they keep this up, there Sharks will be in the eight, an unthinkable scenario at the start of the season. Paul Gallen’s admission that he is exhausted is a worry.
7. New Zealand Warriors: Scored a regulation victory over the Titans last Friday and face the beleaguered Bulldogs this weekend. The coming weeks are their chance to cement a play-off spot.
8. Newcastle Knights: Dropped a stinker to the understrength Cowboys on Monday night. Welcomed back Jarrod Mullen from a pectoral injury, but were out-enthused by a gritty Cowboys outfit. Have to win the tough ones to stay in play-off reckoning.
9. Penrith Panthers: Steve Georgallis’ honeymoon ended with Sunday’s shock loss to the Roosters, but Penrith still have the tools to make a run at the finals.
10. Parramatta Eels: Only two wins out of the eight after last Friday’s victory against the Tigers. Jarryd Hayne’s switch to five-eighth could be the key to the rest of Parramatta’s season.
11. Wests Tigers: Uh oh. Angry players, a Benji Marshall that maybe came back a touch too soon, an exodus of talent and a losing streak at exactly the wrong time of the season. The Tigers have to get back on track now or a season full of promise will go down the drain.
12. South Sydney Rabbitohs: Should have beaten Manly. Their wastefulness in tough contests will be the difference between a September berth and another early exit.
13. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: The pressure on coach Kevin Moore continues to mount after the weekend’s loss to Melbourne. The Bulldogs were not disgraced, but they need to start winning starting this weekend.
14. Sydney Roosters: Back in the winner’s circle at the expense of a listless Panthers. Have too much to do to make the finals, but will provide more than nuisance value for teams jockeying for spots in the eight.
15. Canberra Raiders: Their season is officially over after falling to the Sharks on Saturday night. The year’s big disappointment.
16: Gold Coast Titans: In a bad place. No light at the end of the tunnel this season. Mat Rogers’ heart-warming comeback lasted 20 minutes. Probably a good indication of how 2011 has been for the boys from the glitter strip.
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