TITAN PETE
26-08-10, 03:59 PM
GREG PRICHARD
AUGUST 25, 2010
Twelve teams remain in the hunt for a finals berth, and the rankings reflect the rapid shifting of the sands. Which team is the most likely to bolt from the pack to threaten the frontrunners. Give your predictions.
1. GOLD COAST
Position last ranking: Last week: 2
Five wins in a row, which equals the best winning streak of any team this season, but they can't afford a letdown because they have to keep winning to secure a valuable top-two spot for the finals.
2. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Position last ranking: Last week: 1
However you want to describe the Dragons, chokers is not the word. They are headed for the minor premiership and rested a couple of players against a Raiders team that had to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
3. WESTS TIGERS
Position last ranking: Last week: 4
Should have just about had their game against the Eels wrapped up by halftime, but for a couple of bombed tries. They were getting the staggers towards the end, but it was a pretty impressive performance all up.
4. CANBERRA RAIDERS
Position last ranking: Last week: 8
The league's current excitement machine, with six wins from their last seven games to put themselves in a position from which they can control their own destiny. Two wins from the last two rounds and they make the finals.
5. MELBOURNE
Position last ranking: Last week: 5
Sure, it's going to affect the quality of the finals series to not have them there, but we've had plenty of time to get used to the fact and having cheated the salary cap to the extent they did they don't deserve to be there anyway.
6. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Position last ranking: Last week: 3
Can clinch a finals berth by beating the Broncos at home this weekend. And, in the battle within the battle, they are still a chance to make the top four if they win each of their last two games and other results help them.
7. MANLY
Position last ranking: Last week: 11
Showed plenty of character to edge out the Warriors in the desperate final stages. Been a bit up and down recently, but when they've been at their best they've looked good enough to be a genuine threat in the finals.
8. SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Position last ranking: Last week: 6
Not quite looking like feather dusters after three straight losses, but certainly lacking the calm direction they need on the field. They've been competitive in those defeats, but are all over the shop at the moment.
9. NEWCASTLE
Position last ranking: Last week: 12
Desperately need the celebrated magic of old boys' day to kick in for them again in their last home game of the season against the Dragons. The presence of the former players has automatically lifted the team in the past.
10. PENRITH
Position last ranking: Last week: 13
That was much more like it from the Panthers, running riot to lead 40-0 at halftime against the Rabbitohs before cruising to a 54-18 win. If they can build on that over the last two rounds they will enter the finals in a great mood.
11. PARRAMATTA
Position last ranking: Last week: 10
Didn't get into gear until well into the second half against the Tigers. Why? If you can answer that, tell them. Need a miracle to make the finals from here, but why should God help them after the way they've played this season?
12. BRONCOS
Position last ranking: Last week: 7
How good is Darren Lockyer looking at the moment - and he's not even playing! The Broncos have sunk like a stone in two games without their injured captain, and now they have to go to Auckland to play the Warriors without him.
13. SOUTH SYDNEY
Position last ranking: Last week: 9
Their first half against the Panthers was a disgrace. Russell Crowe was looking on from just behind the fence, and he would have been forgiven had he begun yelling "cut". Injuries are one thing - lack of commitment is another.
14. CANTERBURY
Position last ranking: Last week: 15
Squeezed a narrow win out on the road against the Cowboys, which is nothing to write home about. Must try to get to the end of the season without any further damage and then put it all behind them, like it was just a bad dream.
15. CRONULLA
Position last ranking: Last week: 14
Once again, the struggling Sharks failed to back one win up with another. Admittedly, they were playing the Storm on the road, but their form suggests it would have happened no matter who they were playing and no matter where.
16. NORTH QUEENSLAND
Position last ranking: Last week: 16
Exciting times at the Cowboys - not. If the rampaging Raiders are on their game in Canberra on Saturday night then what sort of hiding might the Cowboys - minus superstar Johnathan Thurston - be in for down there?
AUGUST 25, 2010
Twelve teams remain in the hunt for a finals berth, and the rankings reflect the rapid shifting of the sands. Which team is the most likely to bolt from the pack to threaten the frontrunners. Give your predictions.
1. GOLD COAST
Position last ranking: Last week: 2
Five wins in a row, which equals the best winning streak of any team this season, but they can't afford a letdown because they have to keep winning to secure a valuable top-two spot for the finals.
2. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Position last ranking: Last week: 1
However you want to describe the Dragons, chokers is not the word. They are headed for the minor premiership and rested a couple of players against a Raiders team that had to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
3. WESTS TIGERS
Position last ranking: Last week: 4
Should have just about had their game against the Eels wrapped up by halftime, but for a couple of bombed tries. They were getting the staggers towards the end, but it was a pretty impressive performance all up.
4. CANBERRA RAIDERS
Position last ranking: Last week: 8
The league's current excitement machine, with six wins from their last seven games to put themselves in a position from which they can control their own destiny. Two wins from the last two rounds and they make the finals.
5. MELBOURNE
Position last ranking: Last week: 5
Sure, it's going to affect the quality of the finals series to not have them there, but we've had plenty of time to get used to the fact and having cheated the salary cap to the extent they did they don't deserve to be there anyway.
6. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Position last ranking: Last week: 3
Can clinch a finals berth by beating the Broncos at home this weekend. And, in the battle within the battle, they are still a chance to make the top four if they win each of their last two games and other results help them.
7. MANLY
Position last ranking: Last week: 11
Showed plenty of character to edge out the Warriors in the desperate final stages. Been a bit up and down recently, but when they've been at their best they've looked good enough to be a genuine threat in the finals.
8. SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Position last ranking: Last week: 6
Not quite looking like feather dusters after three straight losses, but certainly lacking the calm direction they need on the field. They've been competitive in those defeats, but are all over the shop at the moment.
9. NEWCASTLE
Position last ranking: Last week: 12
Desperately need the celebrated magic of old boys' day to kick in for them again in their last home game of the season against the Dragons. The presence of the former players has automatically lifted the team in the past.
10. PENRITH
Position last ranking: Last week: 13
That was much more like it from the Panthers, running riot to lead 40-0 at halftime against the Rabbitohs before cruising to a 54-18 win. If they can build on that over the last two rounds they will enter the finals in a great mood.
11. PARRAMATTA
Position last ranking: Last week: 10
Didn't get into gear until well into the second half against the Tigers. Why? If you can answer that, tell them. Need a miracle to make the finals from here, but why should God help them after the way they've played this season?
12. BRONCOS
Position last ranking: Last week: 7
How good is Darren Lockyer looking at the moment - and he's not even playing! The Broncos have sunk like a stone in two games without their injured captain, and now they have to go to Auckland to play the Warriors without him.
13. SOUTH SYDNEY
Position last ranking: Last week: 9
Their first half against the Panthers was a disgrace. Russell Crowe was looking on from just behind the fence, and he would have been forgiven had he begun yelling "cut". Injuries are one thing - lack of commitment is another.
14. CANTERBURY
Position last ranking: Last week: 15
Squeezed a narrow win out on the road against the Cowboys, which is nothing to write home about. Must try to get to the end of the season without any further damage and then put it all behind them, like it was just a bad dream.
15. CRONULLA
Position last ranking: Last week: 14
Once again, the struggling Sharks failed to back one win up with another. Admittedly, they were playing the Storm on the road, but their form suggests it would have happened no matter who they were playing and no matter where.
16. NORTH QUEENSLAND
Position last ranking: Last week: 16
Exciting times at the Cowboys - not. If the rampaging Raiders are on their game in Canberra on Saturday night then what sort of hiding might the Cowboys - minus superstar Johnathan Thurston - be in for down there?