AS round 19 looms in the National Rugby League (I know! What? Round 19 already, wow!) I’ve given myself a little assignment. I’ve gone onto NRL.com and clicked on the ladder predictor. I’m keen to see where every team will end up once the season proper ends in round 27. Given that, let’s look at who finishes in the top 8 this season and in what position (in my opinion).
1st. Canberra 46 points.
What a season the Green Machine are having this season after 7 straight wins. Given that numerous ‘experts’ tipped them to come last this year, the fact they are currently leading the comp after 18 rounds is rather astonishing. What a job Ricky Stuart has done in the nation’s capital.
2nd. Melbourne 44 points.
The perennial ’top 4’ Storm will be ‘there abouts’ again. What a club, what a legacy this team from Melbourne are creating in an AFL dominated city. The ‘out of sight, out of mind’ philosophy that coach Bellamy conjures is just simply awe-inspiring.
3rd. Bulldogs. 40 points.
Whilst leading the competition for most of the season the Doggies form of late has been erratic and would be a little concerning for mentor Cam Ciraldo, but they have the team to feature deep into finals footy come September. They just have to find that mojo that had every club chasing them for most of this season.
4th. Broncos 38 points.
Currently on a 4-game winning streak, the Broncos come from behind win over the Bulldogs last week was their best performance of the season. Down 18-0 with twenty minutes to go, the Brisbane boys found a way to fight back and prevail 22-18. A statement making victory that has them looking good at the right time of the year.
5th. Warriors 38 points.
The Warriors are the one club, after filling in the ladder predictor, that are a little unknown going into the back third of the season. Key injuries to co-captain Mitch Barnett and playmaker Luke Metcalf has the Warriors season on a knife’s edge. How they react to adversity in these final 9 weeks will determine exactly where they finish.
6th. Panthers 37 points.
The reigning 4 x Premiers looked anything but finals bound in round 12 when they succumbed to the Knights in Bathurst and sat last on the premiership table. But, as champions always do, they’ve climbed off the canvass to win four in a row and are now looking like the team everyone know they are. Wherever the Panthers finish in the top 8, EVERY other team will have one eye on them worryingly.
7th. Sharks 36 points.
You just know the Sharks are a better team than we are seeing this year. With no player in the current Origin series you just know they’ll be one of the freshest teams once this series concludes. Or do we? If they don’t get their collective act together soon they may miss finals action all together!
8th. Dolphins 32 points.
Injuries have struck the high-flying Dolphins at the wrong time of the season. With several big name players getting hit with the injury stick in unison. But with one of the most electric backlines in the competition I’m still backing them to play finals footy this year.
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MG (random Westie) OAM
