Sport
Tight at the top in NRL finals race
With just two wins separating 5th to 12th and an exciting Minor Premiership race on the cards we’re in for a thrilling final four rounds of the regular season. We take a look at what each team faces on their run home.
Sea Eagles (1st)
32 points (+123)
Run Home:
GLD (away), PAR (away), PEN (home), BRI (home)
Despite their 23-4 loss to the Rabbitohs in round 22 the Sea Eagles would be confident of a top two finish and should be aiming for the Minor Premiership. With two winnable away trips they’ll then face tests against the Panthers and the Broncos. Should they win their two away trips and be victorious over the Panthers, a top two berth is almost a certainty.
Rabbitohs (2nd)
30 points (+207)
Run Home:
BRI (home), NQL (home), CBY (away), SYD (away)
Quite simply, the Rabbitohs are the form team of the comp. With all four remaining games in Sydney and a big points differential, the Rabbitohs are poised for a top two finish and a real crack at the Premiership. Anything less would be unacceptable to their long suffering fan base.
Panthers (3rd)
30 points (+78)
Run Home:
NQL (home), MEL (home), MAN (away), WAR (home)
The Panthers will be confident of maintaining, if not improving, their ladder position considering they have three home games remaining in their last four. They do face the always daunting trip to Brookvale oval to face Manly but these are the games that will prove their Premiership credentials. Regardless, the Panthers have shocked many this season and their fans should be over the moon.
Roosters (4th)
28 points (+136)
Run Home:
WST (away), WAR (away), MEL (home), SOU (home)
It’s a very tough run home for the reigning Premiers. They face a very tough away trip to play the in-form Warriors and home games against Melbourne and Souths. With some key players to return they’ll hope to turn around some indifferent form.
Cowboys (5th)
26 points (+164)
Run Home:
PEN (away), SOU (away), CRO (home), MAN (home)
The Cowboys have one of the tougher runs home of the finals contenders but rather than hinder them, it could present itself as a great opportunity. With games against the current top three the Cowboys have a real opportunity to climb the ladder at the back end of the season.
Warriors (6th)
26 points (+94)
Run Home:
NEW (away), SYD (home), GLD (home), PEN (away)
The Warriors have won five of their last seven, with two narrow losses and look like they’re peaking at just the right time of the year. On their day they can destroy even the best sides in the comp and they’ll be hoping they can maintain some consistency and push for a top four spot.
Storm (7th)
26 points (+22)
Run Home:
CRO (home), PEN (away), SYD (away), BRI (home)
The Storm are a team you can never write off and after a slow start to the year they look like they’ll play finals footy. They have a tough run facing the Panthers and the Roosters away from home but they have too much class to miss the top eight.
Bulldogs (8th)
26 points (-7)
Run Home:
PAR (away), WST (home), SOU (home), GLD (away)
The Bulldogs have fallen away spectacularly after leading the comp for a good portion of the season. Friday night’s game against the Eels looms as a hugely important fixture for both teams with the loser facing a tough task to make the finals.
Eels (9th)
26 points (-68)
Run Home:
CBY (home), MAN (home), NEW (away), CAN (away)
The Eels should win their last two games but it’s the matches against the Bulldogs and Manly that will decide their season. A poor points differential may be their undoing.
Broncos (10th)
24 points (+79)
Run Home:
SOU (away), NEW (home), STG (home), MEL (away)
It won’t get much harder than away trips against Souths and Melbourne. They’ll need to win at least one of those to sneak in via points difference.
Dragons (11th)
22 points (-67)
Run Home:
CAN (away), GLD (home), BRI (away), NEW (away)
They’ll need to win all four remaining games to be any chance but they’re the only finals contender not to play a top eight side. The toughest test will be the road trip to Brisbane.
Tigers (12th)
22 points (-148)
Run Home:
SYD (home), CBY (away), CAN (away), CRO (home)
Only a miracle could prevent the Tigers being eliminated from finals contention. Needing to win their remaining four games, their season could well be over by Saturday when they face the Roosters.
