David EdwardsFinals Fever – NRL Wrap
August 8th 2007 16:21
As the football season hits its excitement peak, it is time for us to cast our eye on the NRL competition as the final four rounds can make or break a side as they all try to keep their finals chances alive.
Like the AFL competition, there is still the majority of squads still in contention. In fact thirteen sides could still possibly sneak into the top eight, with St. George/Illawarra, Cronulla and Penrith looking to the 2008 season. The Melbourne Storm and Manly are already earmarked for a finals spot, and from how they have been flowing this season (despite the recent talks on the Storm struggling), they seem to have stamped their places in the top two spots.
Whilst the Storm and Sea Eagles are head and shoulders in front of the competition, the massive group behind them will be fighting tooth and nail to even earn a spot going into September. In fact, currently on the ladder there is only 3 games (6 points) between third and tenth position, and with four games remaining there is still time and opportunity for the lower sides to cause the upset.
So who is in prime position to make such a move? From where it stands, it could be the side that has been the joke of the league for some years until an unbelievable turn around this season, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. With four games remaining against the Dragons, Manly, West Tigers and the Roosters, they would still have to win at least three games to stay in contention, and with Brisbane possibly spinning into a slump with their matches against Melbourne, Bulldogs, Canberra and Parramatta (all four sides needing wins to stay in the finals) , we could be seeing an unbelievable turn of events where the side that has won the wooden spoon for the past two seasons grabbing the number eight spot, whilst the reigning premiers of the NRL competition could be bumped out before finals action.
Whilst the Rabbitohs will bring their own rags to riches story to the rugby league, the Titans will unfortunately not be able to pull off the same in their first ever year within the league. Whilst they have a average line in their next four matches (playing against cellar dwellers Cronulla and Roosters, and top hitters Warriors and Storm), they are simply too far behind to make a strong impact on the ladder. Four wins would scrape them into the finals, but that is far beyond the scope of possibility, and whilst the Titans will not be able to experience their first ever finals shot, they will finish strong and earn enough credibility to be a force in 2008.
As the Titans, Broncos and Rabbitohs are scraping into the final spots on the finals ladder, what of the other position up for grabs? Third spot will be earnt by the Eels, and with the draw the Warriors got last round against the Roosters, it might be the tipping point that earns them the fourth place on the ladder. Fifth, Sixth and Seventh should be kept by any of the sides still remaining in the eight at the moment (Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers) but with such a tight race going into the finals, it will be essentially one game in being ready for September finals action, and being missed out of earning that coverted premiership glory.
As we saw in the AFL, it is quite hard to let a single game slip out of any side’s hands going into the final four rounds of the season. But unlike the AFL, going into the finals will be an especially hard task for the NRL competition. Six spots, two points, and four games remaining. There is no doubt that every single match will have consequences going into September action, but prepare to see some clubs live and die as each game finishes.
And as we look at the tight race, let’s present the;
Finals Fever – NRL Predictor
1. Melbourne Storm 42 points
2. Manly Sea Eagles 42 points
3.Parramatta Eels 30 points
4.New Zealand Warriors 29 points
5. Canterbury Bulldogs 28 points
6. North Queensland Cowboys 28 points
7. Western Tigers 28 points
8. South Sydney Rabbitohs 26 points
Teams To Miss Out of the Finals; Brisbane Broncos 26 points, Gold Coast Titans 24 points, Canberra Raiders 22 points, Newcastle Knights 22 points, Sydney Roosters 21
Until next time, sports minds.
Like the AFL competition, there is still the majority of squads still in contention. In fact thirteen sides could still possibly sneak into the top eight, with St. George/Illawarra, Cronulla and Penrith looking to the 2008 season. The Melbourne Storm and Manly are already earmarked for a finals spot, and from how they have been flowing this season (despite the recent talks on the Storm struggling), they seem to have stamped their places in the top two spots.
So who is in prime position to make such a move? From where it stands, it could be the side that has been the joke of the league for some years until an unbelievable turn around this season, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. With four games remaining against the Dragons, Manly, West Tigers and the Roosters, they would still have to win at least three games to stay in contention, and with Brisbane possibly spinning into a slump with their matches against Melbourne, Bulldogs, Canberra and Parramatta (all four sides needing wins to stay in the finals) , we could be seeing an unbelievable turn of events where the side that has won the wooden spoon for the past two seasons grabbing the number eight spot, whilst the reigning premiers of the NRL competition could be bumped out before finals action.
As the Titans, Broncos and Rabbitohs are scraping into the final spots on the finals ladder, what of the other position up for grabs? Third spot will be earnt by the Eels, and with the draw the Warriors got last round against the Roosters, it might be the tipping point that earns them the fourth place on the ladder. Fifth, Sixth and Seventh should be kept by any of the sides still remaining in the eight at the moment (Bulldogs, Cowboys, Tigers) but with such a tight race going into the finals, it will be essentially one game in being ready for September finals action, and being missed out of earning that coverted premiership glory.
As we saw in the AFL, it is quite hard to let a single game slip out of any side’s hands going into the final four rounds of the season. But unlike the AFL, going into the finals will be an especially hard task for the NRL competition. Six spots, two points, and four games remaining. There is no doubt that every single match will have consequences going into September action, but prepare to see some clubs live and die as each game finishes.
And as we look at the tight race, let’s present the;
Finals Fever – NRL Predictor
1. Melbourne Storm 42 points
2. Manly Sea Eagles 42 points
3.Parramatta Eels 30 points
4.New Zealand Warriors 29 points
5. Canterbury Bulldogs 28 points
6. North Queensland Cowboys 28 points
7. Western Tigers 28 points
8. South Sydney Rabbitohs 26 points
Teams To Miss Out of the Finals; Brisbane Broncos 26 points, Gold Coast Titans 24 points, Canberra Raiders 22 points, Newcastle Knights 22 points, Sydney Roosters 21
Until next time, sports minds.
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