So with 8 rounds to go who are the pretenders/contenders?

[KeepingTheFaith]

Manly will go up a level come finals. They always do.

I find it hard to go past the Roosters, but any given day and all that.

 

[Rabbits20]

Manly will go up a level come finals. They always do.

I find it hard to go past the Roosters, but any given day and all that.

Jake Friend being out is a massive loss for the Roosters you can't replace him.

Manly have now lost Jamie Buhrer but I do agree they will go up another level.

Cowboys seem to be a dark horse at this stage and can beat Manly next week.

 

[goodplayer]

warriors can rattle the cage

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

warriors can rattle the cage

Only if they catch the right team on the right day. Doubt they can do it 4 weeks in a row though

 

[mxlegend99]

Jake Friend being out is a massive loss for the Roosters you can't replace him.

Manly have now lost Jamie Buhrer but I do agree they will go up another level.

Cowboys seem to be a dark horse at this stage and can beat Manly next week.

What's a hooker or two matter? If you have the bulk of your team together, a few injuries are just an annoyance.

 

[Rabbits20]

Hookers matter a lot especially when your back up ones are injured like the Roosters and Souths ones are at the moment.

Take Jake Friend, Issac Luke, Cam Smith and Matt Ballin out for example and these teams are weaker. These players are very hard to replace and critical to the way teams play.

Missing a forward or 2 can normally be replaced though.

 

[nomis88]

Penrith are gone. They were never in the game today.

 

[Blues Riff]

Penrith are gone. They were never in the game today.

Lost by one point in the last few seconds. Genius.

 

[AlwaysGreen]

Jake Friend has been excellent for about 3 seasons. If he's out he'll be missed.

 

[mxlegend99]

Hookers matter a lot especially when your back up ones are injured like the Roosters and Souths ones are at the moment.

Take Jake Friend, Issac Luke, Cam Smith and Matt Ballin out for example and these teams are weaker. These players are very hard to replace and critical to the way teams play.

Missing a forward or 2 can normally be replaced though.

I was taking the piss. Panthers were missing their first two hookers and nearly won. Throw in 4 injured players ahead of Will Smith for a spot in the halves, and people still think Panthers are shit losing to good teams near full strength.

Nobody cares who is missing. If you lose your shit and a pretender. Win and it's only because the other team was missing a player or two.

 

[maple_69]

Hookers matter a lot especially when your back up ones are injured like the Roosters and Souths ones are at the moment.

Take Jake Friend, Issac Luke, Cam Smith and Matt Ballin out for example and these teams are weaker. These players are very hard to replace and critical to the way teams play.

Missing a forward or 2 can normally be replaced though.

Roosters hookers are out. Souths hookers are out. Penriths hookers are out. Manlys hookers are out. Cowboys barely have a hooker. All the big dogs have issues so they can all just deal with it.

 

[roofromoz]

Penrith are gone. They were never in the game today.

Injury ravaged team up 22-6 in the second half would suggest otherwise, but OK, whatever you say...

 

[betcats]

Think he is just taking the piss..

 

[Penrose Warrior]

warriors can rattle the cage

I honestly don't think we can. In our runs in 07/08/11 we beat great teams on our way to the 8 with momentum. We beat Penrith in late June and Melbourne in April.

 

[woodyk2]

Jamie Buhrer is a MASSIVE loss for Manly. He has been Manlys best player al season and will be a massive hole to fill. Doggies are the pretenders.

 

[Meth]

Any one of the top 5 teams are in it. Panthers are probably longest odds.

The rest are making up the numbers.

 

[Captain Apollo]

Hookers matter a lot especially when your back up ones are injured like the Roosters and Souths ones are at the moment.

Take Jake Friend, Issac Luke, Cam Smith and Matt Ballin out for example and these teams are weaker. These players are very hard to replace and critical to the way teams play.

Missing a forward or 2 can normally be replaced though.

Yes losing Jake Friend is a blow. However, I think you will find Heath L'Estrange is fit to play this week.

 

[Muffdaddy]

Yes losing Jake Friend is a blow. However, I think you will find Heath L'Estrange is fit to play this week.

Jackson Hastings would be a better replacement than Stranger. Hastings was very impressive playing for Jets. Stranger, not so.

 

[Sleep]

Injuries are absolutely decimating teams at the moment. The Cowboys have timed their run perfectly. If they can stay injury free they might do some real damage.

The Roosters haven't looked that great all year. Manly have been great but have some injury concerns and shaky form. Souths have some injury worries and their form is a bit iffy. Penrith are being eaten alive by injuries. Cowboys as mentioned are in good form and fairly healthy. Dogs are an awful team. Complete bereft of any creativity in attack. Form has been nothing short of trash outside of one or two games the second half of the season. Melbourne have been struggling for form throughout the year and have been without Cronk. They don't look the threat they once were. Brisbane aren't scaring anyone. Parramatta are still a joke. Auckland can beat anyone on their day but they can also lose to the under six division three Mudgee Maulers with their ability to self destruct.

Jake Friend if he is gone is a huge, huge loss for the Roosters. I still think they'll be there in week three with Souths, Manly and someone else.

 

[roofromoz]

Think he is just taking the piss..

If he was, then I need to check to see if my sarcasm meter is still under warranty.