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

[footy75]

I honestly believe it will be a souths manly gf...

I always thought the roosters were gona be there too but fk me they have not impressed and im not sure they r gona come good.

Manly will go up a notch in finals

Storm wont make the 4 now after last weeks major fk up..cant see us making th gf

if cows can somehow make 4 they will be hard to beat.

but souths manly for mine.

 

[Pedro Morales Magonzales]

Manly threw that game last week

:lol:

Manly were nowhere near their best, but to say they threw the match.

 

[Nice Beaver]

:lol:

Manly were nowhere near their best, but to say they threw the match.

Nearly as ridiculous as these idiots who get on here and say the refs are rigging matches.

 

[POPEYE]

Nearly as ridiculous as these idiots who get on here and say the refs are rigging matches.

If I agree again I can't be stalking you with inconsequential remarks, we all know referees are not smart enough to rig matches, and if they were the number of penalties given would be a dead giveaway . . . a few at the right time and in the right place however

 

[BranVan3000]

For all the hyperbole about the closest comp in years it will end up being the exact same contenders as last year

 

[Danish]

For all the hyperbole about the closest comp in years it will end up being the exact same contenders as last year

IMO the comp was made to look much closer 5-6 weeks ago as the top teams have all had their coaches desperately yanking on the reigns trying to time their run home.

Souths have bolted for home early the last few weeks and shown their hand, now its up to Manly, Roosters, and maybe the Storm and Penrith (people write them off but they just keep playing well) to run them down.

 

[BranVan3000]

IMO the comp was made to look much closer 5-6 weeks ago as the top teams have all had their coaches desperately yanking on the reigns trying to time their run home.

Souths have bolted for home early the last few weeks and shown their hand, now its up to Manly, Roosters, and maybe the Storm and Penrith (people write them off but they just keep playing well) to run them down.

It's not uncommon for top teams to overtrain post Origin and make the lesser teams appear closer than they are

I think Melbourne and Roosters are timing it the same as Souths, Souths just happened to beat a competitor like Manly

 

[Danish]

It's not uncommon for top teams to overtrain post Origin and make the lesser teams appear closer than they are

I think Melbourne and Roosters are timing it the same as Souths, Souths just happened to beat a competitor like Manly

Roosters haven't really put anyone away until tonight though. Storm are starting to hit their straps as well, but niether of them look to be as ferocious as the bunnies right now.

Going to be a great finals series this year IMO, besides the usual week 2 beltings that happen every year

 

[Mr Spock!]

For all the hyperbole about the closest comp in years it will end up being the exact same contenders as last year

Yep.

Souths only fear Storm, Manly, Roosters because of their finals experience.

 

[BranVan3000]

Yep.

Souths only fear Storm, Manly, Roosters because of their finals experience.

Souths will probably get to the Grand Final and lose because of stage fright. You have to lose one before you win one. Roosters, Storm, Manly all lost one before they won one

 

[Red Bear]

I think it's pretty open. The Warriors and Cowboys are more than capable of a srong run through the finals. Penrith have been solid all year. I tlook like the serious contenders will be Manly and Souths again, with easts and Melbourne dangerous, but I don't think the top 4 is as clearly way ahead of the pack as it was going into last years finals (and even then Melbourne got done by Newcastle).

 

[rabbitohs95]

The one thing i worry about Souths is that if we do finally get over the prelim hurdle that's been cursing us the last 2 years, is that we just blow it all in the grand final.

Besides that i think anyone in the top 8 can win it, however i doubt the Panthers (purely because of their injury toll, but they do keep winning so i won't exactly write them off just yet) and the Bulldogs, who've just dropped since the end of Origin.

Souths, Easts, Manly, Melbourne, Cowboys, and Warriors are starting to gain momentum, so they'll all be in the mix imo.

 

[HowHigh]

We've beaten the Raiders in Canberra, we can beat anyone now.

 

[Rabbits20]

After today the Warriors don't have it they are too hot and cold. Interesting to see how the Cowboys go tomorrow a very important game for them!

 

[footy75]

yep Warriors are gona struggle to make the 8.

 

[Rabbits20]

If the Warriors play like they did today the Roosters will beat them well. With them playin in NZ next week they might play well but you never know with the warriors.

They could finish around 7th to 9th.

A week 1 elimination final between Storm and Warriors in Melbourne would be interesting as the Warriors cause Storm problems.

 

[broncos2010]

Dam the super Saturday games where terrible all 3 games terrible floggings v 3 teams that clearly don't care anymore this season.

 

[JJ]

Nothings changed - Souths, Manly and Roosters definite contenders. Melbourne smokies... rest pretenders

 

[Slug]

Souths will probably get to the Grand Final and lose because of stage fright. You have to lose one before you win one. Roosters, Storm, Manly all lost one before they won one

What tripe. Souths finals experience over the past 2 seasons would negate any 'stage fright'.
The side is full of internationals and SOO players. The two biggest names in the game - Inglis and Burgess will have other teams trembling. This side is far better than the past 2 seasons. Manly just wasted a grand final spot last year. They didn't deserve to be there and will go out in straight sets this year. As will Melbourne.

It will be. Souths v Roosters grand final and Souths will win handsomely.

I think you just want to win a popularity contest to avoid any bagging. Chicken shit.

 

[The Pip]

What tripe. Souths finals experience over the past 2 seasons would negate any 'stage fright'.
The side is full of internationals and SOO players. The two biggest names in the game - Inglis and Burgess will have other teams trembling. This side is far better than the past 2 seasons. Manly just wasted a grand final spot last year. They didn't deserve to be there and will go out in straight sets this year. As will Melbourne.

It will be. Souths v Roosters grand final and Souths will win handsomely.

I think you just want to win a popularity contest to avoid any bagging. Chicken shit.

What you are forgetting slugster is Souths have had traumatic and failure riddled finals experience. There is a difference between this and memorable winning finals experience. They got smashed by Manly and the Dogs in back to back prelims, and only just got over the Storm in 2013 due to a couple of horrible pro Souths ref calls and a favourable 10 to 4 pen count.

Souths will choke again this year - we know and they know it too. As such, their premiership window will close for good...