http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,27500511-5018866,00.html
Thoughts?
NRL Premiership
The Dragons ... aiming for consecutive minor premierships. Brett Costello
Foxsports.com.au forecasts how the NRL premiership top-eight will unfold
By Max Abbott, Christopher Boyd, Sean Miller and Christopher Sutton
foxsports.com.au
August 05, 2010
With five rounds to go in one of the tightest premierships in NRL history, foxsports.com.au gives its finals forecast to determine where your club will finish. Have your say now!
Our NRL experts believe only 10 teams can make the final eight, meaning Newcastle Knights, Canberra and Canterbury-Bankstown should book their end-of-season holidays now.
Reckon we are spot on? Or maybe we are off our rocker? Get it off your chest by emailing your thoughts now!
St George Illawarra
Currently: First (30 points)
State of play: The Dragons are still in the box seat to win the minor premiership despite having lost three of their last four matches. With plenty of doubters questioning their ability to step up at the business end of the year, St George Illawarra have plenty to prove in attack.
Key man: Mark Gasnier. The man carrying all the hype could still prove Wayne Bennett's X-factor. The Dragons have struggled to score points in recent weeks and there is no doubt an on-fire Gaz has the potential to change that.
Crunch clash: This Sunday's round 22 showdown with Sydney Roosters is the litmus test. The match is a chance for the Dragons to reaffirm their premiership mettle - and may even decide who tops the NRL ladder.
Finishing line: Roosters (A); Sea Eagles (H); Raiders (A); Knights (A); Rabbitohs (H)
Predicted finish: First (36 points)
Penrith
Currently: Second (28 points)Game breaker ... Coote. Gregg Porteous
State of play: Penrith bounced back to form last week but they are still trying to rediscover their golden mid-season run. While scoring tries is a current issue they have shown during the year that they have the cattle and the game plan to seriously challenge for the title.
Key man: Lachlan Coote. His lightning speed and ability to put himself in scoring positions has dazzled fans in 2010. The Panthers need him to lead a revival in their attacking game.
Crunch clash: Penrith's round 23 fixture against Wests Tigers at Campbelltown will be an important yardstick against a team who they are closely contesting on the ladder. Penrith have won their last five encounters against the Tigers and need to continue that trend.
Finishing line: Raiders (A); Tigers (A); Rabbitohs (H); Bulldogs (A); Sharks (H)
Predicted finish: Fourth (32 points)
Sydney Roosters
Currently: Third (28 points)
State of play: Sydney Roosters are the form team of the competition after notching six wins from their last seven starts. No line-up appears able to match their lethal attack; the challenge will be to keep the momentum going as they look to become the first team to go from worst to first.
Key man: Todd Carney. A revelation in the No.6 jumper, Carney is the reason why the Roosters are currently on fire. His speed and vision is something the Roosters have lacked in recent years and he is relishing alongside Mitchell Pearce.
Crunch clash: Sunday's round 22 clash against St George Illawarra is the biggest game of the season thus far. If the Roosters topple the Dragons there will be no choice but to believe the hype.
Finishing line: Dragons (H); Sharks (A); Titans (H); Sea Eagles (H); Cowboys (A)
Predicted finish: Second (36 points)
Wests Tigers
Currently: Fourth (28 points)
State of play: Wests Tigers are in a brilliant position to charge towards the finals despite not playing their best football. They have a challenging run home but the confidence they have gained from winning several tight matches will be vital in securing a top-four finish.
Key man: Benji Marshall. The Tigers pivot has struggled with his goal kicking over the last month. Tim Sheens needs his main man firing on all cylinders, and that may mean relieving him of the kicking duties so that he can focus on what he does best - unlocking opposition defensive lines.
Crunch clash: Exorcising the demons of a 50-point thrashing to South Sydney this week would provide an enormous confidence boost for the Tigers. A win would also cement their place in the eight, allowing them to play with more freedom in the final rounds.
Finishing line: South Sydney (A); Panthers (H); Eels (A); Storm (H); Titans (A)
Predicted finish: Third (34 points)
Gold Coast Titans
Currently: Fifth (26 points)Wily veteran ... Rogers. Sam Mooy
State of play: Putting in a complete 80-minute performance remains a problem for Gold Coast Titans, though back-to-back victories have halted their slide on the ladder. A mounting injury toll now appears their chief threat in a favourable run which features three home games.
Key man: Mat Rogers. With regular five-eighth Greg Bird injured the impetus is on the 34-year-old veteran to continue his good form playing outside Scott Prince. Rogers's versatility in the backline is invaluable with the dual international able to cover several positions.
Crunch clash: The Titans' final match of the year against Wests Tigers will be one to look out for. Both sides like to use the width of the park and are locked at 3-3 in head-to-head matches, three of the clashes being decided by two points or less.
Finishing line: Eels (H); Cowboys (H); Roosters (A); Sharks (A); Tigers (H)
Predicted finish: Seventh (30 points)
ManlyCurrently: Sixth (24 points)
State of play: With a large chunk of their victorious 2008 squad still present, Manly look like a sleeping giant. However, as the worst second-half side in the NRL, time is running out for them to find the type of form required to snatch a home final.
Key man: Ben Farrar. The makeshift Sea Eagles No.1 has performed admirably in filling in for Brett Stewart. But with the pressure of the finals mounting, Farrar can ill afford a bad game at the back with the Sea Eagles hoping to avoid a repeat of last year's week one finals exit.
Crunch clash: Arguably Manly's best win of the year came against the Dragons in round eight. A repeat performance would be a huge lift to their confidence, but to do that they will need to score their first away victory over the Dragons since 2003.
Finishing line: Storm (H); Dragons (A); Warriors (H); Roosters (A); Bulldogs (H)
Predicted finish: Fifth (32 points)
Brisbane Broncos
Currently: Seventh (24 points)The protector ... Thaiday. Gregg Porteous
State of play: Brisbane are in a decent position to make a finals charge after overcoming a terrible start to the year and the Origin period. But with three away games to finish the season their work is far from done, starting with a fierce derby game against North Queensland Cowboys in Townsville.
Key man: Sam Thaiday. The Broncos representative backrower has been swatting opponents like flies this season. Thaiday's intimidation factor is a huge asset to the youthful Broncos squad as they look to secure the club a 19th straight finals appearance.
Crunch clash: The Broncos' round 25 trip to Auckland to play the Warriors will be defining. The Warriors are in the thick of the top-eight race and have won four of their last six home matches against Brisbane.
Finishing line: Cowboys (A); Eels (H); Knights (A); Warriors (A); Raiders (H)
Predicted finish: Sixth (32 points)
Warriors
Currently: Eighth (24 points)
State of play: With two losses in games that form suggested they should have won, the Warriors' mentality has now switched from top-four aspirations to battling it out for whatever finals place they can get.
Key man: Simon Mannering. Leading a young forward pack continually unsettled by injury, the captain has to not only keep his charges' heads up, but also help them rediscover the defensive discipline of a month ago.
Crunch clash: While matches against Cronulla and Newcastle Knights could prove to be banana skins, it is the Warriors' round 24 trip to Brookvale Oval that will be the clearest indication of whether they are top-eight contenders or pretenders.
Finishing line: Cronulla (A); Newcastle Knights (H); Manly (A); Brisbane Broncos (H); Parramatta (A)
Predicted finish: Eighth (28 points)
South Sydney
Currently: Ninth (22 points)
State of play: Three losses from four starts has the Rabbitohs well and truly behind the eight ball. The Rabbitohs have struggled to rebound from a couple of tough losses and a nightmare run home won't do anything to help their cause.
Key man: Issac Luke. The South Sydney No.9 has been the driving force behind the Rabbitohs pack all season. Luke's vision and guidance around the ruck will need to thrive if South Sydney are to take any part in the finals.
Crunch clash: It doesn't get any more important than this Saturday night's round 22 clash against Wests Tigers. Lose that one and the Rabbitohs can almost kiss their finals hopes goodbye.
Finishing line: Tigers (H); Storm (A); Panthers (A); Eels (H); Dragons (A)
Predicted finish: Ninth (26 points)
Parramatta
Currently: 10th (22 points)
State of play: The 'Hayne Plane' came to a screaming halt against Sydney Roosters, or more accurately, his supporting cast placed too much responsibility on his shoulders. The Eels are now down on confidence and facing one of the toughest runs home.
Key man: Jarryd Hayne. While it would be nice to think the other 16 players were capable of lending a helping hand, the truth is Parramatta's fortunes will be dictated by how much individual brilliance is left in their superstar.
Crunch clash: The Eels will play top-eight aspirants for the remainder of the season so there are no easy matches. With that in mind they can only worry about what is coming next - and that starts with the resurgent Gold Coast Titans this weekend.
Finishing line: Gold Coast Titans (A); Brisbane Broncos (A); Wests Tigers (H); South Sydney (A); Warriors (H)
Predicted finish: 10th (26 points)
Thoughts?
