Gap emerging between 8th and 9th. Is the top 8 decided?

[BranVan3000]

Souffs will start their slide next week. Can see them losing their next four.

You wish

We have the easiest run home of the season, even if we only beat teams outside the top 8 we still make the finals comfortably

 

[T.T]

Because it's 6 from 11, not 6 from 10? :lol:

no.. its 5/11 and sharks and co are 4/10 fool

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Except that the way some people carry on, Sydney can only "support" a handful ("4" is sometimes mentioned as the magical number, so having 5 currently in the top 8 is relevant) of competitive teams and are ruining the competition with too many teams.

In reality, Sydney teams have always provided about half the finalists, the teams that are at the top and the bottom for Sydney teams rotate around, and losing all those "hopeless" Sydney teams will just drive fans away, decrease TV ratings, make the competition more expensive to run, and not all the talent from Sydney teams will spread to Perth, or PNQ, or far eastern Timbuktoo or wherever.

So yes, this rant and BMs were a little OT, but forgive us Sydney fans for feeling a little defensive and pointing out whenever Sydney teams do "averagely" well, since every 2nd week someone starts a new thread under a different guise of how we can cut some Sydney teams.

In reality, Sydney is no stronger or weaker than ever, this year's current (and likely final) top 8 shows a good representation of Sydney teams, some of whom have been good in recent seasons and some haven't, and Sydney teams continue to show they are relevant and can provide plenty of first grade talent. Business as usual, carry on.

Agreed.

 

[Valheru]

I am quite confident 50uff$ will be entrenched in 9th by season's end.

 

[Ausguy]

gee someone will have the run home thread started soon

 

[roboshark]

U know u wanna aus. Do it

 

[BunniesMan]

About the Sydney thing.

Firstly there is 9 Sydney teams, not 10. Secondly, I just thought it was a great representation in the 8 compared to last year when their was just 3 in the 8.

Souffs will start their slide next week. Can see them losing their next four.

Idiot.

We might lose to the Broncos but then we have 4 non top 8 teams in a row. Including arguably the 2 worst teams in the comp (besides Parra). We'll win 3/4 of those at the very least.

Say we lose to the Broncos, we'll 100% beat the Dragons and Knights. The other 2 games are Panthers and Easts. We'd be favourites with the bookies going into both of those.

Good chance of winning 4/5, and we should win at least 3/5. So no slide, hater.

 

[BranVan3000]

I am quite confident 50uff$ will be entrenched in 9th by season's end.

Meanwhile Roosters will be entrenched in a battle for the wooden spoon, again :lol:

 

[flippikat]

About the Sydney thing.

Firstly there is 9 Sydney teams, not 10. Secondly, I just thought it was a great representation in the 8 compared to last year when their was just 3 in the 8.

As a fraction 9/16 is about halfway between 4/8 and 5/8 - so if all teams are equal (and the salary cap is doing what it should) there SHOULD be 4 or 5 Sydney teams in the 8 every season. Some years 4, some years 5.

This year is an expected result. Last year was a slight under-performance.

I stand by my original point that a "great representation" of Sydney teams would be 6, 7 or even ALL of the top-8.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

With only 3 wins seperating 2nd and 11th I don't think the Top 8 is decided at all.

 

[Canard]

You got a wee bit of a leg-up on Friday night, did you not?

About time we got a bit of a favour thrown our way in any case.

The fact that a coach chose to not play players is nothing to the with the NRL.

Even the scheduling of that game is was mental by the NRL, that is the biggest club game of the year in NQ and by scheduling it two days after Origin it robbed fans of seeing a true quality matchup.

To schedule us against a team with no Origin reps, when its clear before the seasons started we would have 3 or 4 out is just craziness.

Be assured Im not having a go at the Warriors whatsover, just the NRL.

 

[Timmah]

According to that Sharks, Bulldogs and Broncos only need to win 4/10.

So Tigers and Manly get 2/1 for a win this round?

That's correct - Sharks Bulldogs and Broncos are all on 20, all have a bye in hand and would need to win four games to hit 30 points.

Wins this round put the Tigers and Manly in exactly the same position.

assured ... Melbourne Brisbane
very likely .... Bulldogs Tigers Manly
quite likely ... Souths Sharks Cowboys
still a chance ... Warriors Dragons
unlikely ... Titans Raiders
most unlikely ...Roosters Panthers Newcastle
snowballs ... Parramatta

Can I ask how Brisbane are any more assured than the rest of the teams on 20? Particularly with the Origin period in full swing and injuries left right and centre?

 

[coast_dragons]

Dragons have no hope they are abysmal its pritty simple to see that.

 

[Walt Flanigan]

I think the Titans are a Darkhorse.

 

[T.T]

That's correct - Sharks Bulldogs and Broncos are all on 20, all have a bye in hand and would need to win four games to hit 30 points.

Wins this round put the Tigers and Manly in exactly the same position.



Can I ask how Brisbane are any more assured than the rest of the teams on 20? Particularly with the Origin period in full swing and injuries left right and centre?

exactly you idiot, so tigers and manly need to win 5 not 6 to be in the same position

 

[The.X.Factor9]

Teams outside of the 8 that I think are a good chance:

Dragons: If they can replicate the second half against us, where they muscled up in defence and played ad-lib football then they could be dark horses.

Warriors: You can never write them off, especially since they have some players to come back from injury.

Titans: They really look like they are building to something, currently they are leading Penrith 18-0.

The Raiders, Roosters and Knights are also outside chances(extreme outside chances).

 

[azza29]

Teams outside of the 8 that I think are a good chance:

Dragons: If they can replicate the second half against us, where they muscled up in defence and played ad-lib football then they could be dark horses.

Warriors: You can never write them off, especially since they have some players to come back from injury.

Titans: They really look like they are building to something, currently they are leading Penrith 18-0.

Agree with all three. However I'm not sure which team would be moving out of the current 8 to make room. Maybe Tigers?

 

[Mr Angry]

On paper both the titans and nz should get there.

paper does not play, but they should both make a run.

 

[The.X.Factor9]

Agree with all three. However I'm not sure which team would be moving out of the current 8 to make room. Maybe Tigers?

Besides Melbourne, I think it could be anyone from 2-8, any of those teams could lose confidence and just go on a massive slide.

Unlikely that it will be the top teams sliding, but they are all still a chance.

 

[Card Shark]

Bulldogs / Sharks did the rest of the top 8 a favour by holding 9th & 10th (on percentage) on 14 points. I just think the gap is too big considering most of the bottom 8 are playing ordinary or are too far back (i.e titans).

Stranger things have happened though.