Recent events post origin have just shown up the whole folly around this comp being a two horse race.
Injury, suspensions, Covid breaches it was just silly to assume it was a two team race.
History has shown how you are travelling in June means nothing and it is all about where you are at leading into the semi finals come September.
All we can hope for now is we can somehow hang on, continue to grind out some courageous wins and secure 2nd or 3rd spot.
You are right, it was folly. It is a one horse race, where a challenger might usurp them in the event 'all the stars aligned'.
Stars aligned for us last year. For the Roosters it didn't.
Stars were looking to align this year till Origin - then we have been breaking down ever since.
Roosters have had it far worse. They have literally had the stars align to oppose them and yet they are still good enough to be a Top 5 team. Incredible effort by them.
These are the only 2 teams that could have given them stiff competition.
Parra, Souths and Manly are capable but would need a huge run of form and luck to go their way to win.
I think most people agreed relatively early in the season that this was in a way a 5-6 team race.