Round Seven - Sunday July 4th - Wednesday 14th July
With the regular season entering the home stretch the finals picture still didn't get much clearer, with the form guide practically counting for nothing in a mixed round of results. The Representative Season hits its final leg this round with the Australian Kangaroos vs Rest Of The World at The Front Row Stadium in what is expected to be a cracker. With finals berths on the line in the following club rounds, entering the Power Rankings this week to hopefully aide in finals predictions are the teams runs home. Without any further ado, cue the music, here are this rounds Power Rankings...
1. Newtown Bluebags (10 Competition Points)
When there were suggestions the Bluebags might slip up against the in-form Parramatta Eels on the road the Bluebags let their actions do the talking, scalping the Eels in front of their own fans. True to form, the Bluebags silently slipped out of their adversaries camp with the job done. Are table-toppers and are almost certain to attain a finals berth. As we expected at the start of the year the Newtown Bluebags are once again the benchmark of the competition. Was there ever any doubt the Newtown lads would be there? I think not.
Last Rounds Rank: 1st
Last Round: def Parramatta Eels (42.5-42.2)
Next Round: vs East Coast Rhinos @ Henson Park
Run Home: East Coast Rhinos (H) - Sydney Lions (A)
2. Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (9 Competition Points)
With butterflies flying around the Cronulla camp heading into this round the boys were particularly pleased to walk out of Penrith Stadium with a victory, knowing that a win would catapault the Sharkies into the top four for the first time of the season. With a bye up their sleeves, a victory this round would cement one of the most remarkable turn-arounds in form for the team that at one stage was dead last in the competition. The hottest team right now, with four straight vcitories.
Last Rouns Rank: 2nd
Last Round: def Penrith Panthers (42.4-42.3)
Next Round: vs Coos Bay Pirates @ Shark Park
Run Home: Coos Bay Pirates (H) - Bye
3. Souths Rabbitohs (10 Competition Points)
When the going got tough, the Rabbitohs got going. There was a lot riding on the bunnies last game, or at least that's how it turned out to be by rounds end. A win, and the bunnies stay in the top four. A loss, and they would've been trounced down to 5th. Needless to say, they got the job done, clocking in with the biggest victory of the round. Winners of the Foundation Cup, the Redfern-based squad may have saved their season this round. A job well done, but the difficult run home is still alarming.
Last Rouns Rank: 5th
Last Round: def Easts Roosters (42.2-41.5)
Next Round: vs Parramatta Eels @ Redfern Oval
Run Home: Parramatta Eels (H) - East Coast Rhinos (A)
4. East Coast Rhinos (9 Competition Points)
Stumbled to defeat this round against an opponent they should've beaten at home. Thanks to a good start, the Rhinos still sit in the top four and are the strongest independent (Non-RL) based team in the competition. The form guide suggests that the Rhinos will be there come finals time as they've managed to prove that they are able to hold their own when the game is on the line. Having said that, the Rhinos have the most difficult run home of all teams in the competition.
Last Rouns Rank: 3rd
Last Round: loss to Sydney Lions (42.5-42.7)
Next Round: vs Newtown Bluebags @ Henson Park
Run Home: Newtown Bluebags (A) - Souths Rabbitohs (H)
5. Easts Roosters (8 Competition Points)
Being bounced out of the top four for the first time in a long time shouldn't phase the Easts Roosters. Statistically speaking, the Roosters are still a chance of claiming the minor premiership, proving testament to how close the competition is this season. With finals rights on the line, will the rotation policy cost the Roosters a place in the finals? We're still being told that due to rotation policy the Sydney lads are holding back. Big talk or all talk? Time will tell, and the competition can't wait to see where the defending champions end up. A nice run home.
Last Rouns Rank: 4th
Last Round: loss to Souths Rabbitohs (41.5-42.2)
Next Round: vs Penrith Panthers @ Panthers Stadium
Run Home: Penrith Panthers (A) - Coos Bay Pirates (H)
6. Parramatta Eels (6 Competition Points)
There is no shame in losing to the Newtown Bluebags, so Parramatta don't take any severe blows in the Power Rankings. Heading into the finals however, the Eels need to start proving that they can win those big games and they have definately got the firepower to do so. The Eels have a deep and talented squad and will stop at nothing to attain that finals berth. If they manage to do so, the Parramatta faithful will throw a special party for Vaeleki's Girl who has done an admirable job in her first year of captaincy when things looked bleak for the Eels from the outskirts.
Last Rouns Rank: 6th
Last Round: loss to Newtown Bluebags (42.2-42.5)
Next Round: vs Souths Rabbitohs @ Redfern Oval
Run Home: Souths Rabbitohs (A) - Penrith Panthers (H)
7. Sydney Lions (6 Competition Points)
Every game from last round was a must win for the Lions to clinch a finals berth, and they won in impressive fashion against their much favoured opponents in the East Coast Rhinos, clockin in on the road with the highest team score of the round. With the bye this round, the Lions will need to fire up for their last outing of the season at home and, against the table-topping Bluebags as well as keeping their fingers crossed that results go their way. EA has been an anchor for this team and his performances have resulted in selection for both the New South Wales Blues and Australian Kangaroos. Well done.
Last Rouns Rank: 9th
Last Round: def East Coast Rhinos (42.7-42.5)
Next Round: Bye
Run Home: Bye - Newtown Bluebags (H)
8. Penrith Panthers (6 Competition Points)
You really want to sympathise for the Penrith Panthers. And yes, that's exactly how I started my review on the side in last rounds Power Rankings but it's another loss, another 0.1 margin. The Panthers can consider themselves unbelievable unlucky but pity can at times count for nothing in the grand scheme of things. The Panthers are still a good shot at making the top four and can go a long way to doing that by defeating the Easts Roosters who block their path to the top four. With a semi-diffucult run home, the Panthers need to totally forget about past results and let the season start here.
Last Rouns Rank: 7th
Last Round: loss to Cronulla Sutherland Sharks (42.3-42.4)
Next Round: vs Easts Roosters @ Panthers Stadium
Run Home: Easts Roosters (H) - Parramatta Eels (A)
9. Coos Bay Pirates (6 Competition Points)
The Pirates slip to last place on the Power Rankings purely because they didn't get a chance to prove themselves this round courtesy of the bye, so there's no need to be disheartened about being last on the Power Rankikngs. The burning question is did the Pirates leave their run too late? The four straight losses midseason may come back to hurt the Pirates who showed so much promise at the start of the year. Of any team trying to budge their way into the top four the Pirates will find it hardest to do so with their tough run home and will still be dependent on results going their way even if they manage to win both games on the road. Still, what harm could it do to try right?
Last Rouns Rank: 8th
Last Round: Bye
Next Round: vs Cronulla Sutherland Sharks @ Shark Park
Run Home: Cronlla Sutherland Sharks (A) - Easts Roosters (A)
Ranking Key = Seed Rising - Seed Falling - Seed Stable
Disclaimer: The above is based on the thoughts and opinions of the author alone and should not be taken as doctrine.
Stay tuned folks - the next Power Rankings will both be special editions.
