This year is officially a 2 horse race.

[StormHi]

Agree with above sentiments..... In the warriors game we hardly looked untouchable Same in the bulldogs game we ground out some tough wins but it is a looooong season and all trolling aside the warriors and dogs looked extremely capable. As do the saints the sharks and Manly. Hell even the Roosters looked hot in their recent defeat. I wouldn't discount any team other then the tits and the eels at this point.

Going o recent form etc I would say the two best Sides are Melbourne and the the Broncs

 

[Someone]

i count raiders goneski no campese no top 8.

Dragons, Roosters, Sharks, Manly and possibly cowboys will all come good and improve on current form and if your there come september your always a chance.

 

[StormHi]

i count raiders goneski no campese no top 8.

Dragons, Roosters, Sharks, Manly and possibly cowboys will all come good and improve on current form and if your there come september your always a chance.

Yeah sorry forgot the raiders in my list of no chancers..... Agree wholeheartedly with your sentiments as well.

 

[Amozzie]

I remember a bookie paying out on us to be minor premiers this time last year.

We won 4 more games all year.

This.

 

[wibble]

I guess now people will be less likely to "fall for" that good old bet where you say "I bet you anything you like that this year's NRL Grand Final will be played between Brisbane and Melbourne". And you'll be right no matter which teams play...

The Melbourne game in 2 weeks should really tell the Sharks how they are going- sadly the Broncos match is before Origin so it will not really be a test for either side. Sharks v Melbourne round 25 could be a beauty too, if current form continues.

Manly and the Bulldogs both showed plenty on Friday, and the Dragons have been good all year. Roosters, Souths and Cowboys have had their moments, and you get the feeling the Warriors and Tigers could still ignite. I'd say the season is a long way from over.

 

[the_flight_of_the_magpie]

Melbourne >>> Sharks >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Brisbane >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Daylight

 

[BunniesMan]

Souths and Sharks have to be in the conversation with the top 2 now.

Especially when we snap a 6 game winning streak next week.

 

[blaza88z]

Souths are barely in the 8.. :lol:

and don't give me that "2 points from the top 4" garbage, there are 4 other teams in the same predicament

 

[BunniesMan]

Souths are barely in the 8.. :lol:

and don't give me that "2 points from the top 4" garbage, there are 4 other teams in the same predicament

We are 4-2 in our last 6 games. 2 of our losses are against the 2 standout teams. Some teams haven't played either yet, we've played them both.

4-2 in the last 6 weeks, 4-4 overall and our losses include losses to Brisbane and away to Melbourne and NZ.

We are at 4-4 and there is plenty of argument to suggest we are a better team than that.

We have a superstar forward set to come back in a couple weeks, we'll be even more dangerous then.

If we beat the Sharks we'll be 5-4 despite having the toughest opening 9 week draw in the comp.

We are in the conversation for top 4.

 

[Fire]

It's a three horse race if you visit the Cronulla forums.

 

[BunniesMan]

It's a three horse race if you visit the Cronulla forums.

And four horse race if you visit bunniesmans brain.

 

[Surely]

It's a three horse race if you visit the Cronulla forums.

No its a one horse race.

Harold is enroute

 

[Fire]

And four horse race if you visit bunniesmans brain.

:thumb LOL. Of course mate, gotta keep the faith.

 

[to_ddeath]

BM, you are not yet in "the conversation" for the top 4. You aren't there yet. Get real FFS :lol:


T.

 

[AuDragon]

And four horse race if you visit bunniesmans brain.

Rather not rack up a gigantic psychiatric bill and spend the rest of my life trying to erase the memory of what I would see in there... :crazy:

 

[ademkungal]

I have no doubt in my mind that well be contender's at the back end of the season, put your money on it

 

[stormbati]

The only difference between the top sides and the rest is consistency. It counts for little in an elimination match.
Bulldogs could have easily beaten Melbourne & Manly but atm they're making too many mistakes in the opposition redzone. Throwing away opportunities and getting unlucky calls.
Hasnt anyone learnt anything after watching previous seasons!

 

[innerwestrabbit]

pretty sure the Dragons and Storm were looking pretty good this time last year. But they did not look that great towards the end of the season. I have no doubt the storm are a better team this time round. To me like the Dragons last year. Can they maintain that intensity and in reality can they play much better. I doubt it! I reckon what you see from the storm is as good as it's going to get(which is pretty impressive). The Broncs on the other hand are a young side on the up and can improve. I will be interested to see how they go towards the business end of the season.

 

[Snappy]

Souths and Sharks have to be in the conversation with the top 2 now.
.

We are in the conversation for top 4.

One close win and he's away again

 

[Dr Fruitbasket Returns]

Definitely a two horse race. The only good thing is that both the horses in it are basically made up teams so who gives a f*** which of them wins? Saints are "in transition", so we're probably not a realistic shot for another couple of years. In which case, I'd always rather Brisbane, Melbourne or (as if it's likely) NQ, Warriors or Gold Coast to win. When that happens, it's like no one's won it.

The worst thing, with Saints in a relative down phase, would be if it was a two horse race between two proper Sydney teams. I don't know, like Manly and the Dogs, for example. Or Parra or Easts or Wests Tigers. That always sucks. They're real teams with real history and genuine reasons for rivalry. People you know support them. There's a personal element to it.

Melbourne and Brisbane, though. No offence, they're like fly by night teams in the A League. When they win it's like we've all had a year off. It's not ideal, but it's definitely the lesser evil.

Bad year to have a dud Grand Final though. With the TV rights and all. Channel Nine would have been hoping for two traditional sides with genuine supporters from a major TV market.