Who is/isn't finals bound.

[Timmah]

i think any team from 1st -> 12th on the ladder are still in the race. only takes a team to hit a purple patch going into the back end of the season and they surge into the 8. warriors could probably even do it.

bunnies, dogs and cowboys are the only 2 teams i can see with no hope of finals football this year.

There are 3 types of people in this world - those who can count, and those who can't :sarcasm:

 

[Jobdog]

:lol:

 

[mongoose]

Raiders wont make the top 8. Too many injuries and too many dumb inexperienced players in the side.

 

[perverse]

There are 3 types of people in this world - those who can count, and those who can't :sarcasm:

please excuse me while i develop some complex web systems instead of counting to 3...

no really, you did get me there, lol. i didn't even notice.

 

[Ribs]

1.Melbourne 42
2. Brisbane 37
3. Manly 36
4. Roosters 36
5. Sharks 36
6. Parramatta 32
7. Newcastle 28
8. Gold Coast 28

9. St George 26
10. Souths 26
11. Warriors 26
12. Canberra 24
13. Wests Tigers 22
14. Penrith 21
15. Bulldogs 18
16. Cowboys 12

:crazy:

 

[_Johnsy]

Rabs

Roosters 26 - 36
Sharks 26 - 36
Manly 24 - 36
Melbourne 22 - 42
Broncos 21 - 37
Dragons 20 - 26
Titans 20 - 28
Eels 18 - 32
Tigers 18 - 22
Panthers 17 - 21
Raiders 16 - 24
Knights 16 - 28
Warriors 16 - 26
Rabbitohs 12 - 26
Bulldogs 12 - 18
Cowboys 10 - 12

Mate I cannot see Melbourne winning every game, 8 yes, nor can I see Newwie winning 6 from 10.

Are you seriously saying that the dragons will only win 3 from 10, & Titans 4 from 10. I would have thought you'd at least try to be objective.

 

[effnic]

I disagree with the Manly games.

Brookvale: 20/80
CUA: 70/30

Manly always struggle there, except 2006, for some reason.

2006 was Beaver's 300th game, thats why they fired up.

 

[BrisVegas]

The Broncos have a very favourable run home.

R17: BYE
R18: Bulldogs - 14th (Home)
R19: Cowboys - 16th (Away)
R20: Sharks - 4th (Home)
R21: Raiders - 11th (Home)
R22: Warriors - 13th (Away)
R23: Dragons - 5th (Home)
R24: Titans - 6th (Home)
R25: Bulldogs - 14th (Away)
R26: Knights - 9th (Home)


Of the 9 remaining games there are:

- 6 Home games / 3 Away games
- The 3 away games are against bottom four sides (Cowboys, Bulldogs, Warriors)
- 4 of the 9 games are against bottom four sides (Cowboys, Bulldogs x2, Warriors)
- 6 of the 9 games are against sides with less points.
- The three games against higher placed sides are against the Sharks, who could only win 13-6 at home with Origin players out, the Titans who only won by 2 points, and the Dragons who had an easy prior game due to origin stars being out.


Add to that Wallace, Lockyer and Stagg all due back from injury for round 18 against the Bulldogs, and Hodges back from suspension for round 19 against the Cowboys.

With the side's defence having picked up in intensity over the past two weeks, and given the favourable draw, 6 wins from 9 should be the minimum expected, with 7 or 8 wins expected if the side is to be a force in the finals.

With some momentum behind the team, a premiership is well within reach this season.

 

[Tiger Hawk]

Sure things: Storm, Roosters, Manly
Highly Likely: Sharks, Titans, Broncos
Likely: Dragons, Eels
Unlikely: Knights, Raiders, Warriors, Panthers
No chance: Tigers, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs, Cowboys

 

[851]

Raiders wont make the top 8. Too many injuries and too many dumb inexperienced players in the side.

Ditto Tigers.

 

[Rovelli]

IMO, locks for the playoffs: Sydney, Manly, Melbourne, Cronulla

IMO, locked out of the playoffs: North Queensland, South Sydney (left it too late), Bulldogs

I also think that Canberra, the Wests Tigers and Penrith won't be there. I would also include the Warriors, but if we have actually turned the corner, then 7 of 9 will do it for us.

Brisbane and St. George/Illawarra are the other teams that are closer to making the playoffs.

That leaves the Gold Coast, Parramatta, Newcastle and the Warriors, possibly fighting for two spots. You'd have to favour Gold Coast and Parramatta at the moment.

Looking at the Warriors' run-home:
Cowboys home - rusty after the bye, but so will they; surely we take this one
Bulldogs away - another must-win for us
Storm home - not holding out much hope to be honest,
Souths away - we have had the edge over them; a real chance despite Souths' newfound form
Broncos home - I think we take this one if we play well and are still in contention; Broncos not really in that good form IMHO
Sharks home - it's a toss-up to be honest, but last time out we were only beaten by four kicks Dragons away - sure to be tough. Drags do blow hot and cold though, it has to be said.
Panthers home - if we are in contention at this stage, at home, 20,000 crowd, win?
Eels away - pretty daunting, hopefully the Eels have nothing to play for (ie sealed playoffs)

Ultimately I think our bad differential sees us miss out. That, or we bomb out and finish 14th.

 

[joel caine number 1 fan]

Ditto Tigers.

actually we are almost full strength after the bye

our forward pack will be little no more

8.Galloway
9.Farah
10.Gibbs
11.Payton
12.Heighnington
13.Fulton

14.Halatau
15.Morris
16.Laurie
17.O'Hara/Bronson/Mets

i say bring it on ,the game against the storm will decide wether we have what it takes to make the finals

 

[pennywisealfie]

broncos have to be the biggest wildcard of the bunch. in previous season rounds 18 onwards havent been kind to the broncos, but wed have accrued enough points in the earlier sides to make the finals. this year isnt the case, theres no way we make the finals if we win 2 from our remaining games.

However, key guys like lockyer, wallace and hodges have had a nice little rest and will be refreshed come end of season. I honestly think if we manage to make the top 5 with a good run of form and a fit lockyer, wallace, hodges and hunt, the premiership will be ours to lose.

 

[Sood]

Looks like its gonna be a strong top 8.

 

[coolumsharkie]

Ultimately I think our bad differential sees us miss out. That, or we bomb out and finish 14th

Thats why I think the botom four dont have a chance, they all have over -100 pd. No chance with only ten games to go.

 

[macavity]

we are no chance.

 

[Sleep]

I see Brisbane moving up the ladder once Origin is over and they've got Lockyer, Wallace and Hodges back. I'd say top four.

Roosters, Melbourne and Manly would be the other three. Eels & Sharks to fight out for fifth and sixth. Dragons seventh and probably Titans eighth. I can't see any teams outside of those making the eight.

Something like this:

Manly
Melbourne
Roosters
Broncos
Sharks
Eels
Dragons
Titans

 

[Hutty1986]

broncos have to be the biggest wildcard of the bunch. in previous season rounds 18 onwards havent been kind to the broncos, but wed have accrued enough points in the earlier sides to make the finals. this year isnt the case, theres no way we make the finals if we win 2 from our remaining games.

However, key guys like lockyer, wallace and hodges have had a nice little rest and will be refreshed come end of season. I honestly think if we manage to make the top 5 with a good run of form and a fit lockyer, wallace, hodges and hunt, the premiership will be ours to lose.

Yours to lose? That's a bit much mate, Melbourne are still the front runners imo. Some great players to come back for the Broncs, but still serious question marks over Lockyer's fitness

 

[gregstar]

I see Brisbane moving up the ladder once Origin is over and they've got Lockyer, Wallace and Hodges back. I'd say top four.

i agree.

i can see brisbane finishing almost top-of-the-table. especially given their run home.

 

[Ike E Bear]

I could conceivably see Titans only winning two or three more games this year with Prince's injury and their draw. I won't be surprised in the least if they don't make the finals.

I think the Eels will make it, and the Titans will have to then fight off the Panthers, Knights and Raiders. Panthers have the benefit of that one extra point, but I think it'll come down to which teams win the match ups against each other.