The sixteen clubs NRL have turned on to the premiership straight, with only three rounds remaining before the Finals Series gets underway.
The last few weeks have seen the premiership hopes of some clubs dashed, whilst a few dark horses remain a mathematical possibility to make a run to the big dance.
With that in mind, it’s time to cast our eye over the race to the NRL finals – who makes the eight, and who falls short.
1st – Sydney Roosters
The Roosters are a red-hot chance to take out their third consecutive minor premiership. Jam-packed with stars, this is a team that rises to the occasion. Games against three premiership contenders leading in to the finals will be a huge ask, but if this side hits their straps in time, they will be hard to beat.
The run home: Broncos, Sea Eagles, Rabbitohs
2nd – North Queensland Cowboys
Johnathan Thurston and his comrades have enjoyed a standout season to date, and will only miss out on winning the J.J. Giltinan Shield on points differential. The Cowboys will be hard to topple in the finals, and should go very close to securing their first premiership victory.
The run home: Warriors, Storm, Titans
3rd – Brisbane Broncos
The current competition leaders have arguably the toughest run home in the competition, and as such will struggle to hold their lead on the ladder. Brisbane have exceeded all expectations so far this season, but have faltered in recent weeks.
The run home: Roosters, Rabbitohs, Storm
4th – South Sydney Rabbitohs
The reigning premiers reminded everyone of what they are capable of last week with a dominant victory over the Cowboys. They will be strong enough to nudge themselves ahead of challenges from other top four contenders.
The run home: Bulldogs, Broncos, Roosters
5th – Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
The biggest surprise packet of season 2015 has been the men from the shire, who will go close to snaring a top four spot. Many thought that the Sharks would miss the eight, but the premiership dark horse has continued to jag unlikely wins. Questions remain over how far they can go in to the finals series.
The run home: Tigers, Eels, Sea Eagles
6th – Melbourne Storm
The Storm haven’t skipped a beat in the absence of star fullback Billy Slater, and will secure a home semi-final on points differential. A tough final fortnight will provide a good idea as to how good this Melbourne side really is in 2015.
The run home: Knights, Cowboys, Broncos
7th – St. George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons have started to regain some of the form we saw earlier this season, and the return of Benji Marshall will provide a massive boost to the Red V’s finals aspirations. There is a distinct possibility that the Dragons will enter the finals riding a four-game winning streak.
The run home: Panthers, Titans, Tigers
8th – Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly will complete a fairy-tale run to the finals series by clinching eighth spot on the competition ladder. For some time it looked as though Manly would collect the wooden spoon, but since Geoff Toovey’s sacking was announced, the club has been on a run reminiscent of that seen in iconic Australian Rules film ‘The Club’.
The run home: Eels, Roosters, Sharks
9th – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Bulldogs will miss out on eighth spot to Manly on points differential. A tough test against South Sydney awaits this week, before two winnable games to close out the regular season. A revitalised Newcastle side may well hold the key to the Bulldogs’ hopes – a win could see them crack the eight, a loss could end their season.
The run home: Rabbitohs, Knights, Warriors
10th – Canberra Raiders
A promising season for the Raiders will come to an end at the completion of Round 26. Three wins to end the year is a possibility, but the Green Machine will fall just short of a finals berth once again.
The run home: Titans, Panthers, Eels
11th – New Zealand Warriors
As has become the norm, 2015 promised so much, but delivered so little for the Warriors. Losing Kiwi halfback to a season-ending injury has dashed any hope of New Zealand turning out in the finals series.
The run home: Cowboys, Tigers, Bulldogs
12th – Newcastle Knights
Surprising? Yes. The Knights have endured a horror run in 2015, but the instalment of club legend Danny Buderus has provided the team with a much-needed shot in the arm. They are a red-hot chance to claim two scalps in the next three weeks and skip one win clear of a cluster at the bottom of the table.
The run home: Storm, Bulldogs, Panthers
13th – Penrith Panthers
Penrith’s season has been derailed by injuries to some of the club’s best players, resulting in an unfair way for one of the competition’s most promising sides to bow out. When fully fit, this is undoubtedly a side with top four potential.
The run home: Dragons, Raiders, Knights
14th – Wests Tigers
Viewed as one of the genuine contenders for the wooden spoon, the Tigers will finish one win clear of sixteenth place. The form of some of the game’s most promising stars in James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses, and Luke Brooks has the club’s fans looking forward to a better 2016.
The run home: Sharks, Warriors, Dragons
15th – Parramatta Eels
Parramatta have endured a tough run over the last few seasons, and will finish the 2015 season as cellar-dwellers once more. Upcoming clashes against two finals-bound sides will be a very tough ask for the blue and gold.
The run home: Sea Eagles, Sharks, Raiders
16th – Gold Coast Titans
Currently entrenched in a battle to stave off the wooden spoon, Gold Coast’s efforts will come to no avail. Any win on the run home could see the Titans climb off the bottom of the table, but that looks a tough ask.
The run home: Raiders, Dragons, Cowboys
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