Injuries and inconsistency in the NRL’s top four has thrown the competition into disarray, and so begs the question – who lifts the trophy?
The last few weeks have seen frustratingly inconsistent performances from the top four, with Brisbane’s demolition of Souths last night just the latest to consider when placing your hard-earned on a Grand Final winners bet.
It comes just a fortnight after the defending premiers made light work of the Cowboys up in Townsville.
So who wins it from here? Injuries and fluctuating form-lines have the punters praying for help.
We’ll start with the competition favourites.
The Sydney Roosters will be without front-rower Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for the remainder of the season, and halfback Mitchell Pearce for around four weeks.
The New South Wales half’s only remaining chance to lace up the boots this year may be the Grand Final on October 4 – should they progress that far.
The Roosters will struggle to cover for Waerea-Hargreaves – their biggest asset is their power game, and the Kiwi enforcer has been in near career-best form as he leads the forwards around the park.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and his comrades in the backline will need to eat a lot of metres to propel this side to a Grand Final.
The Cowboys will also do it the hard way in the run to the first Sunday in October, losing five-eighth Michael Morgan for at least four weeks, and big man James Tamou for a fortnight.
Again, Morgan could return for the Grand Final.
Greg Inglis sent a scare through the Rabbitohs camp as he limped off against the Bulldogs with a knee injury, ruling him out until at least Round 26.
The Queensland Origin star should be back for the first week of the finals, and could find himself in an elimination final if the Rabbitohs’ form slump continues.
Three of the current top four that are contending with injury worries.
Of the top four, only Brisbane are fielding a near full-strength side.
The men from Red Hill are in ominous form, and have a golden opportunity to secure their fifth minor premiership.
Looking just outside the top four, Cronulla-Sutherland have emerged as a dark horse, having flown well and truly under the radar.
Then there is the Bulldogs, who have featured in the big dance twice in the last three years. They may well be advancing deep in to September, and possibly early October.
Melbourne will once again feature in finals footy, but if they’re loss to Newcastle last week is anything to go by, they won’t be celebrating with a premiership.
The same goes for St. George Illawarra, who will struggle to make it past the elimination final in Week One.
With that being said, I still won’t budge on who I think will play in the Grand Final – for now. That may change over the next fortnight as the final make-up of the top eight is decided.
I still see the Roosters playing North Queensland at ANZ Stadium on Grand Final day, but now I see the Cowboys winning. If you’d asked me the same question last week I would have said the Roosters would be lifting the Provan-Summons Trophy.
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