Not too much movement in the Power Rankings this week, given that it was a very rare thing in the NRL – a weekend of no upsets.
The favourites won all seven games and for a tipster like me, a perfect round is a joy forever, even if it wasn’t a full round and there is no real glory in simply predicting the teams that are supposed to win.
One of the teams that has had the biggest drop this week is the Dolphins, who are starting to show signs of the wear and tear that their heavy injury toll is taking on them.
They nearly pulled an unlikely victory out of the fire against the Sharks on Friday night, but with Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow rested and a galaxy of stars on the sidelines, they went down and have now slipped to 10th on the ladder.
Addin Fonua-Blake runs into the Dolphins. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
They have a rough run home, and what looked like their looming first finals campaign just a month ago is now rapidly sinking like a stone.
The other team that is in a mini-slump is one that was victorious on the weekend, Canterbury.
It’s tough to read too much into their 12-8 unconvincing victory over the struggling Cowboys, given that they rested Kurt Mann and Stephen Crichton, but the decision to drop Lachie Galvin, even though they were under full strength, doesn’t pass the sniff test after his lacklustre display in their previous defeat to the Broncos.
Here’s how the teams stack up after Round 19.
1. Raiders (Last week 1): They had the bye so they retain top spot.
2. Storm (2): Even though they had a few Origin stars sitting this one out and Ryan Papenhuyzen was resting his calf muscle, there was a sense of inevitability about them nullifying the Knights in Newcastle on Saturday.
Eliesa Katoa carved up Newcastle with 183 running metres and a line break among his two tries. He should be a walk-up start for one of the two Dally M Second-Rower of the Year awards.
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
3. Bulldogs (3): They looked like a bit of a dog’s breakfast with their rejigged line-up against the Cowboys.
They surely didn’t shell out big bucks for Galvin to have him watch from the grandstand so there will be pressure on Cameron Ciraldo to play him even if Toby Sexton is the better option for the timebeing.
4. Broncos (4): Knocked off the Titans on Sunday night while in cruise control.
Poor old Brendan Piakura knocked himself out while trying to score before Reece Walsh’s flashes of brilliance proved way too much for Gold Coast to handle.
5. Panthers (5): In large stretches during their win over Parramatta, they looked like just another team, not the side that has romped to the past four premierships.
They are more than likely not going to extend their dynasty this season but it could turn out to be a “gap year” that they needed to have to get young guns like Casey McLean, Blaize Talagi and Luron Patea up to speed.
6. Roosters (7): As was to be expected, Sam Walker looked a little rusty in his comeback game, but with two months left before the end of the regular season, he has enough of a runway to get back to top form and get the Roosters back in the mix to at least do some damage in the finals.
7. Warriors (8): Don’t give up on them yet. Apart from the Mt Smart Joker, nobody expects them to do too much without Luke Metcalf and Mitch Barnett for the rest of the season.
But the players clearly didn’t get the memo in their thumping win over the Tigers on Sunday. Sterner tests will come over the next few weeks, but Andrew Webster has instilled a tough edge in the former perennial underachievers.
James Fisher-Harris is tackled by Terrell May. (Photo by Dave Rowland/Getty Images)
8. Sea Eagles (9): They had the bye and after cruisy wins over the Rabbitohs and Tigers, they now need to show they are worthy playoff contenders, starting with this Saturday’s trip to Melbourne.
9. Sharks (10): They massacred a couple of certain tries and then nearly let the Dolphins steal the two points from under their noses.
Nicho Hynes is starting to take the line on more, which is a good sign, because he had been too passive during their recent form slump.
10. Dolphins (6): The injuries are starting to mount, as are the losses with two in the past three weeks after they had been in a mid-season purple patch.
They should be able to knock over the Cowboys this weekend, but then they face the Warriors, Roosters and Broncos in a three-week stretch, which is likely to make or break their playoff push.
11. Knights (11): This is where the also-rans begin. Without Kalyn Ponga and Fletcher Sharpe, their already limited attack is now even worse.
12. Eels (12): They’re going better than expected, and Jason Ryles’ decision to virtually cast aside Dylan Brown to be part of the hooker rotation for the rest of the season so that he can give Joash Papali time at five-eighth is a smart move.
It’s the kind of move a coach can make when he has a long-term contract and security in his role on the back of an impressive first few months in the job.
13. Tigers (17): They can’t turn up their toes in the last two months of the season otherwise a fourth straight wooden spoon could be heading their way.
Adam Doueihi is one of the few Tigers who can hold their heads high this season. He showed some backbone against the Warriors on Sunday, but unfortunately for him, very few of his teammates looked like they were having a crack when the going got tough.
14. Rabbitohs (14): Had the bye. Even though they are starting to get a few players back on deck, it’s hard to see them getting a win over the next three weeks against Penrith, Cronulla and Brisbane.
At least they’ve got the Titans after that, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
15. Dragons (15): Teams reflect the attitude of their coach.
Shane Flanagan. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
St George Illawarra are a direct kind of side who like to push the envelope. But the Shane Flanagan style that was so successful nearly a decade ago at Cronulla is not as effective these days when more infringements occur each game in the six-again era.
16. Cowboys (16): Todd Payten is on borrowed time. They are now five points adrift of eighth spot. And after losing five of their past six games, it would take a minor miracle for them to finish anywhere near the playoffs this season, which would be a massive underachievement.
17. Titans (16): With Tino Fa’asuamaleaui technically a free agent at the end of next season, this club needs to start ensuring they’re doing what is ever necessary to keep him around long term because he would be the ideal face of a new franchise or cornerstone for any pack, new or otherwise. His talents are going to waste on the Gold Coast.
