Liverpool City Champion
GREG PRICHARD 19/06/2008 11:23:52 AM Every Wednesday Greg Prichard rates how your team is really travelling in the National Rugby League. Do you agree with his assessment after Round 14? Join the debate . 1 MELBOURNE (1) Win-loss record: 8-4 8-4 Coming out of a bye that followed the heavy involvement of their players in State of Origin II, they should be fresh and ready to rack up any old score at home against the hapless Cowboys. Do I hear nine tries? Ten? 2 MANLY (2) Win-loss record: 8-4 Can hardly wait for the round 22 clash between the Sea Eagles and Storm at Brookvale Oval. But back to now and a tricky game to negotiate away against the Warriors. If the Sea Eagles hold their form, they will win. 3 SYDNEY ROOSTERS (3) Win-loss record: 9-4 Bounced back from their heavy loss to the Sea Eagles by putting 20 points between themselves and the Panthers. Now they get the chance to square the ledger with the Knights, who beat them in round six. 4 CRONULLA (4) Win-loss record: 9-4 Their stars are firing, but they are also getting terrific contributions from their support acts, with Ben Pomeroy, Luke Douglas and Fraser Anderson prominent. Much too good for the Warriors over the last 20 minutes. 5 GOLD COAST (6)
Win-loss record: 8-4 They still have to lift their form on the road if they genuinely hope to press for a top-four spot going into the finals. They are 1-4 in away games, but will surely go close when they visit the Rabbitohs on Monday. 6 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA (9) Win-loss record: 6-6 Several teams that were just hanging on ahead of them all failed in round 14, so the Dragons, who had the bye, kick down the door even though they didn't have to play on the weekend to do it. 7 PARRAMATTA (11) Win-loss record: 6-6 This week's other big movers. They've still got a lot to prove, but there is a lot to like about their recent form. They tore a weakened Tigers side apart like a good team should, with Feleti Mateo outstanding. 8 BRISBANE (5) Win-loss record: 7-6 They had genuine excuses for their loss to the Raiders, with key players out injured, but Broncos fans should be worried about what sort of shape their team is going to be in at the end of the difficult Origin period. 9 NEWCASTLE (10) Win-loss record: 6-6 It looked like they were going to give up a much-needed win over the Cowboys before their key players regained control of the game in the closing stages. Massive home game for them against the Roosters on Sunday. 10 WESTS TIGERS (7) Win-loss record: 7-6 The Tigers have got massive problems with injuries up front. The team looks small at the best of times, but when their props fall by the wayside it gets ridiculous. The Eels monstered them, proving size does matter. 11 PENRITH (8) Win-loss record: 6-6 The fact they were one of the first teams to get both their byes pushed them higher on the ladder than they deserved. Granted, they were playing well, too, but they have come back to the field with back-to-back losses. 12 CANBERRA (13) Win-loss record: 5-7 Never doubt the ability of the Raiders to spring back to life at home, in the middle of winter. They had been through a rough patch, but took advantage of a weakened Broncos outfit to keep their finals hopes alive. 13 WARRIORS (12) Win-loss record: 5-8 They hit the lead temporarily against the Sharks, but they were never going to be good enough to hang on and win. They finished the regular season in fourth place last year, but will miss the finals this season. 14 BULLDOGS (14) Win-loss record: 4-8 TThey badly needed last weekend's bye, given all of their injury problems. This season is a write-off for them as far as making the finals is concerned, but pride should ensure they remain reasonably competitive. 15 SOUTH SYDNEY (15) Win-loss record: 2-10 The Rabbitohs have a 100 per cent record over the last two rounds. OK, their two points last weekend came from the bye, but when you've got a 2-10 record the bye can shape us as a pretty tough opponent. 16 NORTH QUEENSLAND (16) Win-loss record: 3-10 They were rated as genuine contenders before a ball was kicked this season, but their seven-match losing streak has left them in a battle to avoid the wooden spoon. And now they face the Storm away.
|
