Head-to-head win gives Manly top spot PDF  | Print |  E-mail
Thursday, 13 May 2010 11:37
by Foxsports.com.au and Fox Sports Stats
 May 11, 2010

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Each week the Fox Sports Stats team analyse the data from every game and then, in conjunction with the Fox Sports experts, rank the teams based on just how well they are really playing. The competition ladder doesn't always tell the full story!

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Steve Matai

Power struggle ... Manly do enough shake the Dragons. Mark Evans


TW LW Comment
Sea Eagles 1 4 Turned around previous nightmare second halves to shut the Dragons out when they looked to have a sniff at half-time. The Sea Eagles' caught fire for 1528 metres with top-shelf commitment to the ball and topped it off with a defensive display that allowed only two linebreaks.
Dragons 2 1 Found a rare and potential weakness in their inability to shut down a side of equal potential that set the pace of the game. Once the Dragons defence was exploited late in the match they didn't have enough points in them to stay competitive, despite looking the better at half-time.
Titans 3 3 Followed on from their Scott Prince-inspired display of attacking flair in round eight with an entertaining showing against the Knights. Coming from behind, the Titans topped the round in tackle busts (41), tries (seven) and points (38) but almost lost the result thanks to nine linebreaks leaked by their defence.
Storm 4 2 Had plenty of excuses given the loss of Cameron Smith and the weary legs of multiple rep stars but not enough to explain a flogging from the league strugglers. The usually-stoic Storm defence missed 38 tackles and allowed six tries as it remains to be seen if it those excuses were valid.
Panthers 5 5 Enjoyed the bye at the perfect time with the Titans putting a halt to the Panthers' three-game win stretch before the break. A week off to assess a positive start to the season before a match-up against the Sharks, albeit away, that should ease them back into the schedule.
Eels 6 6 In the middle of the longest turnaround in the NRL given the Eels played on Friday in round eight, had the by in round nine and will play on Monday night in round 10. On the back of three-straight wins, that break could prove equally advantageous or disastrous against Manly.
Rabbitohs 7 7 Will get a work-out against evenly-matched opposition in the Tigers when the two meet coming off the bye. The Rabbitohs' wins have been dominant in stages while their defeats have often been lethargic, their first match back should be a true measure of where they stand.
Bulldogs 8 8 Got fans' hopes up with wins over under-performing opponents before being exposed by the Eels heading into the bye. The rested Bulldogs will now face a Dragons team that were off their game themselves in round nine, which could prove a fortuitous mix for Canterbury-Bankstown.
Knights 9 9 In a rare feat the Knights stayed competitive in the second half but still managed to surrender a half-time lead. Matched the Titans across the park with both sides almost identical in terms of metres gained/allowed and created decent second-phase play with 17 offloads. In the end however, another frustrating loss.
Cowboys 10 13 Not just a win but a big win, against a reputable Roosters team and at a ground where the Cowboys have rarely tasted success. The ability to win without Johnathan Thurston and the obvious impact of a fit-again Matt Bowen all pointed to what the Cowboys are capable of.
Roosters 11 10 Despite a fit-again Braith Anasta and rep players on maximum rest, the Roosters were out-gunned offensively letting in 32 points against a Cowboys team with every excuse not to perform. Offensively they were largely ineffective, the Roosters recording a round-low 22 tackle busts while turning the ball over a round-high 16 times.
Tigers 12 11 After a disheartening loss to the Roosters in round eight, in which they controlled the entire match before rolling over in the dying stages, the Tigers were perhaps most in need of the week's rest. Three consecutive losses have the Tigers mid-table and facing a similar opponent in the Rabbitohs.
Warriors 13 12 The bye week could be season-defining should it result in the return from injury of any of the Warriors' stars. On a three-game skid without the likes of Simon Mannering and Manu Vatuvei, while still missing Steve Price and Brett Seymour, the Warriors' outlook could depend solely on those players' health.
Broncos 14 15 Worked off the return of Israel Folau to find offensive spark against one of the league's most formidable defensive units. The Broncos respected the ball, committing only six handling errors while racking up 38 tackle busts. Unlike the week prior, they played for 80 minutes and got the reward.
Raiders 15 14 With two road wins and two home losses from seemingly unlosable positions, the Raiders' form or stature in the NRL is almost impossible to define. With the bye week playing fullback Josh Dugan into even better form, this time at rep level, Canberra will rate their chances at home against Melbourne.
Sharks 16 16 The week off probably hasn't changed much at the Sharks. Their wins over the Eels and Knights were impressive but short-lived glimpses of character and they will again back-up after a last-start flogging, albeit before the break. Cronulla's Jekyll-and-Hyde defence will be tested fully in their return against the Panthers.
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