The Mole: Intriguing finals dash looms as nine teams fight it out for four spots
The Storm, Panthers, Roosters and Sharks are certain of finals football, while the Warriors, Rabbitohs, Eels and Tigers can all start planning their holidays for next month.
But in between, a fascinating battle is being fought between the Bulldogs, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Dolphins, Dragons, Knights, Raiders, Broncos and Titans.
Nine into four won't go - and with four rounds to play the battle for spots in the finals has become a dogfight, with every game vital.
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The Mole runs his rule over each contender's position on the ladder and what they must do over the coming month.
The Mole's NRL run home. Nine
Canterbury Bulldogs
Current position: 5th (12 wins, 8 losses, 30 points)
Remaining games: Dolphins (H), Warriors (A), Sea Eagles (H), Cowboys (H)
A finals spot is theirs to lose and one more win should guarantee finals footy for Cameron Ciraldo and his troops.
With Toby Sexton calling the shots at halfback and in form, a top-four spot is even a chance if either the Sharks or Roosters - both on 32 points - slip up.
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Toby Sexton of the Bulldogs kicks the ball. Getty
Manly Sea Eagles
Current position: 6th (11 wins, 1 draw, 8 losses, 29 points)
Remaining games: Warriors (H), Tigers (A), Bulldogs (A), Sharks (H)
Have a reputation of being something of a flat track bully, beating up the poor sides but struggling against the quality teams.
But Anthony Seibold has brought more consistency to the club this season and wins in their next two games against lowly-placed Tigers and Warriors should ensure they make the cut.
Needless to say, keeping Tommy Turbo healthy is vital.
Tom Trbojevic of the Sea Eagles. Brendon Thorne via Getty Images
North Queensland Cowboys
Current position: 7th (12 wins, 9 losses, 28 points)
Remaining games: Raiders (H), bye, Storm (H), Bulldogs (A)
Have plenty of class throughout the roster but have struggled for consistency all season.
With the Raiders and a bye over the next two weeks, the Cowboys should limp over the line before finishing with tougher games against the Storm and Bulldogs.
Dolphins
Current position: 8th (10 wins, 10 losses, 26 points)
Remaining games: Bulldogs (A), Storm (A), Broncos (H), Knights (A)
Crashed and burned in the latter stages of their inaugural season in 2023 and with a tough draw, are a danger of repeating that fall from grace.
Sitting in eighth spot at the moment ahead of the Dragons on for and against, they are in a perilous position but have an ace up their sleeve - master coach Wayne Bennett.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow of the Dolphins. Getty
St George Illawarra Dragons
Current position: 9th (10 wins, 10 losses, 26 points)
Remaining games: Titans (H), Sharks (H), Eels (A), Raiders (H)
One of the big improvers of 2024, but still have a lot of work to do to squeeze into the top eight.
With three of their final four games at home and only one against a top-four team - arch-rivals Cronulla - they are more than capable of getting there.
With two of the best strike players in the league in Ben Hunt and Zac Lomax, the Red V are in a position to snare eighth spot if the Dolphins stumble.
Newcastle Knights
Current position: 10th (9 wins, 11 losses, 24 points)
Remaining games: Sharks (A), Rabbitohs (A), Titans (H), Dolphins (H)
Equal with the Raiders, the Knights need other results to go their way to play September football - which is never a good sign.
But after storming into the finals last year, the Knights can't be dismissed and Kalyn Ponga can mastermind wins in the final four games if he is fit and firing.
If they upset the Sharks this weekend, it could all come down to the last game against the Dolphins.
Kalyn Ponga of the Knights. Getty
Canberra Raiders
Current position: 11th (9 wins, 11 losses, 24 points)
Remaining games: Cowboys (A), Panthers (H), Roosters (A), Dragons (A)
Have a tougher draw than the Knights and if they are not careful, could lose all four games.
Confidence, or lack of it, appears a problem and the club is staring at a third straight loss against the Cowboys this weekend.
One win, though, especially against a top-eight side, could turn it all around.
Brisbane Broncos
Current position: 12th (9 wins, 12 losses, 22 points)
Remaining games: bye, Eels (H), Dolphins (A), Storm (H)
How has a team with this much class and strike power - who almost won the comp last year - won just nine of 21 games in 2024?
It's probably the biggest mystery of the season and the post-mortems have already begun.
Last week's demolition of the Cowboys showed what the Broncos can do on their day - but it was too little, too late and it will take a miracle for them to qualify from here.
Adam Reynolds of the Broncos looks dejected. Getty
Gold Coast Titans
Current position: 13th (8 wins, 12 losses, 22 points)
Remaining games: Dragons (A), Roosters (H), Knights (A), Panthers (H)
Des Hasler is an ambush specialist and once a month, the Titans will come up with a stunning upset that no one saw coming.
They are arguably the quickest team in the league and have strike players all over the park but lack of consistency has killed off any hope of finals footy.
A tough draw over the last few weeks will ensure the Titans finish a lot closer to the bottom of the table than the top.
Top four: 1. Melbourne Strom (16 wins, 4 losses, 38 points), 2. Penrith Panthers (15 wins, 5 losses, 36 points), 3. Sydney Roosters (13 wins, 7 losses, 32 points), 4. Cronulla Sharks (13 wins, 7 losses, 32 points)
