NRL Power Rankings: Round 8
1. Melbourne Storm (last week 2)
The Warriors put up a brave – and well-organised - fight on Tuesday night but the Storm boys were able to lift when it mattered most. If players such as Dale Finucane and Nelson Asofa-Solomona maintain this form all season, the club will be in rude health come the finals. Another thing - Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith still go OK.
2. Sydney Roosters (last week 5)
Whichever team won the Anzac Day classic against the Dragons would have been in this spot. In the end it was the tricolours who got the chocolates, thanks to another powerhouse display from their pack and some outstanding scrambling in defence. You get the indication this team will be there come the latter end of the finals.
3. Cronulla Sharks (last week 1)
What’s going on with the Sharks and home games? They’ve now lost to the Broncos, Dragons and Titans on their own turf. Their only win in the Shire was a 19-18 escape against the depressing Knights. Luckily for them their next two games are on the road. They’ll sort this out.
4. St George Illawarra Dragons (last week 4)
The display they turned in during a golden-point loss to the Roosters adds weight to talk they are a legitimate top-four team. Could easily have won that match inside the 80 minutes. Somehow they’ve turned Nene Macdonald into a real strike weapon on the wing. What next?
5. Brisbane Broncos (last week 6)
A couple of lucky breaks go the way of the Broncos? Well, I never. Conspiracy theories aside, Brisbane got the job done against Souths but didn’t exactly set the world on fire. The four teams above them on this list are all travelling a little better. They need to get a lot better to challenge for the title.
6. Canberra Raiders (last week 3)
It was obvious from the outset that Manly were looking to get the Raiders into a niggle-fest that would take their minds off the game. Ricky Stuart’s team took the bait far too easily. Every team playing Canberra should copy this model until the Green Machine prove they can deal with it.
7. Manly Sea Eagles (last week 8)
The gap between their best and their worst is perhaps the biggest of any team in the competition. They produced enough of their best to beat the Raiders in Canberra – a result worthy of praise. If Daly Cherry-Evans can start playing like someone on a $10million contract a little more often, further success is likely to follow.
8. Wests Tigers (last week 12)
Next year isn’t a concern in Power Rankings land. All that matters is right now. And right now they’re looking pretty good. Aaron Woods responded to the boo-birds with a great performance. He’s got just as much right to leave the club as the fans have to voice their displeasure.
9. Parramatta Eels (last week 10)
The final margin wasn’t a big one in the win over strugglers Penrith, but the performance was a good one. The fact Corey Norman remains a bit of a one-man band in attack is far from ideal, but when he’s on the Eels are hard to beat.
10. New Zealand Warriors (last week 9)
The Warriors did enough in their narrow loss to an impressive Storm unit to slip just one spot. If they keep playing like that they’ll win more than they lose. Any team that can have Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on the field at the same time should be playing finals football.
