Eels Blogs

SEA EAGLES: Position: 1st. Points: 34. Differential: +116.
Still to play: Panthers (home), Cowboys (away). 

Predicted finish: 2nd - 36points. The minor premiership is Manly's to lose and we think they'll blow it with a loss to the Cowboys in Townsville in the final round. They'll still be good for a top-two finish though. 

Lurker alert: Things seem to be back to normal at Brookie but trust me the release requests haven't died a death. Glenn Stewart's departure remains the elephant in the room. 

RABBITOHS: Position: 2nd. Points: 32. Differential: +221.
Still to play: Bulldogs (away), Roosters (away).
Predicted finish: 3rd - 34 points. The Bunnies will bounce back from Saturday's shock loss to the Cowboys and man handle the Bulldogs but will lose to the Roosters in Round 26 to hand the Chooks top spot. 

Lurker alert: Michael Maguire is a good coach but more tightly wound than a Swiss watch - and his players can feel it. The Bunnies are notorious September chokers. 

ROOSTERS: Position: 3rd. Points: 32. Differential +214.
Still to play: Storm (home), Rabbitohs (home). 

Predicted finish: 1st - 36 points. After coughing and spluttering their way through their title defence Trent Robinson's side finally got serious against the Warriors on Sunday. They'll beat Melbourne and the Bunnies in the final two rounds to claim their second-straight minor premiership and the $100K prize that goes with it. 

Lurker alert: Nothing to see here - as long as Mitchell Pearce stays off the drink! 

PANTHERS: Position: 4th. Points: 32. Differential: +65.
Still to play: Sea Eagles (away), Warriors (home). 

Predicted finish: 4th – 34 points. The Panthers' three-game winning streak ended against Melbourne on Monday night and they'll lose to Manly next Sunday as well. The Mountain Men will bounce back with a win against the Warriors in Round 26 to claim a top-four finish. 

Lurker alert: Gus and Ivan hated that word of Matt Moylan's million dollar upgrade got out. The kid deserves decent bucks but the Panthers hierarchy have worked overtime to establish an egalitarian system at Penrith. Jealousy can be a curse...just saying. 

STORM: Position 5th. Points 30. Differential: +78
Still to play: Roosters (away), Broncos (home). 

Predicted finish: 6th – 32 points. Craig Bellamy's men jumped from seventh to fifth with a hard-fought win over the Panthers on Monday night. They'll lose to the Roosters on the back of a five-day turnaround on Saturday but will beat the Broncos in Round 26 to secure a home elimination final. 

Lurker alert: Ben Roberts has been playing okay, which worries me. It really worries me...because you just know he's due one of his trademark stinkers very soon. 

BULLDOGS: Position 5th. Points 30. Differential +15.
Still to play: Rabbitohs (home), Titans (away). 

Predicted finish: 7th – 32 points. The Doggies will split their final two games. We have them losing to the Bunnies on Thursday night and beating the Titans to finish seventh.

Lurker alert: I keep hearing one of their star players wants out, but who would dare leave Dessie? 

COWBOYS: Position 6th. Points 28. Differential: +175.
Still to play: Sharks (home), Sea Eagles (home). 

Predicted finish: 5th - 32 points. The Cowboys made a statement against the Bunnies on Saturday night and we see them beating the Sharks and Sea Eagles in Townsville to head into the finals in fifth spot and with a heap of momentum. 

Lurker alert: North Queensland adopt a siege mentality at this time of the year and it's hard to blame them after copping dud decisions in the last two finals series. But it can eat away at them and turn poisonous quickly. 

EELS: Position: 8th. Points 28. Differential: -60
Still to play: Knights (away), Raiders (away). 

Predicted finish: 8th – 30 points. Brad Arthur's men should beat the Knights and Raiders but we don't think they will. The Knights will upstage them this week, forcing them to beat the Raiders in Canberra to grab the final spot in the eight. 

Lurker alert: All is fine on the field but you can never be too sure what is bubbling behind the scenes at board level. The last thing Arthur needs is for one of those flips to poke his head up. 

BRONCOS: Position 9th. Points 26. Differential: +95.
Still to play: Dragons (home), Storm (away). 

Predicted finish: 9th - 28 points. The Broncos will keep their finals hopes alive with a win over the Dragons at Suncorp on Friday night but they'll fall at the final hurdle against the Storm. 

Lurker alert: There are still plenty unhappy that Anthony Griffin has been given the hook for Wayne Bennett. 

WARRIORS: Position: 10th. Points 26. Differential: +54.
Still to play: Dragons (home), Storm (away). 

Predicted finish: 10th – 28 points. The most unpredictable team in the comp will also keep themselves in the hunt with a win over the Titans at home this weekend but they won't beat Penrith on the road in the final round. 

Lurker alert: I'm hearing there are few players not exactly enamoured withSimon Mannering's leadership skills. 

DRAGONS: Position: 11th. Points 26. Differential: -21. 
Still to play: Broncos (away), Knights (away). 

Predicted finish: 11th – 28 points. The Dragons' impressive late-season charge ends on Friday night in Brisbane. 

Lurker alert: Drama was averted when the club signed Paul McGregor, although the three-year term raised eyebrows among some.