There's some cracking match ups over the next two weeks which will obviously determine where teams will finish.
You would think Sharks and Raiders (based on who they are playing) win both their matches but the rest are very 50/50. Can the Raiders win well enough to get their for and against better than another team currently in the 8?
Penrith we know are minor premiers, so no point talking too much about them, although I reckon the Cowboys will knock em off in Townsville in R25. A loss for the cowboys in either round (R24 Souths, R25 Penrith) would hand the sharks a home final against them. So I have the top 3 being;
1. Penrith 42
2. Sharks 38
3. Cowboys 36
4th place all depends on the storm, who I believe have the toughest run home (Roosters and Parra). The chooks are arguably the form side of the comp and have a couple of big boppers set to return this week - I see them beating the storm.
Souths could very easily lose both matches (cowboys and roosters) and miss the 8 - how good would that be!?! I do think they beat the cowboys this week though.
Roosters I think will beat the storm and then souths.
Parra should beat the Broncos who are looking absolutely buggered, certainly a danger game for the eels given the way we've "backed up" all season. I don't think the broncos want to be travelling the following week (dragons) having to win and potentially having to win well to make the 8. Massive game this Thursday for both clubs. I'll back Parra to win and to then topple the storm and finish 4th.
4. Parra 34
5. Storm 32
6. Roosters 32
7. Souths 30
8. Brisbane/Canberra 30 to come down to for and against.
All makes for a cracking last 2 rounds. Fingers crossed the Eels can play the way we know they can and put themselves in the best position to have a good go at this!
Replies
I think top 4 is set as it is unfortunately. Penrith, NQ, Crounlla and Melbourne.
Then Parramatta, Sydney City, South Sydney and Canberra. Think Brisbane will fall at last hurdle. All they need is one win but us then St. George Illawarra with pressure
We MUST beat Brisbane this week! After that we can hope for results to go our way.
Roosters to beat Melb ...then our last round's a playoff for 4th.
Cowboys to beat Souths ...then it's a playoff for them against Chooks for a spot in the 8. They can bash the crap out of each other. Souths lose, Bris win and Raiders scrape in. JWH and Radley both get suspended for finals.
Of course, if Melb beat Chooks we may as well see where we can finish (5th or 6th) and rest a few players as needed. Again hoping Chooks and Souffs beat crap out of each other etc as above.
I have us finishing 5th but hoping for 4th. I just can't tip a a top 4 finish when we rely on another result outside our control. That almost never works out
Lets win on Thursday night first and then I'll get excited about a top 4 prospect.
I think the Roosters will be the Storm so will be exciting next week if we can get a shot at the top 4 and then Panthers first week of finals
There is every chance the Cowboys could lose thier last 2 games seeing as they have lost their halfback for 2-3 weeks.
if we lose to the broncos on Thursday then that's our season over. Worst case we somehow scrape into the 8 we would probably play souths first week.
my heart can't handle this shit.
I think we can win both games. The Broncos look cooked, and we have proven we can beat Melbourne with some level of consistency over the past 2 years, and that game is at home.
I think the 8 is decided. I don't see the Broncos losing to the Dragons
They must win this week again the drongos the storm game is a big call they are hitting form
1: Panthers
2: Cowboys
3: Sharks
4: Storm
5: Eels
6: Roosters
7: Souths
8: Broncos
I think we play the broncos the first week of the finals.
prediction
south's vs eels grand final
eels to win 18-12 :)