With just two rounds to go the tension has been ratcheted up in the race to secure the final few places in the NRLs finals series. Photo: Photosport
The Sydney Roosters (38), South Sydney (38), Melbourne (35) and Manly (33) are sitting in the top four positions although Cronulla (30) can secure fourth spot if it wins each of its last two matches and the Sea Eagles lose theirs.
Also well-placed in sixth spot on 28 points and with a healthy points for and against record is Canterbury-Bankstown.
But with the regular season down to its final two rounds, theres still total uncertainty over the final make-up of the teams for the play-offs, never mind their final positions.
Last weekend Newcastle (25), Gold Coast (24) and Canberra (24) all stumbled as did Brisbane (23) but North Queensland, Penrith and the Vodafone Warriors all made gains to draw level with the Titans and the Raiders on 24.
This weekend the Knights (7th) are away to the Broncos (13th), the Cowboys (8th) travel to Cronulla (5th), the Titans (9th) are away to the Roosters (1st), the Panthers (10th) take on the Bulldogs (6th) at ANZ Stadium and the Vodafone Warriors (11th) host the Raiders (12th).
Heres how the final two rounds play out for each club (current points and points for and against differentials in brackets):
1 ROOSTERS (38, +311)
Titans (h), Rabbitohs (a)
2 RABBITOHS (38, +202)
Tigers (a Allianz), Roosters (h)
3 STORM (35, +235)
Sea Eagles (a), Titans (h)
4 SEA EAGLES (33, +214)
Storm (h), Panthers (h)
5 SHARKS (30, +1)
Cowboys (h), Raiders (a)
6 BULLDOGS (28, +51)
Panthers (h), Broncos (a)
7 KNIGHTS (25, +50)
Broncos (a), Eels (h)
8 COWBOYS (24, +35)
Sharks (a), Tigers (h)
9 TITANS (24, -25)
Roosters (a), Storm (a)
10 PANTHERS (24, -29)
Bulldogs (a), Sea Eagles (a)
11 VODAFONE WARRIORS (24, -84)
Raiders (h), Dragons (a)
12 RAIDERS (24, -136)
Vodafone Warriors (a), Sharks (h)
13 BRONCOS (23, -40)
Knights (h), Bulldogs (h)
14 TIGERS (18, -259)
Rabbitohs (h Allianz), Cowboys (a)
15 DRAGONS (16, -156)
Eels (a ANZ Stadium), Vodafone Warriors (h)
16 EELS (12, -370)
Dragons (h ANZ Stadium), Knights (a)
The Sydney Roosters (38), South Sydney (38), Melbourne (35) and Manly (33) are sitting in the top four positions although Cronulla (30) can secure fourth spot if it wins each of its last two matches and the Sea Eagles lose theirs.
Also well-placed in sixth spot on 28 points and with a healthy points for and against record is Canterbury-Bankstown.
But with the regular season down to its final two rounds, theres still total uncertainty over the final make-up of the teams for the play-offs, never mind their final positions.
Last weekend Newcastle (25), Gold Coast (24) and Canberra (24) all stumbled as did Brisbane (23) but North Queensland, Penrith and the Vodafone Warriors all made gains to draw level with the Titans and the Raiders on 24.
This weekend the Knights (7th) are away to the Broncos (13th), the Cowboys (8th) travel to Cronulla (5th), the Titans (9th) are away to the Roosters (1st), the Panthers (10th) take on the Bulldogs (6th) at ANZ Stadium and the Vodafone Warriors (11th) host the Raiders (12th).
Heres how the final two rounds play out for each club (current points and points for and against differentials in brackets):
1 ROOSTERS (38, +311)
Titans (h), Rabbitohs (a)
2 RABBITOHS (38, +202)
Tigers (a Allianz), Roosters (h)
3 STORM (35, +235)
Sea Eagles (a), Titans (h)
4 SEA EAGLES (33, +214)
Storm (h), Panthers (h)
5 SHARKS (30, +1)
Cowboys (h), Raiders (a)
6 BULLDOGS (28, +51)
Panthers (h), Broncos (a)
7 KNIGHTS (25, +50)
Broncos (a), Eels (h)
8 COWBOYS (24, +35)
Sharks (a), Tigers (h)
9 TITANS (24, -25)
Roosters (a), Storm (a)
10 PANTHERS (24, -29)
Bulldogs (a), Sea Eagles (a)
11 VODAFONE WARRIORS (24, -84)
Raiders (h), Dragons (a)
12 RAIDERS (24, -136)
Vodafone Warriors (a), Sharks (h)
13 BRONCOS (23, -40)
Knights (h), Bulldogs (h)
14 TIGERS (18, -259)
Rabbitohs (h Allianz), Cowboys (a)
15 DRAGONS (16, -156)
Eels (a ANZ Stadium), Vodafone Warriors (h)
16 EELS (12, -370)
Dragons (h ANZ Stadium), Knights (a)
