There’s just one week left of the common season in probably the most congested finals races in current NRL historical past.
The Broncos have one hand on the minor premiership, whereas the Panthers might relaxation numerous big-name stars in a bid to safe a 3rd straight title.
The Rabbitohs and Roosters face off in a must-win conflict for each groups, with each groups lacking big-name stars, particularly Latrell Mitchell and Jared Jared Waerea-Hargreaves Hargreaves.
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Meanwhile, the Cowboys and Raiders are additionally within the firing line and will miss out on the highest eight by the pores and skin of their tooth with one other loss.
10 groups can nonetheless make the finals and right here’s their greatest and worse-case state of affairs courtesy of the Fox Sports Lab!
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Current place: 1st
Best end: 1st
Worst end: 2nd
Remaining video games: Storm
The Broncos will lock within the minor premiership with a Round 27 victory over the Storm, at the moment sitting two factors away from the Panthers after they misplaced to the Eels. If they go all the way down to Melbourne and the reigning premiers beat the Cowboys, they’ll hand over the J.J J. J. Giltinan Shield to Ivan Cleary’s aspect. The stats are in opposition to Kevin Walters’ males entering into to this conflict, having misplaced 13 straight video games in opposition to the Storm. However, the Broncos will likely be determined to safe their first minor premiership since 2000 however must get the job achieved with out two key gamers in Adam Reynolds and Pat Carrigan.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Current place: 2nd
Best end: 1st
Worst end: 2nd
Remaining video games: Cowboys
If the Broncos win on Thursday night time, the Panthers can kiss the minor premiership goodbye and Ivan Cleary will nearly actually relaxation a bunch of big-name gamers in opposition to the Cowboys on Saturday night time. Penrith have already misplaced Jarome Luai to a shoulder harm for what appears to be like to be majority of the finals collection, and with nothing to play for and a second-place end secured, there’s not a lot level in risking key backbone gamers. If Brisbane lose nonetheless, a win will safe the J. J. Giltinan Shield. Interestingly, the Panthers have solely misplaced back-to-back video games twice for the reason that begin of the 2020 season and have secured two of the final three minor premierships to go together with titles in 2022 and 2023. Cleary’s choice might have main ramifications within the race for the underside spots within the high eight.
Ponga injured as Knights safe finals | 02:43
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NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Current place: third
Best end: third
Worst end: 4th
Remaining video games: Dolphins
It’s been a season to savour for Warriors followers and Andrew Webster is seen because the second coming of christ within the eyes of the Wahs’ trustworthy. New Zealand will likely be assured they will safe a win over the Dolphins and safe third place on Round 27, nonetheless in the event that they lose and the Storm greatest the Broncos they’ll slip all the way down to fourth spot. Webster’s aspect have secured a high 4 end, solely the third time they’ve achieved the feat this century (2002 and 2007). With a win over Wayne Bennett’s males, they will even equal their most ever wins in a daily season with 17 recorded throughout 2002.
MELBOURNE STORM
Current place: 4th
Best end: third
Worst end: 4th
Remaining video games: Broncos
Like the Warriors, Melbourne have locked in a spot within the high 4 and will even leapfrog New Zealand in to 3rd. They face the high-flying Broncos within the ultimate spherical of the 12 months and if the Dolphins safe an unlikely win over the Warriors, a ultimate spherical win would see Craig Bellamy’s aspect end third. 2023 would be the Storm’s thirteenth straight season within the finals, with 11 of these together with a high 4 end. What goes in opposition to them is their file away from residence this season, successful solely six of 12 video games outdoors of Melbourne forward of a Suncorp Stadium baptism of fireside. They will even need to beat the Broncos with out Jahrome Hughes who has suffered a medial ligament pressure.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Current place: fifth
Best end: fifth
Worst end: sixth
Remaining video games: Dragons
The Knights have been one of many main success tales of the 2023 season. Adam O’Brien’s males have received eight straight and their most up-to-date victories over the Rabbitohs and Sharks show they’re premiership contenders. With a win over the Dragons in Round 27 they lock in a fifth positioned end. A loss would see Newcastle end in sixth with the Raiders and Sharks going through off. To safe a fifth-place end, the Knights must debuff the statistics, having received solely one in all previous eight in opposition to the Dragons away from Newcastle. They additionally haven’t received at Kogarah since 2009.
Ponga shuffles off after HUGE hit | 00:39
CRONULLA SHARKS
Current place: sixth
Best end: fifth
Worst end: miss finals
Remaining video games: Raiders
The Sharks are extremely unlikely to overlook out on finals soccer, however stranger issues have occurred. If Craig Fitzgibbon’s aspect lose to the Raiders in a land slide and the Rabbitohs and Cowboys each file enormous wins, they may mathematically drop out of the highest eight. But in the event that they win and the Knights lose, they may end as excessive as fifth and sixth with a win over Ricky Stuart’s males. Cronulla have received simply one in all seven video games in opposition to the groups at the moment above them on the ladder, however obtain an enormous increase this week with Nicho Hynes a powerful likelihood of taking the sector after he was a late scratching attributable to a quad harm.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Current place: seventh
Best end: fifth
Worst end: miss finals
Remaining video games: Sharks
The Raiders will likely be determined for Ivan Cleary to expire a powerful aspect in opposition to the Cowboys, as a result of if Ricky Stuart’s aspect lose to the Sharks and North Queensland win, they are going to be bundled out of the highest eight. However, they will additionally end fifth with a win and a Knights loss, which appears unlikely with O’Brien’s aspect going through the Dragons. Statistically, the Raiders have the higher hand on Cronulla and have received 9 straight in opposition to the staff from the Shire. But what goes in opposition to them is their patchy finals file, having end within the high eight back-to-back solely as soon as since 2004 (2019 and 2020). Star halfback Jamal Fogarty has additionally reportedly suffered a fractured eye socket and could possibly be dominated out for the rest of the season.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Current place: eighth
Best end: seventh
Worst end: miss finals
Remaining video games: Roosters
Mathematically, the Rabbitohs can end in seventh. But they must safe a win over the Roosters in a do-or-die conflict, and the Raiders lose or win and greatest the Sharks by differential (at the moment stands at 31). A loss to their cross-town rivals will see Souths drop out of the highest eight and so they must safe two competitors factors with out star fullback Latrell Mitchell who was suspended after elbowing Knights backrower Tyson Frizell. There can be a slim chance a win received’t be sufficient and so they might miss out on finals if the Cowboys beat the Panthers by 37 and the Raiders beat the Sharks. The Rabbitohs have received seven of their final 11 video games in opposition to the Roosters, courting again to 2019.
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Ponga shuffles off after HUGE hit | 00:39
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Current place: ninth
Best end: seventh
Worst end: miss finals
Remaining video games: Panthers
The Cowboys must win to make the finals and so they could possibly be handed two competitors factors if Cleary opts to relaxation his big-name stars. Their best path to the finals could be if the Rabbitohs or Raiders go down, however they may nonetheless catch the Sharks with an enormous win to spice up their factors differential. To end seventh, North Queensland must beat the Panthers and have the Roosters and Sharks win. It’s do-or-die for Todd Payten’s males and they are going to be determined to characteristic of their second finals collection since 2017. Statistically, the Cowboys don’t ship in opposition to Penrith and haven’t scored a degree in opposition to Cleary’s aspect of their final two video games at BlueBet Stadium.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Current place: tenth
Best end: seventh
Worst end: miss finals
Remaining video games: Rabbitohs
The Roosters have had their finals possibilities on the road for a number of weeks now and have been in a position to ship on each entrance. Nothing modifications in Round 27 and Trent Robinson’s aspect can solely make the finals with a win and a loss from both the Raiders or Cowboys. If each of these sides lose, the Tricolours might even end seventh as Robinson bids to keep away from solely his second time outdoors of the highest eight as a coach since his appointment in 2016. What goes in opposition to them is the potential to be with out star centre Joey Manu who suffered a hamstring harm final spherical, in addition to their zero from 4 file in opposition to Souths at Accor Stadium.
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
