Paul Crawley’s NRL mid-season report card: Can your club cut it?

AT the halfway point of this season, the time for excuses is over. In a year of wonderful surprises and shocking disappointments, Paul Crawley’s mid-season report card delivers the most important verdict: can your team make the Top 8 cut?

How did your team fare?

AT the halfway point of this season, the time for excuses is over.

In a year of wonderful surprises and shocking disappointments, Paul Crawley’s mid-season report card delivers the most important verdict: can your team make the Top 8 cut?

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Penrith (1st, 9 wins, +109)

Mid-season rating: A+

Prediction: 1st

We kicked off the season with Phil Gould under fire for swapping Matt Moylan with James Maloney and letting Bryce Cartwright go, while Anthony Griffin was the hot tip to be first coach sacked. Now look at them.

Despite a huge injury toll, they sit in top spot and Fox Sports Stats show the Panthers have conceded fewest points, run metres and offloads.

Gould and Griffin deserve tremendous credit. In last year’s finals series, Nathan Cleary couldn’t hide his frustration having to run the show on his own. Maloney’s arrival has proved a masterstroke.

Injuries: S McKendry (ACL, season), T Browne (ruptured bowel, retired), W Blake (ankle, R14), J Mansour (fractured cheekbone, R19), D Edwards (shoulder, season), M Leota (pectoral, R17), P Wallace (shoulder, R14), J Hetherington (suspension, R15)

Gareth Widdop has been the form five-eighth of the competition.

Dragons (2nd, 9 wins, +109

Mid-season rating: A+

Prediction: 4th

I had the Dragons eighth in pre-season tips, but they share the competition lead at halfway point. Yeah, they got towelled up by the Panthers last week, but I reckon that was as much to do with complacency.

Origin and the Denver Test will knock them around, but if they get through with few injuries, especially to halves Gareth Widdop and Ben Hunt, Paul McGregor will have a team ready to challenge for the title. They’ve scored most points, run for most metres and busted most tackles.

Injuries: Z Lomax (hand, R20), B Hunt (corked thigh, Origin 1), J De Belin (hip, Origin 1), T Sims (Cork, R14)

Rabbitohs (3rd, 8 wins, +93

Mid-season rating: A+

Prediction: 5th

I thought Anthony Seibold was on a hiding to nothing in his rookie season at Souths — taking over from premiership winner Michael Maguire at one of the game’s highest-profile clubs and with a roster that showed nothing in attack last year.

Well, every direction you look right now Seibold has the Rabbitohs firing. The Burgess twins, Damien Cook, John Sutton, take your pick. They have scored the most tries and made the most line-breaks this season. I didn’t have them anywhere near my eight at the start of the season. Now I reckon they could win it.

Injuries: R Kennar (foot, R14), A Johnston (hamstring, R14)

Paul Gallen has had an injury-affected start to the season but that hasn’t stopped the Sharks finding form.

Sharks (4th, 8 wins, +31)

Mid-season rating: B+

Prediction: 2nd

Started the season looking anything but a premiership threat, but you just don’t win six games straight in the NRL unless you are a quality team.

Their pack is as tough as any. They have a terrific back five and, crucially, Moylan’s past two games have been by far his best.

Like the Panthers, they‘ve had a shocking run with injuries but at full strength the Sharks look menacing.

Importantly, Valentine Holmes is the only player Shane Flanagan has lost so far to Origin, which is a massive advantage on previous years.

Injuries: No injuries/suspensions

Warriors (5th, 8 wins, -2)

Mid-season rating: A

Prediction: 8th

This time last year I wrote about the Warriors in my mid-season report: has there been a greater bunch of underachievers in the history of the game?

Well, they’d better not let us down now because Fox Sports Stats show eight wins at this point of the season is the Warriors’ best record through 12 matches since 2002 (that year they won 10 from 12).

They have never looked fitter but, worryingly, their past three losses against the Rabbitohs, Roosters and Storm have all been by 20 points or more.

Injuries: N Roache (back, season), L Pulu (ankle, R20), S Johnson (ankle, R14), R Tuivasa-Sheck (ankle, R14), M Lino (leg strain, R14)

Cameron Smith and the Storm haven’t delivered the consistency we’re used to.

Storm (6th, 7 wins, + 76)

Mid-season rating: C

Prediction: 3rd

Storm fans might not be happy with a C mark but I reckon that’s being kind, given the quality of this squad and the precision football Craig Bellamy’s teams are always known for.

This year they have had more incomplete sets in their own half than any team and also have the second-worst completion rate overall.

Still, I reckon when the whips are cracking come finals time, the Storm will have everyone looking over their shoulders. Cam Smith’s representative retirement could turn out to be the Storm’s trump card.

Injuries: S Earl (ACL, July), C Scott (suspension, R15), B Slater (hamstring, Origin 1), S Kasiano (suspension, R15)

Sydney Roosters (7th, 7 wins, +66)

Mid-season rating: C

Prediction: 7th

The jury is out on whether buying Cooper Cronk to replace Mitchell Pearce was the right decision. Some weeks the Roosters look like world-beaters and other weeks they look terrible.

Like Melbourne, they have been underwhelming yet still sit only two wins short of the competition leaders.

Have conceded the equal-fewest tries but have made the most errors and the NRL’s worst completion rate.

Even without their Origin stars, don’t underestimate the significance of Sunday’s clash against the Tigers. A loss will see the pre-season favourites drop out of the top eight.

Injuries: Bernard Lewis (ACL, season)

Benji Marshall has surprised everyone with his return to form.

Wests Tigers (8th, 7 wins, + 11)

Mid-season rating: B+

Prediction: 10th

When the draw came out, I thought the Tigers would be dead and buried by now because they had the toughest start of any team.

So to be now on equal competition points with the Storm, Roosters and Broncos is a massive effort from everyone involved, especially coach Ivan Cleary.

They sit second in points and tries conceded, but rank 13th in attack.

And that’s the big question: Do they have the attack to be a threat come September?

I’d imagine Cleary would love to get his hands on Moses Mbye before June 30.

Injuries: No injuries/suspensions

Broncos (9th, 7 wins, -32)

Mid-season rating: B

Prediction: 6th

Every year you see a team jump out of the ground on the run to the finals. In 2018 it would not surprise me if that team was Brisbane.

While many will have you believe the Broncos have been disappointing so far, I see more upside than down going into the back half of this season.

They have unearthed some exciting talent and when they get the likes of Matt Gillett, Alex Glenn, Josh Maguire and Jack Bird back in weeks to come, they will go to another level.

Injuries: J Roberts (achilles, Origin 1), J McGuire (ankle, Origin 1), A Savelio (ACL, season), M Gillett (broken neck, R16-18), A Glenn (knee, R14-15), P Haas (shoulder, season), J Bird (sternum, R14), K Sims (broken jaw, 16-18)

Jamayne Isaako has been one of the Broncos best performers.

Raiders (10th, 5 wins, +1)

Mid-season rating: D

Prediction: 9th

My fear is it will end up another of those “what could have been” seasons for Canberra. Still can’t believe they clocked off against the Titans, Knights and Warriors in the opening three rounds and they should have beaten the Sharks in round 10. They win those four games and the Raiders are joint NRL leaders.

Here’s a telling stat: Canberra have made 50 errors in final 20 minutes of matches this season, the most of any team.

The light on the horizon is Josh Hodgson, who will be back by round 16, if not sooner.

Injuries: J Paulo (foot, R18), J Hodgson (ACL, R16-20), J Tapine (suspension, R15)

Knights (11th, 5 wins, -132)

Mid-season rating: C

Prediction: 12th

I know a lot of people were tipping the Knights to be a top eight team this year but given Mitchell Pearce’s injury, I reckon they get a pass mark so far.

But the alarm bells would have to be ringing after last week’s flogging by the Sharks because that was embarrassing and is their fourth straight loss.

Fox Sports Stats show they are conceding the most points, tries and run metres of any team — and have five losses by 18 points or more, also the most of any team.

Injuries: M Pearce (pectoral, R19-23), T Moga (ACL, Season), D Saifiti (shoulder, R24), B Lamb (cheekbone, R16), N Ross (hamstring, Indefinite), H Ese’ese (suspension, R14)

The Knights had a bright start but have fallen away in recent weeks.

Manly (12th, 4 wins, -6)

Mid-season rating: D-

Prediction: 11th

They are a mathematical hope of still making the finals but in reality they are no chance. They would have to win at least eight — but probably nine — of their remaining 12 games.

Given they have only won four so far, it’s just not going to happen, which is a great shame because on their best day they have shown what a dangerous football team they are.

It is just unforgivable how poorly the whole drama surrounding Daly Cherry-Evans and Jackson Hastings was handled. Where was the club’s management?

Injuries: C Sironen (ACL, Season), K Tanginoa (ACL, Season), L Croker (ACL, Season), T Paseka, (ankle, R14), D Walker (eye socket, R18)

Titans (13th, 4 wins, -109)

Mid-season rating: D

Prediction: 15th

My tip for the wooden spoon so I can’t say it surprises me to see where the Titans are at the halfway mark. Still, they have a better squad than their performances suggest.

And Garth Brennan and Graham Annesley have a lot to answer for in regards to signing Bryce Cartwright on such huge money.

For the life of me, I can’t understand what Cartwright was thinking again last Saturday against the Roosters when he pulled out of a tackle on James Tedesco, remarkably similar to his non-tackle on the Storm’s Cameron Munster.

Injuries: J Arrow (shoulder/ribs/back, Origin 1), K Proctor (groin, R14), W Matthews (concussion, Indefinite), J Stockwell (shoulder, TBC), P Sami (calf, TBC)

David Klemmer and the Bulldogs have had a mixed season so far.

Bulldogs (14th, 3 wins, -55)

Mid-season rating: D

Predicted finish: 14th

Bulldogs fans are just going to have to grin and bear it because this is going to get a whole lot worse before it gets better.

I really feel for the players and coach Dean Pay because this salary-cap disaster is not their doing, yet they are left to wear the consequences.

Their 27 tries is the fewest of any team and as hard as they try, they just show nothing in attack.

In fairness, it would be impossible to block out all the off-field upheaval that is going on at Belmore.

Injuries: A Tolman (ankle, R14-15), D Fualalo (ankle, R16-19), J Morris (knee, R20), R Faitala-Mariner (concussion, R14)

Cowboys (15th, 3 wins, -62)

Mid-season rating: F

Predicted finish: 13th

Like many, I tipped the Cowboys to win the competition, so to see them second-last, well, what else is there to say?

I guess one thing is, why on earth didn’t they try harder to keep Kalyn Ponga, because their backline really needs an injection of youth.

They can’t make the finals but hopefully they finish the season with some respect and give Johnathan Thurston a send-off he deserves.

Won just two of seven matches in Townsville, their worst start at home since 2008.

Injuries: M Morgan (groin, Origin 1), K Linnett (pectoral, Indefinite), J McLean (foot, R16), J Chudleigh (knee, Season), J Asiata (pectoral, R18), M Scott (suspension, R14)

Everyone had high hopes for the Eels but they sit dead last with no sign of improvement.

Eels (16th, 2 wins, -98)

Mid-season rating: F

Predicted finish: 16th

Hasn’t this blown to pieces after such a wonderful finish to last season?

Parramatta fans would have to look at a club such as Penrith and think what the hell is going on here?

Given the financial clout of the Eels and the rugby league heartland it occupies, it is painfully obvious they need a Phil Gould-like figure to come in and take charge of recruitment, roster management and junior development.

Brad Arthur has proven he is a good coach, but the job of pulling it all together is too much work for one man.

Injuries: T Mannah (eye, R14), K Pritchard (groin, R14), J Hayne (hip flexor, R14), G Leleisiuao (thumb, R15), T Williams (ACL, Season), B Scott (ACL, Season), C Norman (foot, R14)

Originally published as Paul Crawley’s NRL mid-season report card: Can your club cut it?