Ladder gridlock bad news for Queensland teams in battle for NRL glory
THE NRL’s congested ladder means only one of three Queensland teams is likely to make the finals series.
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THE NRL’s congested ladder means only one of three Queensland teams is likely to make the finals.
Just four competition points separate second and 12th on the NRL ladder and North Queensland’s favourable run home means they are in the box seat to make the finals this year.
With each team still capable of getting 12 competition points in the final six rounds, the cut-off for a finals spot appears to be 30 points.
The Cowboys and Broncos are on 22 points with the Titans all but out of the hunt on 20 points.
North Queensland can officially end the Titans’ season on Saturday night in Townsville. The Cowboys, now ranked seventh, have an excellent for and against at plus 86 and have four games in Townsville to finish the season. They have not been beaten at home this year.
The Broncos are presently ranked eighth and still have a finals chance but need to improve to make it.
They have a solid for-and-against of plus 60, but a horror draw despite three home games in their last six.
They play premiership favourites Manly at Brookvale on Friday night before away games against South Sydney and Melbourne.
Their loss to Melbourne last Friday suggests they will struggle to win those tough games and will probably end the year on 28 competition points.
That will be an improvement on last season but they would need a lot of good results to qualify for the eight.
The Warriors, Dragons and Eels are also on 22 competition points and while their for-and-against is worse than the Broncos, they have a much better draw ahead. The Cowboys were expected to finish in the top four this year and that is still a possibility considering the number of home games they have to play.
Their shock win against Canterbury in Sydney on Saturday night is an ominous warning of their potential.
That was their second straight win in Sydney.
“To have back-to-back wins is very important for us at this time of the year. We have four from six at home now,” captain Johnathan Thurston said.
“The challenge for us now is to back that up over the next few weeks or it could all come unstuck.
“We snuck into the eight and now we need to stay there.
“I’m like everyone else, trying to get two points where I can. We need to move forward and hopefully sneak up higher in the eight.”
North Queensland’s run home features the Titans, Tigers, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Sharks and Sea Eagles.
The Broncos play the Sea Eagles, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Knights, Dragons and Storm.
The Titans face the Cowboys, Roosters, Sea Eagles, Dragons, Warriors and Bulldogs.
Originally published as Ladder gridlock bad news for Queensland teams in battle for NRL glory
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