NRL 2024: Draw analysis and early top eight prediction, easy run for Sharks about to turn tough

The Sharks have been blessed with an easy string of fixtures to start the year, while the wounded Rabbitohs have had a brutal run by contrast. See Pamela Whaley’s draw analysis and early top eight prediction.

Draw dilemmas: Who has toughest run, early top eight predictor

The Sharks know it and so does everyone else.

They’ve won six of their last seven games but their easy run in to start the NRL season is over now.

Over the next three weeks the ladder leaders will find out what they’re made of, starting with a top-of-the-table clash with Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday night.

The following week they face the Sydney Roosters at Suncorp Stadium for Magic Round, followed by Penrith back at home in Cronulla.

Another turn of luck has them facing Brisbane three days after State of Origin I with their stars on the bounce.

But it’s a dynamite month of football that will either make their season or show they still have work to do to compete with the top teams in the competition.

The Sharks have had an easy run up until now but that is set to change. Photo: NRL Photos / Brett Costello

The Sharks struggled against top eight teams last season and were then bumped out of the finals in week one by a resurgent Roosters side who simply wanted it more.

It earned them a reputation as ‘pretenders’ they still need to shake given the quality of their roster.

So far they’ve beaten just one top-eight team in the Bulldogs, and their lone loss was a shock 32-6 ambush by the Tigers at Leichhardt Oval.

And while they have no say in their draw, they do have a reputation to fix on Saturday night.

Fourth-placed Dolphins are in a similar boat after five wins from eight games to start the year.

The Dolphins have clawed their way into a respectable fourth place despite injury woes. Picture: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

Struggling with injuries and undermanned, they have scrapped together some courageous wins against teams below them on the ladder.

Their three losses to start the year have been against 2023 finalists in Brisbane and the Knights, as well as a round one spanking by North Queensland (that they redeemed with a two point win last weekend).

They’ll get a gauge into their chance of a finals finish against Manly at Suncorp on Thursday night, but then don’t face another top-eight team until round 15 and 16 with back-to-back games against Cronulla and Melbourne.

On the other hand, the Rabbitohs and Broncos have struggled with tough fixture runs. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

HARD YAKKA

On the other end of the spectrum, South Sydney and Brisbane have been spanked by tough draws to start the year.

Souths faced Manly, Brisbane, Cronulla, Roosters, Melbourne and Penrith all to start the year while off-field drama and on-field results pulled apart the club.

The Broncos are only starting to recover after a fiery start to the year too.

The grand finalists faced the Roosters twice, Storm in Melbourne and Penrith in Penrith.

The struggling Warriors are in the midst of their worst stretch of the season too – playing all away games from last week until round 13 against the Dolphins.

It’s a tough old season for the Eels too. They face Panthers, Broncos and Storm twice each and have only ticked off one of those six games so far.

THE RUN HOME

The Roosters started the year on a tough note with the Broncos twice, Melbourne and Penrith.

But after they face Cronulla in round 11 they don’t play another top eight team until the Bulldogs in round 16, and then Melbourne in round 20.

The Raiders and Knights also have a good end to the year.

Newcastle face Penrith in round 22 when skipper Kalyn Ponga is due to return, followed by Tigers, Sharks, Rabbitohs, Titans and Dolphins in their last five games of the year to push for finals.

After a mixed start to the year the Cowboys also need to pull it together now. They face Broncos, Panthers and Sharks within the last six games of the year, so they can’t leave their run too late.

Originally published as NRL 2024: Draw analysis and early top eight prediction, easy run for Sharks about to turn tough