NRL Lowdown: How is your team faring after Round 22

WHO’S hot, who’s not and who could still sneak into the finals? Find out who is on track to play September football in the Round 22 edition of the Lowdown.

THE finals are looming large as the business end of the season approaches and there are 10 teams still in the hunt to play finals football.

As the regular season heats up, we’ll be checking in with every club every week to check their chances of making it into September.

MELBOURNE STORM

LADDER: First, 36 points (+178)

WEEKEND WRAP

Went from rodeo to muster in the blink of an eye. Frantic start allowed the Cowboys to threaten and score but from 8-8 nearing halftime it was a procession, Storm scoring three unanswered tries for 26-8 demolition.

INS AND OUTS

Cameron Munster (ankle) and Tohu Harris (shoulder) will be given every chance for Saturday’s top-of-the table blockbuster. Ryley Jacks and Slade Griffin the unlucky omissions.

It seems like nobody can catch the Storm.

RUN HOME

Roosters, Knights (away), Rabbitohs and Raiders

PROGNOSIS

Can tighten stranglehold on minor premiership with win over the Roosters. Storm would be keen to make amends for 24-23 golden point loss in Adelaide during the Origin block without superstars Cameron Smith, Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Will Chambers. Things also heating up in the Top Tryscorer race with Suliasi Vunivalu (17) and Josh Addo-Carr (16) chasing Clubhouse leader Alex Johnston (17).

- Gilbert Gardiner

BRISBANE BRONCOS

LADDER: Third, 30 points (+138)

WEEKEND WRAP

The Broncos ran out their new spine to immediate success, notching up a stunning 54-0 victory over the Titans.

INS AND OUTS

Brisbane are looking strong and healthy at the moment. The inclusions of Sam Thaiday and Ben Hunt at hooker worked really well for the club, especially with Hunt coming off the bench. Herman Ese’ese also worked well off the bench. It is expected the same 17 will line up against the Sharks on Friday.

The Broncos totally destroyed the Titans.

RUN HOME

Sharks (home), Dragons (home), Eels (home), Cowboys (away)

PROGNOSIS

The Broncos may have found their premiership x-factor in Ben Hunt at hooker. He brings a real attacking spark to the role and his combinations with Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima worked really well on Saturday. There is no doubt some harder tasks await the Broncos, with the Sharks, Eels and Cowboys all awaiting them over the final month. But Saturday’s commanding victory should give them plenty of confidence moving forward.

— Rikki Lee-Arnold

CRONULLA SHARKS

LADDER: Fourth, 30 points (+75 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

Cronulla’s listlessness came back to bite them as they were beaten 30-12 by a Canberra team who just wanted it more.

INS AND OUTS

James Maloney is expected to return at five-eighth, a timely boost for a team who really needs some attacking spark. Jack Bird will be missing though after suffering a shoulder injury which will keep him out for one to two weeks. He’ll be replaced in the centres by Kurt Capewell.

Are things becoming too much for the Sharks?

THE RUN HOME

Brisbane (away), Cowboys (away), Roosters (home), Knights (away)

PROGNOSIS

It has been some time since Cronulla produced a performance that matched their capabilities. With the exception of their 44-12 win over the Roosters in Round 17, which to be fair is the best game they’ve played all season, it’s been a very rough trot in recent months.

Perhaps the enhanced Origin participation has taken its toll on the premiers, who are in danger of slipping outside the top four.

— Nick Campton

PARRAMATTA EELS

LADDER: Fifth, 30 points (+12 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

Parramatta did it easy over a battling Bulldogs side, running out 20-4 winners.

INS AND OUTS

Bevan French will likely be rested as a precautionary measure after twinging his hamstring on the weekend. Josh Hoffman could slot straight in at fullback, as could Will Smith, or Corey Norman could move to the back and either Smith, Kenny Edwards or Jeff Robson could partner Mitch Moses in the halves.

Mitchell Moses was good again for the Eels.

THE RUN HOME

Knights (home), Titans (home), Brisbane (away), Rabbitohs (home)

PROGNOSIS

Were it not for the torrential conditions and an injury to Bevan French, the Eels could have put quite a score on the Bulldogs. With a finals place all but secured, there must be some manner of focus on pumping up the club’s for and against, which is comfortably the worst of any team in finals contention. Home games in the next two weeks against the Knights and Titans could be opportunities to give that figure a boost.

— Nick Campton

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

LADDER: Sixth, 28 points (+44)

WEEKEND WRAP

Early injuries to Gavin Cooper (calf) and Antonio Winterstein (hamstring) effectively ended any hope the Cowboys had of testing competition benchmark Melbourne on Friday, their second loss in as many weeks against top two opposition.

INS AND OUTS

Cooper and Winterstein seem destined to miss Saturday’s crucial road trip to Penrith, further eroding the Cowboys’ experience with co-captains Matt Scott and Johnathan Thurston already sidelined. Michael Morgan and Scott Bolton look the leading candidates to replace Cooper as stand-in skipper. Javid Bowen should return to the line-up to replace Winterstein, while Coen Hess should be elevated from the bench to fill Cooper’s shoes at left back row. Youngster Braden Uele may get a recall for his second NRL game on the bench while utility Ben Hampton, dropped from the team which played Melbourne, is another option. Five-eighth Te Maire Martin also copped a knock to his knee against Melbourne and could be in some doubt to play his former team on Saturday. Bolton injured his elbow in the first half, but returned for the second half.

Are the injuries finally catching up with the Cowboys?

RUN HOME

Panthers (away), Sharks (home), Tigers (away), Broncos (home)

PROGNOSIS

The Cowboys’ depth is being severely tested with several experienced campaigners unavailable for the trip to Penrith. A loss would mean the Panthers would draw level with them on points, and allow the chasing pack a chance to get closer. Saturday’s clash is a virtual ‘four pointer’ and they must find a way to grind out a crucial win and secure a place in the finals. They can ill-afford any more injuries to their forward pack.

— Jon Tuxworth

MANLY SEA EAGLES

LADDER: Seventh, 28 points (+41 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

Manly were superb in their 36-18 win over the Roosters and showcased all their attacking talent in one of their best performances of the season.

I NS AND OUTS

Addin Fonua-Blake will return on the bench, most likely in place of Lloyd Perrett or Kelepi Tanginoa. Brad Parker may be hard to oust after his impressive performance at right centre, but rookie Brian Kelly could be better off for the breather.

Manly turned things around after two rough losses.

THE RUN HOME

Tigers (away), Bulldogs (away), Warriors (away), Penrith (home)

PROGNOSIS

Manly’s win has reignited their top four hopes after two weeks that seemed to have their season on the brink of collapse. It’s still hard to get a read on Manly and the gap between their best and worst performance is terrifyingly large, but they have the attacking talent to really test the best sides in the competition and have four winnable games remaining.

— Nick Campton

PENRITH PANTHERS

LADDER: Eighth, 26 points (51+ differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

Penrith got a few scares from a plucky Wests Tigers outfit but ended up getting the win 28-14.

INS AND OUTS

Matt Moylan is expected to return for this week’s match against the Cowboys at five-eighth but Trent Merrin is still a week or two away.

Penrith have

THE RUN HOME

Cowboys (home), Raiders (away), Dragons (home), Manly (away)

PROGNOSIS

This win over the Tigers and the Dragons loss to Souths means the Panthers destiny is in their own hands. If they win their final four games they will secure their spot in the finals. However, these next two weeks shape as the most crucial of their season. A loss to the Cowboys this weekend, coupled with a Raiders win, would make the team’s match next week something of a finals showdown. Regardless of that result, the Round 25 match against the Dragons will have similar weight. While they are in the prime position, the Panthers spot in the finals is far from assured.

— Nick Campton

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

LADDER: Ninth, 24 points (+73 points differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

St George Illawarra had South Sydney beaten, but conceded two tries in 11 minutes to lose.

The defeat has put the Dragons’ finals hopes in severe doubt with a month remaining in the regular season.

INS AND OUTS

Star centre Josh Dugan was forced from the field midway through the first half with an ankle injury.

The Dragons will be sweating on scan results for Dugan.

Speaking after last Friday’s loss to Souths, coach Paul McGregor conceded the injury didn’t look good.

“It looks pretty bad at the minute,” McGregor said.

“It’s syndesmosis, so we’ll have to have a look in 48 hours when that swelling goes down.”

The Dragons are in danger of slipping out of the top eight.

THE RUN HOME

Titans (Home), Broncos (Away), Panthers (Away), Bulldogs (Home).

PROGNOSIS

The Dragons have dropped their past two games to drop out of the top eight with four rounds remaining.

Paul McGregor’s men were in the box seat to defeat Newcastle and Souths, but failed to finish them off.

As a result, the Dragons’ finals hopes hang by a thread and they must aim up to save their season.

On the plus side, St George Illawarra face two teams outside the top eight and they must capitalise.

— Matt Logue

CANBERRA RAIDERS

LADDER: Tenth, 22 points (+53)

WEEKEND WRAP

Canberra produced their best performance of the season in disposing of defending premiers Cronulla 30-12 in the Shire.

With the relaxed, free flowing brand of football retained from recent weeks the Raiders kept their slim finals hopes alive in dominant fashion.

INS AND OUTS

With Josh Papalii back in the team, the Josh Hodgson to lock experiment ended.

Expect the Elliott Whitehead at lock experiment to continue, with the English international playing one of his best games in lime green against the Sharks.

The Raiders did the job against the Sharks.

THE RUN HOME

Warriors (Away), Panthers, Knights, Storm (Away)

PROGNOSIS

Four games remain and four wins are needed.

Should Canberra beat the Warriors on Sunday afternoon, a blockbuster clash against the eighth-placed Panthers looms.

A very winnable game against Newcastle follows, before a round 26 trip to Melbourne’s graveyard for a potential promotion into finals footy.

A few things beyond Canberra’s control need to fall into place for them to make the finals. But if they make it, anything is possible.

— Tim Williams

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

LADDER: 11th, 18 points (-68 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

South Sydney had one of their most exciting wins of the season, a come from behind 28-26 triumph over the Dragons that was in doubt until the final seconds of the match.

INS AND OUTS

Robert Jennings could return on the wing in relief of 18-year old schoolboy Campbell Graham, who made his NRL debut at the SCG. No other changes are expected.

The Rabbitohs scored a rare win.

THE RUN HOME

Bulldogs (home), Warriors (home), Storm (away), Eels (away)

PROGNOSIS

The Rabbitohs are playing for pride in these last few weeks but they showed some good signs in this win. Chief among them was the strong performance of Damien Cook, who scored a try and always looked dangerous in his best game for the club. The former Bulldog provided a lot of spark around the ruck and will be one to watch in the season’s final weeks.

— Nick Campton

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

LADDER: 12th, 18 points (-80 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

The Warriors lurched to a 26-10 defeat at the hands of the Knights, with a disappointing season somehow hitting a new low.

INS AND OUTS

Given Stephen Kearney’s accusation after the match that some players weren’t trying, you can expect wholesale changes for this week’s clash with the Raiders.

This is the most public of the Warriors many humiliations.

THE RUN HOME

Raiders (home), Rabbitohs (away), Sea Eagles (home), Tigers (away)

PROGNOSIS

This is somehow the most disappointing of the Warriors many underwhelming seasons. With Parramatta poised to make the finals for the first time since 2009, the New Zealanders will now hold the unenviable record of longest finals drought, having last made the playoffs in 2011.

— Nick Campton

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

LADDER: 13th, 18 points (-113 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

The Bulldogs had another loss where they failed to really fire a shot in another dour loss, this time to the tune of 20-4 against Parramatta.

INS AND OUTS

Greg Eastwood has been scheduled to return for some time but it remains to be seen if he takes the field again this season. Chase Stanley was shoe horned into the halves, but only God and Des Hasler know if he’ll stay there. What seems imperative is keeping Brenko Lee in the side — he’s the only man in blue and white who can give them a little spark.

The story remains the same for the Bulldogs.

THE RUN HOME

Rabbitohs (away), Sea Eagles (home), Titans (away), Dragons (away)

PROGNOSIS

We say the same things about the Bulldogs every week. The effort is there, the attack is not. And there doesn’t seem to be any way to change that this season. As a result, the club and their fans are on a grim death march to the end of the season. Over the off-season the side can be retooled — Des Hasler could be sacked, the players could learn new positions, the club could embrace a new style — but they have shown no ability to change their playing style at all this year and they have given us no reason to expect any changes.

— Nick Campton

GOLD COAST TITANS

LADDER: 14th, 18 points (-126)

WEEKEND WRAP

The Titans suffered their biggest ever defeat with a terrible 54-0 loss to the Broncos. They were in the game early before Brisbane blew them away.

INS AND OUTS

Halfback Ashley Taylor is battling a knee injury and is in doubt for Saturday’s clash against the Dragons. Kevin Proctor is a chance of returning from a hamstring strain.

RUN HOME

Dragons (away), Eels (away), Bulldogs, Roosters (away).

PROGNOSIS

The Titans have been woeful in the past two weeks and coach Neil Henry will be under immense pressure if they can’t turn things around. The have a tough finish to the season and are still no certainties to avoid finishing in the bottom two.

— Travis Meyn

A dejected Ashley Taylor after the Broncos thrashed the Titans.

WESTS TIGERS

TIGERS

LADDER: 15th, 14 points (-148)

WEEKEND WRAP

The Tigers went down 28-14 to the Panthers at Pepper Stadium. The Tigers stayed in touch for most of the match but a lack in class in the decisive moments was the difference.

INS AND OUTS

Again, young gun centre Moses Suli remains a week to week prospect as he recovers from a tricky ankle injury.

RUN HOME

Sea Eagles, Roosters (away), Cowboys, Warriors

PROGNOSIS

The Tigers were right in this match but struggled to create attacking opportunities in the second half. Again, a litany of errors gifting easy ball and territory and an inability to build pressure from their kicking game hurt Ivan Cleary’s men. New signing Tuimoala Lolohea showed glimpses of what he’s capable of producing, putting David Nofoaluma over for a try. Suddenly, the Tigers are in a battle for the wooden spoon with cellar dwellers Newcastle going back to back for the first time since 2015 — three out of their finals four games are top eight opponents. They could be saved by the fact the Knights’ run home is just as tough, if not tougher.

— Fatima Kdouh

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

LADDER: 16th, 12 points (-181 differential)

WEEKEND WRAP

Newcastle scored their first back to back wins since the Johns brothers were in town courtesy of a 26-10 win over the Warriors.

INS AND OUTS

Nathan Ross suffered a back injury that is expected to keep him on the sidelines for some time. Expect Dane Gagai to take his place at the back and Shaun Kenny-Dowall to move into the centres. Lachlan Fitzgibbon could also hold his place in the back row after another strong game.

Winning fever is sweeping Newcastle.

THE RUN HOME

Eels (away), Storm (home), Raiders (away), Sharks (home)

PROGNOSIS

The Eels, an honest to God premiership contender, won’t be easy kills like the Dragons and Warriors. We’re about to see how much the Knights really have improved. Given the confidence they would have gained from their first back to back wins since the Jurassic Era, we can expected a strong performance, even if another win seems a little improbable this week.

— Nick Campton

Originally published as NRL Lowdown: How is your team faring after Round 22