The Cowboys and Storm could defy history and win the premiership from outside the top four

A VIRTUAL top eight table suggests North Queensland and Melbourne could defy history and win the NRL premiership from outside the top four.

The North Queensland Cowboys v Melbourne Storm from 1300 Smiles Stadium. Cowboys Ashton Sims. Picture: Zak Simmonds

THIS is the virtual table that suggests North Queensland and Melbourne could defy history and win the NRL premiership from outside the top four.

VIRTUAL NRL TABLE OF TOP EIGHT TEAMS AGAINST EACH OTHER

North Queensland: 7 wins 3 losses — 70%

Melbourne: 7 wins 5 losses — 58%

Sydney Roosters: 6 wins 5 losses — 54%

Manly: 7 wins 6 losses — 53%

South Sydney: 6 wins 6 losses — 50%

Penrith: 4 wins 5 losses — 44%

Canterbury: 5 wins 8 losses — 38%

Brisbane: 4 wins 8 losses — 33%

All eight representatives of the NRL finalists agreed that the finals were the start of a new competition and the previous 26 weeks counted for nothing, but in terms of confidence levels it is the Cowboys who have the most runs on the board over their rivals in 2014.

A ladder featuring only games played against other top eight teams reveals the Cowboys as the No. 1 team with seven wins from 10 games, in front of Melbourne with seven wins and five losses.

Paul Green’s team also boast the second-best attacking record, with only South Sydney scoring more points against the top eight – and the best defence, conceding just 145 points, a remarkable record against the best teams in the competition.

And if the boys from Townsville need another boost ahead of their elimination final against Brisbane, the Broncos have the worst record in the top eight, winning just four games from 12 against the other contenders, losing eight and conceding 274 points in the process, the worst of all finals teams.

Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston knew his team had beaten most of their rivals, all except the Penrith Panthers, but was surprised his team was the best in the league in such head-to-head comparisons.

“I am a bit surprised by that,” Thurston told The Courier-Mail.

“But considering where we ended up finishing we’ve come up against some of the heavyweights of the competition and been able to, I suppose, get the two points off them at that stage.

Johnathan Thurston celebrates with teammates after beating the Sharks.

“But finals football is a whole new ball game now, the margin for error is so much smaller.”

No NRL team has won the premiership from outside the top four since the final eight system was introduced and it is a similar story in the AFL with the streak of top four teams winning the premiership dating back to 1998.

Not one team heads into the finals having posted at least one win against the seven other rivals.

North Queensland again ranks best, with a 23-22 defeat at Penrith in Round 23 denying them a perfect collection of scalps.

Melbourne halfback Cooper Cronk believes the Storm’s strong record this year — which includes being undefeated against top four fancies Manly, South Sydney and Penrith — and recent form has them strongly positioned to defy history to challenge for the title.

“It’s difficult to win it from outside (the top four) but it’s not impossible,” Cronk said.

“When you’re bottom four (your mentality) is probably like ‘you know what let’s put it all on the line and see how far we can go’.

“It’s definitely a challenge, our club isn’t shying away from it.”

Storm skipper Cameron Smith missed Monday’s captains’ call in Sydney to rest his injured ankle, leaving Cronk to talk up the Storm’s clash with Canterbury on Sunday.

With their star trio of Cronk (30), Smith (31) and Billy Slater (31) nearing the end of their careers, the halfback admitted time was running out to grab another grand final triumph.

“I’m not self-conscious about my age. I’m 30, I’m 31 in December, but you’re absolutely right it is coming closer to the end than the beginning,” Cronk said.