Andrew Johns/Laurie Daley Cup: Round five power rankings
After a round of record-breaking games and epic contests, there was plenty of movement in the Johns/Daley Cup power rankings. Check out where each team stands and who finished on top.
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The was plenty of drama, action and brilliant football as the final round of the regular season took place in the Andrew Johns and Laurie Daley Cup competitions over the weekend.
From record-breaking results to arguably the match of the season, the teams really turned it on they made a last play for semi-final positions.
With the top four in both competitions sorted, there were plenty of key talking points from the weekend’s action, with some players putting in some of the most brilliant individual performances seen in the competition’s history.
As a result, there was some final movements in the power rankings as the regular season came to a close.
Check out where each team stands in the rankings after round five.
1) CENTRAL COAST ROOSTERS (=)
Round five: One win, one draw
Combined record: 8-2-0
The Roosters finish the regular season on top of the power rankings after achieving the impressive feat of going through undefeated.
They were however pushed to the edge in round five, with the Johns Cup side playing out an epic 24-all draw with the Knights in a top-of-the-table clash. It was a bit easier for the Daley Cup team, who blew their opponents off the park with a blistering first half to run out 40-14 winners.
With the weekend off, the club will be hoping to extend its unbeaten run when it takes on the Western Rams (Johns Cup) and Monaro Colts (Daley Cup) in the semi-finals.
2) MACARTHUR WESTS TIGERS (=)
Round five: Two wins
Combined record: 8-2
The Tigers bounced back to their winning best with a clean sweep over the Dragons in round five to finish with an excellent record of eight wins and two losses over the course of the regular season.
The Johns Cup side was particularly impressive in its 42-6 rout, while in the Daley Cup the Tigers were too strong for the south coast side, prevailing 24-10.
As one of only two clubs to have both sides qualify for the finals, Macarthur will be raring to go when it takes on the Knights and Northern Tigers in the Johns and Daley Cup semis, respectively.
3) WESTERN RAMS (=)
Round five: One win, one loss
Combined record: 6-4
It was a mixed weekend for the Rams, who recorded one win and one draw in what was very much symbolic of the club’s season.
The young guns in the Johns Cup flexed their muscles for the finals and proved that they are the most lethal attacking side in either comp with a 52-10 rout of the winless Northern Tigers, headlined by fullback Taj Jordan’s 22-point haul.
However the older boys in the Daley Cup were no match for the undefeated Tigers outfit, going down 30-6 in Narromine.
After finishing first in the Southern Pool, the under-16 Rams will face a far sterner test in the semis when they take on the undefeated Central Coast Roosters.
4) MONARO COLTS (+1)
Round five: Two wins
Combined record: 6-4
One of the big movers in round five, the Colts racked up two big wins over Riverina to continue their late-season charge in both competitions.
After a 34-8 victory in the Johns Cup, the Colts really turned on the fireworks in the Daley Cup, piling on 12 tries to demolish the Bulls 62-12, with winger Lachlan Cunanan scoring four.
The victories took the Colts to a 60 per cent winning average throughout the season, with the under-18s set to take on the Central Coast Roosters in the semi-finals after topping the Southern Pool.
5) NEWCASTLE-MAITLAND REGION KNIGHTS (-1)
Round five: One draw, one loss
Combined record: 5-1-4
The Knights slip one spot down in the rankings after a drama-filled derby weekend against the Central Coast Roosters.
In one of the games of the season, the Johns Cup side scored two late tries to secure a thrilling 24-all draw to top their group and go through the season undefeated.
However it was a very different story in the Daley Cup, with the Knights finishing their disappointing campaign with a 40-14 loss, which saw the team place last in the Northern Pool.
6) NORTHERN RIVERS TITANS (+1)
Round five: Two wins
Combined record: 4-4
The Titans jump up to sixth in the rankings after the club’s best weekend of the season, in which both teams recorded wins over the North Coast Bulldogs.
While the young guns in the Johns Cup edged out a narrow 24-20 win, the Daley Cup side really showed what they’re capable of, with a Harry Chadburn masterclass helping the side to a 44-20 victory.
While neither team can make the semis, the Titans will be hoping to finish the season on a high when they take on the Dragons in the rescheduled round three clash this weekend in Murwillumbah.
7) NORTHERN TIGERS (-1)
Round five: One win, one loss
Combined record: 4-1-5
It was rocks and diamonds again for the Tigers, whose two sides couldn’t be further apart when it comes to this year’s competition.
In the Daley Cup, Northern kept its incredible pointscoring run alive with a thumping 30-6 victory over the Western Rams to finish top of the pool with an undefeated record. They will take on the Macarthur Wests Tigers in the semis next weekend.
However it was the polar opposite for the Johns Cup team, who were hammered 52-10 to finish the season winless at the bottom of the Northern Pool.
8) ILLAWARRA SOUTH COAST DRAGONS (=)
Round five: Two losses
Combined record: 2-6
It was another disappointing weekend for the Dragons, who suffered two losses at the hands of Macarthur in what was a do-or-die weekend for the club.
In need of a win in both grades to give themselves any chance to make the finals, the Dragons were well beaten 42-6 and 24-10 respectively to leave both sides with an underwhelming record of just one win from their four games.
After a disappointing season for one of the usual big guns of the competitions, they will travel to the north coast playing for nothing but pride when they take on the Titans in their rescheduled clash.
9) NORTH COAST BULLDOGS (=)
Round five: Two losses
Combined record: 2-8
The Dogs closed out their season with twin losses to the Titans in a north coast derby at Port Macquarie to cap off a campaign that showed more promise than the results might suggest.
The young pups pushed their rivals all the way in the first match, going down 24-20 in a clash where only goalkicking was the difference. Meanwhile the Daley Cup team, which has been one of the competition’s biggest improvers, was blown off the park in a 44-20 loss.
While they only recorded two wins over the course of the season, the Bulldogs sides showed plenty of promise and pushed some of the competition’s heavyweights all the way during the campaign.
10) RIVERINA BULLS (=)
Round five: Two losses
Combined record: 1-9
It was a tough end to a tough season for the Bulls, who suffered two heavy defeats at the hands of the rampaging Monaro Colts on the final day of the regular season in Wagga Wagga.
The Johns Cup side, who recorded the club’s sole win and have been more than competitive in 2024, went down 34-8. It was even worse in the Daley Cup, with the Bulls hammered 62-12 in what was the biggest losing margin of the season.
While there were undoubtedly highs throughout the season, highlighted by the dramatic round one victory, Riverina still have plenty of improvement to do ahead of 2025.
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