NRL power rankings at the end of July: Who’s hot and who’s not
The past month of NRL footy has been full of winning and losing streaks as the contenders and pretenders become clearer. Here’s our take on what the pecking order really looks like, based on teams’ current form, situation and expectations.
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THE past month of NRL footy has been full of winning and losing streaks as the contenders and pretenders become clearer.
There’s still plenty to play for though, with seventh to 13th separated by just two games.
Here’s our take on what the pecking order really looks like, based on teams’ current form, situation and expectations.
1. Melbourne
NRL ladder: 1st
June ranking: 1st
Even after a home loss, the Storm remain two games clear at the top of the table as a result of their nine-match winning run.
The last time they lost, they buried Parramatta 64-10 the following week. How they respond against the Broncos this time around should be a telling sign of what you can expect to follow.
2. Manly
NRL ladder: 5th
June ranking: 4th
Second might seem a tad generous for a team that has lost two of its past three but that’s what happens when you deliver the kind of performance they summoned in Melbourne at last start.
Driven by Tom Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans and the once-again masterful coaching of Des Hasler, the Sea Eagles are the real deal.
3. Penrith
NRL ladder: 7th
June ranking: 5th
OK, Ivan Cleary’s side’s winning streak was brought to a halt at the weekend but FINALLY we are seeing their talented roster show what they are capable of.
Should cement their place in the play-offs with five of their remaining six fixtures against teams ranked lower than them.
4. Canberra
NRL ladder: 4th
J une ranking: 3rd
The Green Machine were dealt a generous fixture through the middle part of the year and they capitalised to put themselves in a share of third place.
Now they need to keep that momentum rolling as this testing period awaits: Warriors (away), Roosters (home), Storm (away), Sea Eagles (home).
5. Sydney
NRL ladder: 3rd
June ranking: 6th
Flexed their muscles by running away with a 48-10 game against the Knights but are yet to get on a run through the second half of the season.
They underwhelmed similarly during 2018 and went on to win the title so don’t be surprised to see them peak at the right time again here.
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6. South Sydney
NRL ladder: 2nd
June ranking: 7th
From four consecutive defeats to three successive victories, the Rabbitohs are somewhat back on track.
Each of those wins have been ugly, however. Can they get back to the supreme level they showed earlier this year?
7. New Zealand
NRL ladder: 12th
June ranking: 9th
Kudos to these guys. They are breaking the club’s traditional reputation of being flaky by competing hard week in, week out (their last six games have all been decided by four or less points).
They must start winning at home if they are to make the finals and what better way to make a statement than by hosting finals-bound Canberra and Manly in the coming rounds.
8. Brisbane
NRL ladder: 8th
June ranking: 12th
Are plodding along but in the grand scheme of things, even a week one finals loss would represent a decent season for the rebuilding Broncos and they’ve put themselves in with a good chance of that.
This Friday’s home match against Melbourne, who will be fired up to rebound from a loss, will be a fair test of where they’re at.
9. Parramatta
NRL ladder: 6th
June ranking: 11th
The Eels just don’t seem like a sixth-place team to me but I guess that’s a credit to what they are doing to fly under the radar.
They can even push for a top four spot now given their next four fixtures are against out-of-form quartet St George Illawarra, Newcastle, Gold Coast and Canterbury.
10. Wests Tigers
NRL ladder: 11th
June ranking: 13th
The Tigers have been proof of what a really solid coach can bring to your NRL program.
By no means do the joint venture club have a world-beating roster but they are hanging tough and holding their own under Michael Maguire.
11. Cronulla
NRL ladder: 10th
June ranking: 8th
Last round marked the Sharks’ first win since June 8 but things aren’t going quite as bad as that might sound.
Three losses in that time were by two points, another was by a field goal. They are still close enough to the eight to feature in September if they can get their goal-kicking and game management right.
12. Canterbury
NRL ladder: 15th
June ranking: 16th
The Doggies keep doing just enough to keep their fans semi-interested. There still isn’t an abundance of talent in this squad but they do seem to possess the typical Canterbury ticker.
It has helped them grind out wins against both the Sharks and Knights in their past four starts, while they also put in a respectable display against the Roosters. Might dodge the wooden spoon at this rate.
13. Newcastle
NRL ladder: 9th
June ranking: 2nd
The Knights should be running out onto the field to the tune of Katy Perry’s Hot N Cold in 2019. Having lost five straight early on, they then won six straight to look like real contenders.
The wheels have fallen off again since, losing their past four – three of which to teams outside the top eight. Still have the potential to be a threat but need to rediscover their groove ASAP.
14. North Queensland
NRL ladder: 13th
June ranking: 10th
The Cowboys haven’t played like a finals team this year and their recent form could come back to haunt them when the top eight sorts itself out.
While competitive of late, North Queensland have won just one of their past six to freefall back down the ladder.
15. St George Illawarra
NRL ladder: 14th
June ranking: 15th
Not to follow the trend of blaming coaches, but I’ll say it again: Paul McGregor must be thanking his lucky stars that he locked in his future through to the end of 2021 when he did.
The Dragons did give South Sydney a major scare last weekend but they have still lost four on the trot and the cold, hard facts are that they will miss the play-offs for the sixth time since 2012.
The only really good news is that Gareth Widdop is back on the paddock.
16. Gold Coast
NRL ladder: 16th
June ranking: 14th
With six rounds to go, the Titans are in a mess. They’ve lost five straight and the past four defeats have all been by a margin of 18 points or more.
Garth Brennan has been sacked, meaning another rebuild is on the cards, and for all the effort interim coach Craig Hodges has put into re-energising things, the Titans have still looked like pushovers in defence.
Two upcoming games against the Dragons seem their best hope of avoiding the wooden spoon.
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