Wendell Sailor sorts out the contenders and pretenders

EVERYONE who thinks an all-Queensland NRL grand final is a certainty is kidding themselves.

Cowboy's Johnathan Thurston during the NRL game between the Manly Sea Eagles and the North Queensland Cowboys at Brookvale Oval .Picture Gregg Porteous

THE NRL is a lottery.

If you think the Broncos and Cowboys are the only two teams who can win the Grand Final, you’re kidding yourself.

There’s seven rounds to go, so, if you haven’t been paying attention, you should start. It’s about to get really exciting and the premiership race is finally about to get a little clearer.

Here are the top five contenders.

1. BULLDOGS

David Klemmer can make a difference for the Dogs.

JUST like last year, the Bulldogs have the top teams nervously looking over their shoulders. Canterbury is a better team than they were 12 months ago and we all know coach Des Hasler has a knack for getting his team into top gear come September.

Their forward pack is as strong as ever with David Klemmer adding some punch and Brett Morris has made a difference in the outside backs. Teams don’t like playing the Bulldogs.

They are gritty and turn every contest into a war. The Dogs can beat anyone on their day. More importantly they are a team that likes a challenge.

They wouldn’t be phased about having to travel to Brisbane or Townsville for an elimination final

2. BRONCOS

Justin Hodges could be playing in his last finals series.

PEOPLE are waiting for the Broncos to collapse like Wayne Bennett’s Dragons team did in 2009.

They were bounced out of the finals in straight sets after winning the minor premiership. I have no doubt this team can go all the way, but what worries me is that home ground advantage won’t help them.

Suncorp Stadium is not a place to be feared any more. It’s not a fault of this Brisbane team – they’ve won their last seven games at Suncorp.

I just don’t think the advantage they’ll get of playing at home is enough to cancel out the massive pressure they’ll be under if they are able to play home finals.

They will tighten up at some stage. Hosting a final puts you on a big stage. The reason the Broncos will be able to handle it is the incredible experience of their coaching staff. Assistant coaches Kevin Walters, Allan Langer and Stephen Kearney have been there before.

3. COWBOYS

Lachlan Coote has been a key for the Cowboys.

A LOT of people think it’s the Cowboys’ year. Right now, that’s hard to disagree with except for one thing.

This team has more than its fair share of demons when it comes to playing finals football. The close losses and controversial decisions that have gone against them in the past are not easily forgotten.

There’s a reason the Cowboys and NRL were at war and Johnathan Thurston said there was a “conspiracy” against his team.

That creates nerves. They can only prove they can deal with those nerves in September. Right now, they are ripping teams apart and doing it at home and on the road.

Thurston is the best player in the world and fullback Lachlan Coote has been their second best player. The gamble the Cowboys took on signing him from Penrith is paying off.

If you take away the three losses they started their season with, they are the best team in the competition.

4. ROOSTERS

Blake Ferguson has been a super buy for the Chooks.

THE Roosters have no weaknesses. Blake Ferguson is the second best buy of the season — behind Blake Austin. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been the second best player in the competition behind Johnathan Thurston and any team that is able to play stars like Dylan Napa and Kane Evans off the bench has an embarrassment of riches.

So, why isn’t this team as unstoppable as the one that won the 2013 premiership? The simplified answer is Sonny Bill Williams. The longer answer is that this team’s hunger isn’t quite where it used to be, but they are closer to the mark than they were in 2014.

They are hungrier than last season. This team has lost five premiership players from the 2013 side — and the new kids have brought that hunger back to Bondi.

5. RABBITOHS

Greg Inglis carries the Rabbitohs’ premiership hopes.

I’LL never write off the Bunnies, but their problems were painfully obvious right from the start of the season.

They have had to learn to play a different style of football since Ben Te’o and Sam Burgess took off. No team could lose two stars like that and not show it.

They are not as dangerous as they were on the edges last season, but they are finding new ways to make their opposition hurt.

Greg Inglis says the Rabbits are massively motivated to become the first team in the NRL to win back-to-back deciders, but the simple truth is when you’ve been there before you’re not as desperate the next time.

If they are to win the premiership this year, they will have done it via the hardest road to the grand final.