NRL 2024 finals race: Buzz Rothfield reveals the locks, contenders and Mad Monday planners

As we approach the halfway point of the NRL season, five clubs can begin planning their Mad Mondays. PHIL ROTHFIELD reveals the finals certainties, the likely contenders, the maybes and the teams already on the finals scrapheap.

Manly. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

It’s that time of the year when the NRL premiership is put on the backburner.

If the shocking spate of injuries isn’t bad enough, we now lose another 34 of the best players in the competition to State of Origin for six weeks.

Every year the NRL rejects calls to condense the series into four weeks.

It’s a shame because the run home to the finals promises to be exceptionally exciting, once we get through the gruelling Origin period.

As we approach the halfway mark of the competition, we’ve broken the competition down into four categories – the certainties to play finals, the likely contenders, the maybes and those that are now just making up the numbers.

We’ve put the red-felt pen through the Wests Tigers, Titans, Rabbitohs, Dragons and Eels.

They can start planning their Mad Mondays.

At the top of the table you can lock in, barring a catastrophic slump, the Panthers, Sharks, Storm, Roosters and the Broncos.

Manly Sea Eagles and the Dolphins look likely to be there, although both clubs will lose key players during the Origin period.

And now to where it gets exciting – the five clubs possibly fighting for the one spot left in the top eight.

THE BULLDOGS

The five-year plan is still a work in progress but they could not have been more impressive in piling on 38 points in the second half against St George Illawarra on Thursday night.

However they are going to be without Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton during Origin.

They also have a tough draw, with no games against the bottom three sides the Titans, Tigers and the Rabbitohs for cheap competition points.

THE KNIGHTS

They’ve done remarkably well to pick up 10 points (four wins and a bye) since Kalyn Ponga suffered his serious foot injury. They also won’t be knocked around by Origin.

They don’t have an easy draw, having to play Penrith twice, Melbourne Storm, the Broncos and Cronulla.

Newcastle is primed for a strong run through the Origin period. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

THE COWBOYS

Coming good after another sluggish start to the season. Plus the biggest thing in their favour is that they still have three byes up their sleeves.

The problem is losing the likes of Tom Dearden, Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter and Jeremiah Nanai to State of Origin duties.

THE RAIDERS

Can beat any side on their day but way too inconsistent.

They also have four of their next five games away from home. Two of their last three games are against the Roosters and the Panthers. It’s a difficult assignment.

The Raiders need to find some consistency if they want to make the finals. Picture: Mark Nolan/Getty Images

THE WARRIORS

Have been hugely disappointing this year after many predicted they would be a top-four contender.

However they have a nice draw with home games against Parramatta, Wests Tigers and Bulldogs but need to start stringing together some wins.

Originally published as NRL 2024 finals race: Buzz Rothfield reveals the locks, contenders and Mad Monday planners