I’m backing the Eels to dash top-eight dreams of inconsistent Dragons

I’ve gone through the draw and there are so many permutations about who will grab the last spot in the finals - but I don’t think it will be the Dragons.

They’ve done so well to be in this position with two rounds to go, but they’ve also been so inconsistent in the past couple of months, and I reckon they’ll slip up against the Eels this week. With their poor for-and-against, that might be enough for them to miss out.

I don’t see how the Dolphins can make it with games against the Broncos and Knights to come. I’m putting a line through them.

The Raiders? They’ve got an extremely difficult assignment against the Roosters this weekend, and also with a horrible points differential, I think it’s safe to say they won’t be grabbing eighth spot, albeit I was impressed with how they fought so hard to upset the Panthers last week.

That leaves the Broncos and Knights. A lot might hinge on what team the Storm field against Brisbane in the final round. If the Broncos are playing for their lives, they would love for Craig Bellamy to rest a couple of his stars before the finals.

Maybe he won’t, given he’s put so many on ice for the Thursday night clash against the Cowboys. Let’s say the Storm wins that one.

The Dragons are clinging to eighth spot.Credit: Getty Images

After all that, it leaves the Knights. If I’ve got to nominate a team right now to jag eighth spot, I’m saying it will be Newcastle. I think they can beat both the Titans and Dolphins in the final fortnight - the last game will be on Old Boys’ day - and that might be enough if the Dragons and Broncos drop a match.

As for the top four? Well, Manly holds the key to that battle given they’ve got to play both the Bulldogs and Sharks in the last two weeks.

Whatever the result, it’s going to be a fascinating final two rounds before we get down to business in September.

Panthers in flux, Storm keep on achieving

It sounds crazy to say it, but I think the real unknown when it comes to the premiership race will be the Panthers. Yes, the same team that has won the past three competitions.

But with questions remaining about Nathan Cleary’s shoulder injury and a dip in form over the past month, I’m not quite sure where to peg them at the moment.

There are two teams that are favourites in my eyes: the Storm and Roosters. Melbourne is the team to beat at the moment - just.

It shouldn’t be undersold what an achievement it has been from Craig Bellamy’s side to win the minor premiership again.

It’s no fluke they keep turning up year after year. They’ve got the best coach in the competition, and the question needs to be asked: where does he sit in the pantheon of all-time coaches?

The biggest compliment you can give them is that other clubs follow their model for success, from the pre-season army camps to their style of play, the wrestling, almost everything.

The Melbourne Storm have already won the minor premiership.Credit: Getty Images

They recruit players who fit their DNA, and they’ve got one of the best administrators in the game in Frank Ponissi. Think of all the champions they’ve lost over the years, and there’s never any reason for a rebuild.

What an amazing club.

NRL officiating ranks could learn from Wayne

Players who have worked under Wayne Bennett are always asked what’s the secret to his tactics. Their answer is always the same: he just keeps it simple.

I don’t know if Wayne is looking for some more work, but maybe our referees need a bit of the super coach’s magic dust.

This is not a referee-bashing exercise. They go out there every week and do the best job they can.

But, I feel sorry for them. I really do. The constant input from the Bunker in their ear is destroying their feel for the game, goes against all the instincts they’ve been brought up with, and is making them hesitate when it comes to split-second decisions.

They look like they’re constantly hesitating and second-guessing themselves.

I don’t want to get into the controversy surrounding Stephen Crichton’s tackle and not being sent to the sin-bin last week. It’s had more than enough air time.

But I will reiterate my thoughts on the use of the Bunker: it should be for try-scoring situations and foul play resulting in a possible send-off. That’s it. Leave the rest to the referee and his match officials in the middle.

The Bunker was brought in to stop the howler, but now it’s creating them. It’s got far too much influence in general play, and we have to stop overloading our referees with information.

Brailey’s hands-on approach

I’ve tried to watch the Sharks closely during the past couple of months with Nicho Hynes on the sidelines, and it’s clear to me: they’ve changed the way they attack.

I’ve got to give a lot of credit to Blayke Brailey, who has looked like a different player of late, shouldering more responsibility. He decided to run the ball a lot more while Hynes and Braydon Trindall were out, and it straightened up Cronulla and helped their power game through the middle.

They look like a different team. I’d love to see him keep an element of that even when Hynes and Trindall are back together in the halves.

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