NRL 2024: Which teams have the best and worst records following bye rounds
While some NRL sides thrive after a week off, other flounder at the loss of momentum. We’ve crunched the numbers to see which teams are the best and worst following their own byes, as well as coming up against oppositions fresh off byes.
They say you can’t lose against the bye – unless you’re the Eels.
Just as Parramatta’s horror season was coming to a merciful end, the worst may yet come over the final three weeks of the season.
A statistical analysis by this masthead can confirm that the Eels are officially the worst bye team; winless in seven games after their own bye and against teams coming off a week’s rest.
That includes last week’s painful 38-14 beatdown against the Sydney Roosters.
And it could get worse for long-suffering Parramatta fans, with the only team sitting above last-placed Tigers facing a rested Brisbane side on Friday.
Before a potential final-round ‘Spoon Bowl’ against, you guessed it, a rested Tigers side.
Benji Marshall’s side don’t fare much better, with the spoon favourites without a win in their four attempts coming off the bye, or against teams coming off the bye.
Premiership favourites Melbourne have finished undefeated in their six games under the same criteria, including two against fellow contenders the Sydney Roosters.
MELBOURNE STORM
Bye Team: 3-0
Unsurprisingly, the favourites for the minor premiership have won all three of their games coming off the bye. The Storm snuck past the Broncos in round five, before putting comfortable leads on Newcastle and the Roosters.
Against the bye: 3-0
The Storm enjoy their breaks. Melbourne have put big scores on South Sydney, the Roosters and Parramatta all coming off the bye.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Bye team: 2-1
Almost perfect. Penrith enjoyed a dominant win over the Tigers’ coming off their first bye, and struggled to defeat the Dolphins, before suffering a loss to North Queensland where they only scored six points.
Against the bye: 3-1
Better playing teams coming off the bye, defeating the Manly, St George Illawara and Newcastle.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Bye team: 2-1
The Roosters, like the Panthers, have found success against teams not coming off the bye at the same time, but couldn’t get past Melbourne. The competition heavyweights beat Parramatta twice.
Against the bye: 1-1
Melbourne were also coming off the bye when they beat the Roosters in round 20, while the Bulldogs didn’t have the same luck, going 26-8 after their week off.
CRONULLA SHARKS
Bye team: 1-2
Consistency is key for Cronulla, only getting up after one of their three byes. The Sharks beat South Sydney after their first bye, before falling to Canterbury and North Queensland.
Against the bye: 1-2
Just like when they have the bye, the Sharks have struggled playing teams coming off it. They only defeated a Origin-depleted Broncos outfit, before dropping games to the Dolphins and the Titans.
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
Bye team: 1-2
Canterbury have not enjoyed having to play teams coming off the bye, only narrowly defeating the Tigers, before losing to the Roosters and Cowboys.
Against the bye: 4-2
Taking the title as party spoilers, the Bulldogs have targeted teams coming off the byes beating the Titans, Dragons, Knights and Sharks. From rounds 11-13, the Bulldogs played three teams in a row coming off the bye, winning two of those games.
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Bye team: 2-1
The Sea Eagles have enjoyed the week off, only dropping one game to the Panthers. Manly beat the Cowboys by a point in round 18, and smashed the Raiders 46-12.
Against the bye: 0-0
Manly are the only team to have not played any team coming off the bye.
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Bye team: 2-0 (one bye remaining)
North Queensland have performed particularly well off their two byes, knocking off competition heavyweights the Panthers and Bulldogs.
Against the bye: 4-2
It seems like whenever there is a break in the season, the Cowboys are ready to capitalise. The side has beaten Canberra, Penrith, Canterbury and Cronulla.
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Bye team: 1-2
St George Illawarra has struggled to put back to back performances together all year, and a week off hasn’t helped them. Only picking up a win against the Dolphins, the Dragons suffered big losses to the Bulldogs and Panthers.
Against the bye: 1-0
The Dragons have only had to play one team coming off the bye, and put a cricket score against the Tigers.
DOLPHINS
Bye team: 3-0
Wayne Bennett has been renowned for getting the best out of his teams, and in 2024 he is using the week off to his advantage. The Dolphins are undefeated coming off the bye, and are always in a mood to score points. They average over 30 points.
Against the bye: 0-2
On the other hand, the Dolphins don’t like teams that have the week off. They got touched up by the Dragons, and blew a 14-point lead against the Panthers.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Bye team: 0-2
Momentum has been a problem for the Broncos, and their performance off byes show it. Both of their byes had the majority of their Origin stars out, can they change their luck against the Eels.
Against the bye: 1-1
They lost a nailbiter to the Storm, but more than doubled the Eels score in round 10.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
Bye team: 1-2
They drew a tough few teams in the Panthers and the Bulldogs, but the Knights managed to jag one win coming off the bye against the Eels.
Against the bye: 1-1
Their one win was against the Eels who were coming off the bye at the same time as the Knights, and they just fell short to the Storm.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Bye team: 2-1
When given the bye, the Raiders have managed to edge out some close games with the Bulldogs and Warriors, but got their score doubled against the Cowboys.
Against the bye: 2-1
A close loss to the Warriors who came off the bye at the same time, and got the Tigers after missing round one. More recently got touched up by Manly.
GOLD COAST TITANS
Bye team: 1-2
The Titans had two of their worst performances off byes, being smashed 32-0 against the Bulldogs in round two, and 46-12 against the Rabbitohs. Their one win saw them just scrape past Cronulla.
Against the bye: 0-2
It doesn’t get better for the Titans on the other end either. The Rabbitohs were also coming off a bye when they beat them, and the Dolphins put them to shame in round four.
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Bye team: 1-1 (one bye remaining)
The Warriors have underperformed this season, and haven’t been able to utilise their byes as they would have hoped. They beat the Cowboys by a good score, but went down by two to the Raiders who were also coming off a bye. Their next bye won’t matter as they are out of contention.
Against the bye: 1-1
Although their game with the Raiders was heartbreaking, the New Zealand side were able to take down the Broncos fresh off their bye.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Bye team: 2-1
Not a lot has gone right for South Sydney this year, but apart from a hiccup against the Storm, the Rabbitohs have had a few bright spots with wins over the Titans and Eels following byes.
Against the bye: 1-2
The win against the Titans is the only time the Rabbitohs beat a team coming off the bye. They had two tough losses to the Dolphins and Sharks.
PARRAMATTA EELS
Bye team: 0-3
Time off adds to the list of many things that haven’t worked for Parrammata this year. Three losses with the closest being by eight points.
Against the bye: 0-4
A horrific record if you look at the Eels’ next two weeks. Could be telling of how the rest of their season will go.
WESTS TIGERS
Bye team: 0-2 (one bye remaining)
Another team unable to capitalise on a couple of freshen ups. Their first one was after missing round one against the Raiders which may have worked against them, and their flogging at the hands of the Dragons was not a good sign. Can they turn it around in round 27.
Against the bye: 0-2
A loss to the Panthers and the Bulldogs, the Tigers have struggled to put in 80 minute performances against fresher teams.
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