Every Wednesday Greg Prichard will rate how your team is really travelling in the National Rugby League.
The competition ladder does not take into account injuries, suspensions, current form, Prichard's power rankings do.
Do you agree with his assessment. Join the debate.
1 MELBOURNE
Win-loss record: 1-0
The defending champions opened this season with a comfortable win,
so there is no argument about where they should be. They've still
got Greg Inglis and Mick Crocker to come back, too.
2 PARRAMATTA
Win-loss record: 1-0
Played like blind men in the first half against the Bulldogs, but
their vision was 20-20 in the second. Will have to eradicate those
flat spots if they want to win the comp, but if they do they will
probably be the Storm's biggest threat.
3 SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Win-loss record: 1-0
Forget the hysteria about the tackle on Craig Wing and focus on
what the Roosters did against South Sydney. It was well-planned,
clinical stuff that could give last season's late bloomers a huge
kick-start.
4 BRISBANE
Win-loss record: 1-0
Lesson one in the NRL: Never write the Broncos off just because
they lost a lot of players at the end of the previous season. They
reinvent themselves better than any other club.
5 CRONULLA
Win-loss record:1-0
They are going to have to do much more in attack than they did
against Manly if they want to be genuine contenders, but to go to
Brookvale first-up and beat last year's runners-up is a big
effort.
6 MANLY
Win-loss record: 0-1
The only beaten team from the first round to still rank among the
winners. They were off their game, but they hung in there against a
top defensive outfit. They should quickly recover and be up there
among the main contenders again.
7 GOLD COAST
Win-loss record: 1-0
All the hype was around the shock comeback of North Queensland
star Johnathan Thurston, but the Titans didn't allow themselves to
become distracted. They christened their new home ground with a big
win, but now they hit the road.
8 WESTS TIGERS
Win-loss record: 1-0
The sight of Benji Marshall in despair over a serious injury has
become like Groundhog Day for the Tigers. Playing the hapless St
George Illawarra wasn't a true test. They will find out a lot more
about themselves over the next few weeks.
9 NEWCASTLE
Win-loss record: 1-0
Their win over Canberra won't scare the competition's
heavyweights, but that is not the aim of the Knights at this stage.
They've had a player cleanout and needed a win to give themselves
hope. They were solid in doing that.
10 WARRIORS
Win-loss record: 0-1
It is the NRL's short straw - drawing Melbourne away in the first
round. Someone had to get it and unfortunately for the Warriors it
was them. Now they go home, but they play the Eels, so they can't
say it gets much easier.
11 BULLDOGS
Win-loss record: 0-1
Took advantage of handouts from the butter-fingered Eels in the
first half, but when they were forced to make something happen
themselves it proved beyond them. That second half suggested it
would be a long season for the Bulldogs.
12 NORTH QUEENSLAND
Win-loss record: 0-1
Thurston was never going to be at his best straight away in his
comeback from shoulder surgery, but his mere presence should have
lifted the Cowboys as a team. What were the rest of them doing?
13 SOUTH SYDNEY
Win-loss record: 0-1
Once Craig Wing got injured they didn't have a prayer against the
Roosters, because their preparation had been aimed at becoming a
better team through his presence. Losing him is a huge blow, but at
least they've had a bit of time to adjust for their next match.
14 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA
Win-loss record: 0-1
The shock is not that the Dragons played awfully against the
Tigers - it's that some onlookers were shocked that they played
awfully. It's not like they haven't done it before.
15 PENRITH
Win-loss record: 0-1
After the flogging from Brisbane, Panthers coach Matthew Elliott
looked like he had been hit between the eyes by Shane Webcke. But
Webcke didn't play for the Broncos - he is retired. And neither did
Petero Civoniceva - he's playing for Penrith now. Oh, mama.
16 CANBERRA
Win-loss record: 0-1
In the search for positives it should be noted that, after
finishing 14th last season, it is possible for the Raiders to drop
on the competition table and still not run last. But you know they
will give the wooden spoon an almighty shake.
