Every Wednesday Greg Prichard rates how your team is really travelling in the National Rugby League.
Do you agree with his assessment after Round 8? Join the debate.
1 MELBOURNE (1)
Win-loss record: 5-2
Many of their stars are double-booked this weekend, but at least
they will have 72 hours to manage some sort of recovery between
playing in the Test match on Friday and backing up for the club on
Monday.
2 BRISBANE (3)
Win-loss record: 6-2
The Broncos are the masters of reinvention and anyone who doubted
they would be up near the top again this season was ignoring
history. But Darren Lockyer's ongoing injury problem has to be a
big worry.
3 GOLD COAST (2)
Win-loss record: 6-2
They had won five in a row before the Knights beat them, so a loss
was due. The good thing was that they didn't just accept it. They
fought back strongly and could have easily snatched a win in the
end.
4 MANLY (4)
Win-loss record: 4-3
They were able to enjoy their bye weekend after overcoming
injuries to beat the Eels and have had valuable time to work on
things. An away game against the Broncos will tell them exactly
where they stand.
5 SYDNEY ROOSTERS (5)
Win-loss record: 4-3
They really needed last weekend's bye after going off the boil
late in the game against the Knights and then staying off it
against the Dragons. If they don't aim up against the Raiders it'll
be time to worry.
6 NEWCASTLE (7)
Win-loss record: 4-3
They are the feel-good team of the NRL. Plenty of people thought
they would struggle for some time after Andrew Johns retired, but
last weekend they beat the Titans without him and the injured Danny
Buderus.
7 WESTS TIGERS (8)
Win-loss record: 4-4
How do you rise one place despite losing? When the guys who were
only two spots above you - the Cowboys - lose to the previously
winless Rabbitohs. The Tigers lost to Brisbane, but that was to be
expected.
8 CRONULLA (9)
Win-loss record:4-3
Another team that didn't play last weekend, but which can thank
the Cowboys for creating the chance for them to jump up one spot.
The Sharks have to play the Cowboys this week, which is probably
not a good time.
9 NORTH QUEENSLAND (6)
Win-loss record: 3-5
If their form in the loss to the Rabbitohs becomes the norm rather
than the exception, the heat will be on management to get rid of
coach Graham Murray ahead of him leaving at the end of the
season.
10 WARRIORS (12)
Win-loss record: 4-4
This 100 per cent home record and zero per cent away record of the
Warriors is getting boring, particularly if you're trying to pick
when the trend will end and you tipped the Raiders to win in
Auckland, like I did.
11 BULLDOGS (11)
Win-loss record: 3-4
The Dogs will lose much of their bite if their star player - Sonny
Bill Williams - gets hurt playing for New Zealand in the Test and
is unable to back up 24 hours later. The ball looks like a peanut
in his hand.
12 CANBERRA (10)
Win-loss record: 3-4
The Raiders aren't good enough to hand the opposition easy ball
and still manage to find a way to win. They didn't complete nearly
enough sets to give themselves a chance on the road against the
Warriors.
13 PARRAMATTA (14)
Win-loss record: 3-4
The jury is still out on whether they are back for good after
their win over the Panthers or whether they are going to be an
up-and-down team all season. They scored some good tries, but had
some luck, too.
143 PENRITH (13)
Win-loss record: 3-4
If the Panthers haven't been kicking themselves they should have
been, because they had the Eels just where they wanted them at 14-6
ahead. Luck was against them, but they still sucked in the second
half.
15 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA (15)
Win-loss record: 2-5
The Dragons had last weekend off with the bye, which means we are
having to wait longer than usual to see them fail to back up a win.
Oh, all right, I guess it's possible they could make it two in a
row.
16 SOUTH SYDNEY (16)
Win-loss record: 1-7
How do you stay anchored to the bottom after getting a win? When
it's your first and you had seven losses before that. Co-owner
Russell Crowe is on fire - he's been to one game this season, for
one win.
