Every Wednesday Greg Prichard rates how your team is really travelling in the National Rugby League.

Do you agree with his assessment after Round 9? Join the debate.

1 MELBOURNE (1)

Win-loss record: 6-2

They will need their strong start to the season as a buffer for the State of Origin period, when they must play three games without their many stars. That's what you get for being the hottest team going around.

2 MANLY (4)

Win-loss record: 5-3

They have managed to fly under the radar a bit this season, despite being grand finalists last year. They have only lost Brett Stewart for Origin I, so there is no reason they can't stay on a roll after winning three straight.

3 GOLD COAST (3)

Win-loss record: 6-2

Their main man, halfback Scott Prince, keeps getting brushed by the selectors, but the Titans won't mind that, since it means he can keep starring for them. Fresh off the bye, they should beat the Bulldogs at home.

4 BRISBANE (2)

Win-loss record: 6-3

Folded meekly in the second half against the Sea Eagles and now they have to deal with the difficult Origin period. Sometimes, they have produced no-name teams to win, but it looks like being tough this time around.

5 SYDNEY ROOSTERS (5)

Win-loss record: 5-3

After losing two straight the bye must have done them good, because they emerged from it to make short work of the Raiders. But now they have lost four star forwards as they hit the road to play the Eels.

6 CRONULLA (8)

Win-loss record:5-3

Their win on the road against the Cowboys was encouraging. It was the most points (24) they had scored in a game all season and halfback Brett Kimmorley was more dominant than at any stage earlier this year.

7 NEWCASTLE (6)

Win-loss record: 4-4

They defended bravely in their loss to the Storm, but they never looked likely in attack. Sure, they were hammered in the penalties, but it looked like keeping the Storm to zero was their only hope of getting a result.

8 WESTS TIGERS (7)

Win-loss record: 4-4

The Tigers have been up and down all season and injuries have had a fair bit to do with that. Now that they get Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall back, maybe they can find consistency and make a significant move.

9 PARRAMATTA (13)

Win-loss record: 4-4

Still a work in progress, but the concentratrion lapses have shortened and that is a big step in the right direction. They would normally be hit by Origin commitments, but the selectors sniffed their noses this time.

10 PENRITH (14)

Win-loss record: 4-4

They could have been distracted by the fact the Bulldogs had a heap of players out against them, but they didn't take them easy. The Panthers have got the players to make the finals, they just need the consistency.

11 WARRIORS (10)

Win-loss record: 4-4

If the Warriors stay true to form this week, they will lose on the road against the Panthers. But, somehow, somewhere, their record of 100 per cent wins at home and 100 per cent losses away is going to be broken.

12 NORTH QUEENSLAND (9)

Win-loss record: 3-6

Three losses, followed by three wins, followed by another three losses. And now they enter the Origin period, which means they won't be seeing much of Johnathan Thurston and Carl Webb in coming weeks.

13 BULLDOGS (11)

Win-loss record: 3-5

There are holes in this team even when everyone is fit, but when key players are unavailable through injury, as was the case against the Panthers, they become extremely vulnerable. It's not even remotely their year.

14 CANBERRA (12)

Win-loss record: 3-5

They came up with the worst completion rate of any team last weekend, just 56 per cent. The Raiders are honest, but they're not nearly good enough to overcome that statistic on the road against the Roosters.

15 ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA (15)

Win-loss record: 2-6

It was a different sort of Dragons loss against the Eels. Rather than just do something stupid to bring about defeat, the effort was there, but their support play wasn't good enough and their luck was out.

16 SOUTH SYDNEY (16)

Win-loss record: 1-7

The Bunnies are back in action after enjoying a bye, which followed their first win of the season. They can turn the wooden spoon battle into a very open affair by beating the Raiders to make it two straight.