SMH Power Rankings

[Berkeley_Eagle]

NRL Power Rankings - Round 5

   *
     1. Melbourne
     Position last ranking: Last week: 1 StormThey were the only unbeaten team left until the Titans edged them out. They have done well to top the table despite playing four away games in the first five rounds and missing half their forward pack. Big test against the Sea Eagles coming up.
   *
     2. St George Illawarra
     Position last ranking: Last week: 2 DragonsBounced back from their loss to the Storm by easily beating the Broncos, as you would expect a good team to do at home. Now they have to go on the road to face the Titans, who will be buoyant after knocking over the Storm.
   *
     3. Wests Tigers
     Position last ranking: Last week: 3 Wests TigersThey were already on top of the Cowboys by the time North Queensland superstar Johnathan Thurston got hurt. The season-ending injury to halfback Tim Moltzen is a big blow, but if they have reasonable luck with injuries from here on they will be OK.
   *
     4. Manly
     Position last ranking: Last week: 5 Sea EaglesTrailed 6-0 against the Sharks, but then clicked into gear to have the game won before halftime. Coach Des Hasler has done well to get them past losing Brett Stewart to injury and Matt Orford to England. But now they hit the road against the Storm.
   *
     5. Gold Coast
     Position last ranking: Last week: 7 TitansHandled being without Scott Prince much better against the Storm than they did against the Cowboys the week before. They produced a terrific last 20 minutes, forcing the Storm to play under enormous pressure coming off their own line.
   *
     6. South Sydney
     Position last ranking: Last week: 6 RabbitohsNot as good as in the previous round, when they smashed the Bulldogs, but they still got the job done against the Knights, and you'll take two points any way in this competition. Need to be on their guard in case the Eels come good on Sunday.
   *
     7. Penrith
     Position last ranking: Last week: 8 PanthersNever gave the Roosters a look-in. Their defence has improved dramatically since halftime of their round-four game against the Knights, with only 12 points conceded in their last game-and-a-half. They've certainly got ther attack to win on top of that.
   *
     8. New Zealand Warriors
     Position last ranking: Last week: 9 WarriorsThe most encouraging thing about them is how competitive they have been on the road this season. They had the Titans down 18-6 in round one before losing 24-18, and have since whipped the Broncos and shaded the Bulldogs. That is solid stuff.
   *
     9. Sydney Roosters
     Position last ranking: Last week: 4 RoostersThey have come back to the field after their dynamic start to the season. Against the Panthers, they made too many errors and took too many wrong options to expect to win. They need to knuckle down and get the basics right.
   *
     10. North Queensland
     Position last ranking: Last week: 10 CowboysThey could do it very tough while Johnathan Thurston is out injured. It's hard to see where else a reasonable amount of inspiration is going to come from in attack. They've got no Aaron Payne or Luke O'Donnell either.
   *
     11. Canterbury
     Position last ranking: Last week: 11 Bulldogs Could the Bulldogs miss the finals? It's way too early to write them off in a long competition like this, but the more even the NRL becomes the more we're going to see teams finish high one year and low the next, based on just a few variables.
   *
     12. Raiders
     Position last ranking: Last week: 15 Raiders They are not known as road warriors, and had won just two of 14 away games going back to the start of last season, but they stood solid in the second half against the Eels. Now they are straight back on to the road, against the Roosters.
   *
     13. Newcastle
     Position last ranking: Last week: 13 KnightsThey tried against the Rabbitohs, but simply weren't good enough. Now they get Kurt Gidley back for his first game of the season, and are at home against a Cowboys outfit missing Jonathan Thurston and other stars. Opportunity is knocking.
   *
     14. Cronulla
     Position last ranking: Last week: 12 SharksThe Sea Eagles put them in their place, racking up 40 points. The Sharks may have thought they had started something when they beat the Eels in the previous round, but it was clearly more an indication of just how bad the Eels are going.
   *
     15. Parramatta
     Position last ranking: Last week: 14 EelsCouldn't win at home against a Raiders outfit that usually can't win on the road. This week, they have taken their home game against the Rabbitohs to ANZ Stadium, which is the home ground of the Rabbitohs. That's a big challenge.
   *
     16. Broncos
     Position last ranking: Last week: 14 BroncosIt is so strange to see the Broncos at the bottom of the competition table, but that's where the 2010 version of them deserves to be. They get a shot at rising when they are at home to the 15th-placed Sharks on Sunday. Should be a ripper . . .

 

[PONTIAN SEA EAGLE]

Re: SMH Power Rankings - Round 5

Can't argue with that 4th sounds about right.

 

[Cliffy4PM]

Re: SMH Power Rankings - Round 5

You can't seriously believe the Tigers are a better team than Manly?

 

[Fro]

Re: SMH Power Rankings - Round 5

doesn't say better team, just playing better at the moment.

 

[Dan]

Re: SMH Power Rankings - Round 5

exactly and that is exactly what these rankings are, form rankings. Dont get me wrong either, had the refs done their job in round 2 we would be very high up on that list

 

[nezo]

Re: SMH Power Rankings - Round 5

how things have changed after back to back wins...few weeks back every so called news football expert had written Manly off.

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

NRL Power Rankings - Round 6
The Storm cannot score any points and have been usurped at the top of the rankings. Which team do you think is most likely to win the premiership? Have your say.

    *
      1. Manly
      Position last ranking: Last week: 4 Sea Eagles They've got a rookie halves combination and a makeshift fullback, but they also have the longest active winning streak in the NRL - four games - and could easily be unbeaten. No flying under the radar here.
    *
      2. St George Illawarra
      Position last ranking: Last week: 2 Dragons Have bounced back well from their disappointing loss to the Storm by beating the Broncos and Titans without any difficulty. Their defence will make it tough for the Roosters this week as well.
    *
      3. Melbourne
      Position last ranking: Last week: 1 Storm Have lost two in a row since dominating the Dragons. Both games, against the Titans and Sea Eagles, went down to the wire, but while they are defending well the Storm need to do more in attack.
    *
      4. Penrith
      Position last ranking: Last week: 7 Panthers On a roll. They have won three straight to take their record to 4-2, and even in their two losses they were still very competitive. Panthers fans look to have good reason to believe it is for real this time.
    *
      5. Wests Tigers
      Position last ranking: Last week: 3 Wests Tigers The Bulldogs wanted that game a bit more than the Tigers did, and the Tigers need to learn from that. It's tough every week in this comp, and if you're off your game a little it will be too much.
    *
    6. Gold Coast
      Position last ranking: Last week: 5 Titans Their loss to the Dragons made it one win and two losses since they have had to do without the injured Scott Prince. Need to become more dynamic in attack to take some pressure off their defence.
    *
    7. Sydney Roosters
      Position last ranking: Last week: 9 Roosters Dealt with the Raiders as a team with potential should do. They are still very much a work in progress, but because they have some dynamic attackers they can cover for some defensive lapses.
    *
      8. Canterbury
      Position last ranking: Last week: 11 Bulldogs Will they go on with the job at home against the Broncos, after out-enthusing the Tigers? After their only previous win this season, when they put 60 points on the Roosters, they lost two in a row.
    *
      9. South Sydney
      Position last ranking: Last week: 6 Rabbitohs It had the potential to be difficult against an Eels side that was likely to come good at some stage, but the Rabbitohs should have been ready for that. They need to develop more of a killer instinct.
    *
      10. Newcastle
      Position last ranking: Last week: 13 Knights Considering the star players the opposition had out, nothing less than a good win at home over the Cowboys was going to be acceptable. It was over as a contest by halftime, so they did their job.
    *
      11. Parramatta
      Position last ranking: Last week: 15 Eels Their second half against the Rabbitohs was very impressive. There is still a lot of work to do, but if they can build on that they will win more than they will lose from this point . The passion was great.
    *
      12. New Zealand Warriors
      Position last ranking: Last week: 8 Warriors Why can't the Warriors get the job done at home? They won just five out of 12 there last year, and so far this year they have beaten the woeful Sharks and lost to the Sea Eagles and Panthers.
    *
      13. North Queensland
      Position last ranking: Last week: 10 Cowboys even without Johnathan Thurston, Aaron Payne and Luke O'Donnell, their first half against the Knights was pathetic. They improved after the break, but the game was already long gone.
    *
      14. Raiders
      Position last ranking: Last week: 12 Raiders It was a big ask of the Raiders, to play the Roosters on the road five days after playing the Eels on the road. But, even after taking that into consideration, they have a lot of work to do.
    *
      15. Broncos
      Position last ranking: Last week: 16 Broncos That was a big win over the Sharks, but let's remember it was the Sharks. The Broncos got a few players back, and if they couldn't beat the Sharks they were going to have to ask: What are we doing here?
    *
    16. Cronulla
      Position last ranking: Last week: 14 Sharks Here they are, back where they belong. It didn't take them long. They beat the Eels, to register their first win of the season, but have since been cleaned up by both the Sea Eagles and Broncos.



http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/nrl-power-rankings

 

[Jethro]

It will be interesting to see where Melbourne sit in the rankings after this round of games. Will they or won't they put in a fight for pride as that is the only thing that they can play for this season (and possible Rep duties).

 

[Berkeley_Eagle]

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nrl-power-rankings-20100428-trog.html



NRL power rankings
GREG PRICHARD
April 28, 2010 - 2:45PM

      Comments 4

The Storm might not get any points for wins, but the rest of the teams also won’t get any unless they beat them.

1 St George Illawarra (2)
2 Melbourne (3)
3 Penrith (4)
4 Gold Coast (6)
5 Manly (1)
6 Bulldogs (8)
7 Wests Tigers (5)
8 South Sydney (9)
9 Parramatta (11)
10 Sydney Roosters (7)
11 Cronulla (16)
12 Warriors (12)
13 Newcastle (10)
14 North Queensland (13)
15 Canberra (14)
16 Brisbane (15)

 

[Matabele]

Storm should be at 16th.  What's the point of promoting them any further?

 

[nezo]

Definitely agree, don't like seeing them in the top...they'll start dropping once they lose their motivation to win

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Bellamy will keep them hyped up for a couple of weeks but as speculation about player departures invcreases expect the edge to go off their play. Can't wait for some big revenge drubbings, every other side owes them some floggings and will be delighted to rub it in no doubt.

 

[ConcernedSupporter]

Definitely agree, don't like seeing them in the top...they'll start dropping once they lose their motivation to win

Couple of injuries, couple of tough games with teams who WANT the points, couple of players committing to other teams/games next season. Then they'll drop off. I don't think it will take too long.

 

[Fro]

I hope they win every single game, we have already picked up 2 points from them, our chances are increased if others dont.

 

[Bradza]

Pretty spot on Fro except we might like to take the two points in the return gig at Brookie!

 

[Fro]

very true, I wasn't sure if we had them again and couldn't be bothered checking the draw.

 

[Chip and Chase]

I'm glad we've got them again and I'm sure by Round 22 their enthusiasm will have waned and we'll get over them at Brookie. That'll make it 2 from 2 for us against the Scum this year and put to bed any suggestion that we aren't worthy premiers because they didn't contest the finals.