The Bulldogs are running hot and cold late in the season, while Reece Walsh saved the Broncos’ finals hopes and Manly’s season is imploding.
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Read on for our Power Rankings ahead of Round 25!
1. MELBOURNE STORM (ladder: 2)
Last week’s rank: 3rd, up two spots
Analysis: The Storm were down on troops but still managed to snap Penrith’s nine game winning streak in a 22-18 golden point victory to rise to the top of the Power Rankings. Harry Grant milked a penalty to deny Nathan Cleary a match winning field goal, before producing a stunning dummy and run to score the match clinching try in extra time. The Storm can go to the top of the ladder if they beat the Bulldogs on Friday night and the Panthers beat the Raiders on the same day. With Jahrome Hughes to return for the finals, the Storm are the favourites to avenge their 2024 Grand Final heartbreak and they might pick up the minor premiership along the way.
2. CANBERRA RAIDERS (ladder: 1)
Last week’s rank: 2nd, no movement
Analysis: The Raiders had the bye last week after their 28-12 victory over the Sea Eagles to cement top spot on the ladder. However, bigger battles await Ricky Stuart’s side, with a blockbuster clash with the Panthers this Friday night set to reveal if they are the real deal or not. Canberra have been the most consistent team all year, but their draw has been favourable at times and given they are a young side, they are yet to prove themselves in the pressure-cooker of finals footy. However, if they can beat Penrith they can all but lock up the minor premiership and more importantly prove they are a genuine title threat.
Cleary earns first blocking penalty | 00:28
3. PENRITH PANTHERS (ladder: 5)
Last week’s rank: 1st, down two spots
Analysis: The Panthers’ stunning nine game winning streak came to an end with a 22-18 golden point loss to the Storm. The only knock on the Panthers’ resurgence was that they didn’t beat many of the elite teams in their winning streak and while they came close they couldn’t get the job done against Melbourne. Still, given what they have achieved in the last five years it won’t be panic stations, although they have now slipped out of the top four, which could prove costly come finals time. The Panthers next face the Raiders which will be a big test for where both teams are at and it could decide the minor premiership.
4. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (ladder: 8)
Last week’s rank: 5th, up one spot
Analysis: The Roosters are timing their run to perfection with their 32-12 win over the Bulldogs moving them back into the top eight after the Dolphins’ loss to the Broncos. Trent Robinson’s side has now won three on the trot with Daniel Tupou’s hat-trick stunning the Bulldogs as they made a top four team look pedestrian. James Tedesco is in the form of his career and the favourite to win the Dally M, but the Roosters need to keep winning to make the finals starting with a clash with the Eels on Saturday night.
O’Brien talks where Knights fell apart | 03:50
5. BRISBANE BRONCOS (ladder: 6)
Last week’s rank: 6th, up one spot
Analysis: Down 28-14 the Broncos’ season was on a knife’s edge, before a Reece Walsh 40/20 turned the match and they scored four unanswered tries to stun the Dolphins 38-28. Ben Hunt and Billy Walters filled in for injured duo Ezra Mam and Adam Reynolds with aplomb, while Walsh put in his best performance of the season and with Payne Haas leading from the front, the Broncos are still a dark horse for the title. A clash with the struggling Knights can see them improve their points differential and keep their top four hopes alive.
6. CRONULLA SHARKS (ladder: 7)
Last week’s rank: 7th, up one spot
Analysis: The Sharks bounced back from their shock loss to the Dragons to thrash the Titans 54-22 and keep their top four hopes alive. Nicho Hynes continued his purple patch of form with three linebreak assists, two try assists and a classy double to lead the Sharks to their fifth win from their last six games. However, the win was soured by a knee injury to skipper Cameron McInnes and he will be a massive loss for Cronulla moving forward. The Sharks have the bye this week, before a clash with the Knights, which can see them lock up a finals berth and they will be a tough proposition once they get there.
7. CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (ladder: 3)
Last week’s rank: 5th, down two spots
Analysis: The Bulldogs’ late season form slump continued with a convincing 32-12 defeat to the Roosters. Their second loss in three games, bodes the question has Cameron Ciraldo erred by changing his spine so late in the season. Lachlan Galvin and Bailey Hayward are the future of the club, but Toby Sexton and Reed Mahoney did the work to get the Bulldogs to the top of the ladder early in the season and there is an argument they deserve to start and actually make the team better. The Bulldogs face the title heavyweights the Storm and the Panthers in the next fortnight, which will show if they are the real deal or not for a premiership push.
8. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS (ladder: 4)
Last week’s rank: 8th, no movement
Analysis: The Warriors moved back into the top four with a 14-10 win over the Dragons, but it was anything but convincing. The Dragons lost three forwards in the first 15 minutes to concussions and the Warriors only got over the top of them with an Adam Pompey double, with one of them arguably an obstruction. The Warriors have lost three of their last four games and the loss of Luke Metcalf is proving difficult to cover. A soft run home starting with the Titans next up could see them finish in the top four, but it remains to be seen if they have the players in key positions to be a force come finals time.
9. WESTS TIGERS (ladder: 11)
Last week’s rank: 12th, up three spots
Analysis: The Tigers came off their bye with a convincing 26-12 victory over the Sea Eagles that guarantees they won’t win the wooden spoon this season. However, with three wins from their last four starts, the Tigers are in form and could finish as high as 10th, which would be a massive effort for the club given where they have come from. Adam Doueihi and Jarome Luai are proving an excellent halves pairing and with a clash against the Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday, they have a real chance to keep their winning streak going.
Cotter speaks on Indigenous round | 06:14
10. DOLPHINS (ladder: 9)
Last week’s rank: 9th, down one spot
Analysis: The Dolphins had the game in the bag at 28-14, but blew it to go down 38-28 to the Broncos for their second straight loss. The result saw the Roosters jump them into eighth spot and the Dolphins now have to rely on other results to seal a maiden finals berth. Given their injury woes, it is no surprise the Dolphins are starting to fade after a long season that has seen half of their starters rubbed out through injury. The Dolphins need to address their horror defence which has seen them concede over 100 points in their last two games and their clash with the Sea Eagles next up could make or break their finals hopes.
11. ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (ladder: 12)
Last week’s rank: 10th, down one spot
Analysis: The Dragons put in one of the bravest performances in their proud history, but just fell short in a 14-10 loss to the Warriors. The club lost Jack de Belin, Hamish Stewart and Hame Sele to concussions and had to play 65 minutes with just two bench players after 18th man Tyrell Sloan was activated. The Dragons have been brave this season, but there are signs their injury woes are catching up with them over the course of a long season. Next up the Dragons face the Rabbitohs, who have won their last two games.
“One of Luai’s best for us!” | 05:10
12. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS (ladder: 13)
Last week’s rank: 14th, up two spots
Analysis: The Cowboys finally put together a complete performance on both sides of the ball in a 38-4 victory over the Knights. Scott Drinkwater was electric at the back with a linebreak, a linebreak assist, two try assists and a classy double, while Tom Dearden put in another masterclass at halfback. Todd Payten’s side face the resurgent Tigers next up before finishing their season in a derby against the Broncos as they have a final round bye.
13. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (ladder: 15)
Last week’s rank: 16th, up three spots
Analysis: The Rabbitohs showed plenty of guts to beat the Eels 20-16 for their second win on the trot to all but rule out finishing with the wooden spoon. Jye Gray put in a masterclass with 208 run metres, two linebreaks and a try assist but it was the three try-saving tackles that got his team home. Tallis Duncan was also excellent with a classy double and Cody Walker set up two tries in his return on the bench. Wayne Bennett’s men will be looking to make it three wins on the trot when they host the Dragons to kick off Round 25 on Friday night and Latrell Mitchell will be back on deck in a huge boost.
Vossy & Brandy stunned by No Obstruction | 00:45
14. PARRAMATTA EELS (ladder: 14)
Last week’s rank: 13th, down one spot
Analysis: The Eels had their chances but couldn’t ice them as they went down 20-16 to the Rabbitohs. Isaiah Iongi made a strong return from injury at fullback, but it was a rare off night for Mitchell Moses and Jason Ryles called out his players for their lack of fight post match. Next up the Eels face the resurgent Roosters in a blockbuster clash on Saturday night and they will need to be at their best to stop James Tedesco, who is in red hot form.
15. MANLY SEA EAGLES (ladder: 10)
Last week’s rank: 11th, down four spots
Analysis: The Sea Eagles’ were woeful in their 26-12 loss to the Tigers that saw them slump to four defeats in a row. Daly Cherry-Evans had four errors and five missed tackles in a horror performance that has rumours swirling he may decide to retire at the end of the season. Anthony Seibold is fighting for his job in the final three weeks of the season and if they can’t beat the Dolphins at home this week it will be curtains for their finals hopes.
16. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS (ladder: 16)
Last week’s rank: 15th, down one spot
Analysis: The Knights put in one of their worst performances of the season in a convincing 38-4 loss to the Cowboys. Newcastle missed a whopping 57 tackles and now have a similar points differential to the Titans and are only two points clear of the wooden spoon. Adam O’Brien is fighting to save his job over the remaining three rounds and he may be let go over the off-season, especially if they finish last. It doesn’t get any easier for the Knights coming up against the Broncos next up and it could be a case of things getting worse before they get better.
Brilliant Bunnies defence defeats Eels | 02:21
17. GOLD COAST TITANS (ladder: 17)
Last week’s rank: 17th, no movement
Analysis: After some improved performances of late, the Titans came crashing back to earth with a 54-22 thumping by the Sharks to see them anchored to the bottom of the Power Rankings and the ladder. The Titans have always had points in them, but they missed 44 tackles to concede 10 tries in a horror defensive display. The Titans are favoured to win the spoon and things don’t get any easier against the Warriors next up with Des Hasler under pressure to keep his job for next season.
