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Though an American concept power rankings are an extremely effective method to compare and rank teams in a competition. So here we go for the Round 9 NRL power rankings.
Remember positions on the ladder do not have any direct impact on their position nor do specific results.
It is merely my opinion on which sides look stronger at this point of the season.
1. Melbourne Storm (Ladder position: third, 14 points)
I know they have lost two straight and i don’t think it really matters. The Raiders are red-hot and Penrith played extremely well to beat them.
I know they are third on the ladder but in my eyes the Melbourne Storm are still the team to beat in this year’s competition.
But a third consecutive loss to manly will begin a free fall for the storm on our rankings.
The Storm have a chance to prove their credentials in the next two weeks with games against Manly and, Sydney on the horizon. Expect two wins.
Next Opponent: Sea Eagles (Power Ranking: fourth)
2. South Sydney Rabbitohs (Ladder position: first, 16 points)
The competition leaders find themselves second on this list but in no way does this take away from the awesome form these guys are in.
GI is living up to his new best player tag and the other guys are stepping up to match him.
This team is very dangerous and if the storm continue their slump this weekend this team may very well find themselves on the top of the ladder.
Next Opponent: Wests Tigers (15th)
3. Sydney Roosters (Ladder position: second 14 points)
This team has been in great form at the start of the season, in fact if it wasn’t for their rusty start and second half collapse against the Raiders these guys may have found themselves in first place not only on this list but on the premiership table.
The side features the best scoring attack and defence in the NRL with a brilliant backline and forward pack.
They proved in their win against Manly they are a true premiership contender.
Next Opponent: Cowboys (9th)
4. Manly Sea Eagles (Ladder position: fourth, 12 points)
This team has had an extremely tough draw to start the season and still find themselves only just off the pace of the competition leaders.
They are in a good spot to make a move throughout the back half of the season and despite their recent losses to the Roosters and Rabbitohs still have proven to be a top class side in this competition.
Expect them to show it again against their rivals the Storm this weekend.
Next Opponent: Storm (1st)
5. Canberra Raiders (Ladder position: seventh, 10 points)
Perhaps the first surprise of our list this team finds itself the middle of the table despite having three massive scalps already on their resume beating the Knights, Roosters and Storm.
They are dangerous at their best and awful at their worst. They are a real dark horse team for me this season.
Next Opponent: Cronulla Sharks (8th)
5. Canterbury Bulldogs (Ladder position: 11th, 8 points)
A team that seems to high to be true but in recent weeks have shown form to indicate they are returning to the premiership contending side we all saw play last year.
Don’t be surprised to see these guys get on a run here leading them straight into the middle of the top eight.
Next Opponent: Knights (7th)
7. Newcastle Knights (Ladder position: fifth, 10 points)
Another horrendous showing against a top eight side has brought even more doubt to my mind when it comes to this Newcastle team.
They will win more than they lose but at this stage it looks like when it comes to the finals these guys will only be making up the numbers.
Expect another rough week against the Bulldogs.
Next Opponent: Bulldogs (6th)
8. Cronulla Sharks (Ladder position: ninth, 8 points)
Well what can we make of this team? They have won two games straight since Gallen has been injured and will need to win one more without him against the Raiders this weekend.
Todd Carney has been at his usual best and we can expect to see his good form continue.
A win here will do a lot to prove their status as a potential top eight side.
Next Opponent: Canberra Raiders (5th)
9. North Queensland Cowboys (Ladder position: 10th, 8 points)
Another team it is hard to get a read on. They look brilliant one week then awful the next but recent weeks have shown that they are ready to make a move into the eight.
I don’t expect the team to challenge our top four sides but any team with Thurston should find themselves inside the eight by season’s end.
So expect them to turn it around, but probably not this weekend.
Next Opponent: Roosters (3rd)
10. Gold Coast Titans (Ladder position: sixth, 10 points)
This team finds itself on free fall on our rankings, four spots lower than their place on the NRL ladder.
This is the sort of thing that will happen when you struggle to beat the Eels and Dragons and lose to the Warriors.
A win in their huge game this weekend against the Broncos may be just what this side needs to right the ship and potentially move them into the top four.
Next Opponent: Broncos (12th)
11. Penrith Panthers (Ladder position: 12th, 6 points)
Call me crazy but for me this team is one that has shown themselves to be a lot better than their spot on the ladder winning two of their last three games, with a win against the Storm and their loss to the red hot Sydney side, and demolishing the woeful Eels.
I don’t expect this side to make the eight but they will cause some issues for the good teams down the stretch.
With their next four rounds consisting of three winnable games (all ranked below them on these rankings) and a bye they may soon find themselves higher on this list.
Next Opponent: Warriors (13th)
12. Brisbane Broncos (Ladder position: eighth, 8 points)
Hold the hate mail Broncos fans! The Broncos are a quality side, they have good defence and will win some games due to this.
But their attack is atrocious. In fact I think they pose the least questions to their opponents of any side in the NRL.
Let’s not forget the last game against the Eels. If Hodges remains healthy they may be able to hold onto their top eight spot but some other players will have to start contributing on attack.
Reed is too slow, Maranta is a joke. Maybe Yow Yeh holds the cards for this reeling Brisbane side? I think we can expect to see this side on the outer once the finals roll around unless something changes quick.
A win over the Titans could be the start of that change.
Next Opponent: Titans (10th)
13. New Zealand Warriors (Ladder postion: 15th, 4 points)
These bottom four teams all have one thing in common. They are bad. Very, very, very, very bad. One of the worst teams I have seen in my years of watching NRL.
Warriors get the nod at 13th because unlike the other three teams I think they offer a little bit in the potential area.
They are a chance of winning any game. But they would better win a few quick smart or they may be looking at another season ending in August. Will the very beatable Penrith side be their next victim?
Next Opponent: Panthers (11th)
14. Wests Tigers (Ladder position: 16th, 4 points)
The Tigers find themselves in a similar position to the Warriors potential to be brilliant one week and awful the next.
They are as dangerous as any side in the comp but inconsistency will sink yet another season out west.
Already having five losses on the board and a terrible points differential they will need to win 11 of their last 15 games to make the top eight.
So they need to change something fast. Will the move of Benji to the bench be the catalyst to spark a run leading the Tigers to the promised land?
If so it has to start this week against the high flying Rabbitohs. Good luck.
Next Opponent: Rabbitohs (second)
15. St. George Illawarra Dragons (Ladder position: 13th, 6 points)
What do you get if you take the Brisbane Broncos and take away their already limited attacking prowess and weaken their defence? A side that finds themselves propping up the ladder.
This team has no chance of making any move this season other than down. Even with a soft upcoming schedule.
If they don’t win against the Eels this week you can stick a fork in the poor Dragons. Sorry Dragons fans.
Next Opponent: Eels (16th)
16. Parramatta Eels (Ladder posiiton: 14th, 6 points)
This team is so bad even a 10/10 performance from Jarryd Hayne could only get them a win by a single point against the offensively challenged Broncos.
Don’t forget your 30-plus loss to the Panthers. Probably the worst side I have seen since the 2012 Parramatta Eels.
A win this weekend against the Dragons will move them up to 15th on this list. But that is as high as I can possibly see them getting.
Next Opponent: Dragons (15th)
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