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With the Penrith Panthers on top of the table, some are saying they are false competition leaders given they have had an easy draw compared to other teams.
Is that the case?
When the 2014 NRL draw was released the Panthers’ looked to have a tough season. First up they played preliminary finalists Newcastle, and won 30-8, a week later they were unlucky to lose to the Storm by a point. They then beat 2013 finalists Canterbury, with both the Bulldogs and Knights games played in 30-degree heat.
The NRL draw sees some teams face each other twice, others only once. This season the Panthers play the following teams just the once in the regular season: Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Roosters and Tigers.
So what of their draw and the teams they play twice based on 2013 form?
The Bulldogs were finalists and rated as a premiership chance for 2014 with their list. The Dragons have been hopeless at times this year. The Eels were the wooden spoon recipients last year, but many were saying they would turn it around with the signing of Will Hopoate, and that has been the case.
The Knights were preliminary finalists last year. The Raiders are a basket case. The Storm are still a champion team, and the Warriors can threaten any team on their day.
Sure, a majority of the teams they play only once are quality, such as the Rabbitohs and Roosters, but look at Monday night as an example. The Bunnies only had Greg Inglis and Chris McQueen missing, while the Titans had their two stars, Nate Myles and Greg Bird away due to Origin duty. Yet the Gold Coast broke a six-game losing streak by beating a near full-strength Rabbitohs side.
You could also use the example of the Roosters and Sharks on Saturday night, where the Roosters were near full strength, while the Sharks fielded a team of no names and produced arguably the best win in the club’s history.
Many people wouldn’t have had the Panthers in their top eight for 2014, even after their draw, so 17 rounds into the season they must be doing something right to be on top of the table.
Phil Gould and Ivan Cleary have done an outstanding job in recruiting and creating a culture which will see the Panthers challenge for the premiership for the next few seasons.
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