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With four points separating fourth and thirteenth place, this is one of the closest years in NRL history.
So which club captain will lift the Provan-Summons trophy on October fifth?
Today I will take a look at the current top three.
Manly Sea Eagles
The Sea Eagles are once again at the top of the ladder heading into the run home. They currently have eleven wins and five losses to sit on 26 points, with a differential of +111.
They have had few injures, the exception being Glenn Stewart who has missed several months. At the start of the season, many people wrote Manly off due to their lack of forwards, however Anthony Watmough, Justin Horo and the rest of the pack have pitched in to be one of the best in the premiership.
Manly have played eight of their sixteen matches against teams currently in the top eight for four wins and four losses. Four of the Sea Eagles’ last eight matches are against top eight sides.
They have only two more matches at home.
Regular season prediction: Second, with two losses against the Dragons and Warriors, and six-straight wins to build momentum heading into the finals.
Finals prediction: Preliminary finals. A first-week win against the Panthers to earn a week off but beaten by the Warriors in Sydney.
Penrith Panthers
The Panthers have been the dark horse of the NRL in 2014. When Phil Gould and Ivan Cleary released players like Michael Gordon, Michael Jennings, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham and Lachlan Coote, everyone thought they were crazy. Fast forward to 2014 and with eight matches left Penrith are equal first.
Young players such as Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright, Matt Moylan and Josh Mansour have had brilliant seasons. Coupled with the experience of Brent Kite, Peter Wallace and several others, the Panthers have found a winning formula.
The Panthers have been criticised for having a favourable draw, with only five of their sixteen matches against top eight teams with two wins and three losses in those matches. This has been helped by two matches against Canberra, Newcastle, Parramatta and Gold Coast.
The Panthers face a stern test in the coming weeks with five of their last eight matches against top eight sides. This gets worse with Peter Wallace and Tyrone Peachey on the sidelines for the next few weeks.
Regular season prediction: Third. The Panthers will have an up-and-down end to the season with two wins, a loss, three wins, a loss, and a win before the finals.
Finals prediction: Semi-finals. A week one loss to Manly will force Penrith into an elimination final against South Sydney, where a loss will end their season.
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are currently third on for and against. After the 2012 grand final many predicted the Bulldogs would go on to win in 2013, however distractions, mainly revolving around Ben Barba, caused the Bulldogs to slide down to sixth and get bundled out of the finals.
The loss of Barba and lack of fullback gave most people a great excuse to write the Bulldogs off for 2014, but like true Aussie battlers the Bulldogs, led by Origin halves Josh Reynolds and Trent Hodkinson, are in tie for first.
The Bulldogs have led most of the way but hit a blip during Origin, losing Reynolds, Hodkinson and Josh Morris for a lot of two months. Morris then got injured in Game 1 and has missed every match since, joining Frank Pritchard on the sidelines. However there was a silver lining, with the Dogs uncovering future stars Moses Mbye, Damien Cook, Dave Klemmer and Josh Jackson.
The Bulldogs have played an astonishing 11 matches against top eight sides, with eight wins and three losses (against the Sea Eagles and Roosters, both sides who they also beat, as well as a loss to Penrith). Their run home features three matches against top eight sides and four matches at home.
Regular season prediction: First, with seven wins and one loss. Four straight wins will give the Bulldogs great leverage into September, their only loss an 11-10 golden point loss to Brisbane.
Finals prediction: Premiers. Reynolds and Hodkinson’s Origin experience will be vital for the Bulldogs. They will defeat the Warriors in week one to set up a preliminary final showdown against Souths where they will progress to their second grand final in three years and go onto win, Josh Reynolds picking up the Clive Churchill Medal.
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