With the finals just a few weeks away, who of the NRL’s 2014 premiership contenders will be lifting the trophy on grand final day?
Manly Sea Eagles
A team who boast a number of representative players all over the park, Manly are leading the competition and rightly are among the favourites to win the title. We all know that their strengths lay in their halves combination and their backline, consisting of youthful talent and seasoned veterans.
However, a raft of off-field issues including the drama surrounding New Zealand international Steve Matai and the ever-luring contract talks of Daly Cherry-Evans may provide to big a distraction for the club.
Will this be enough to derail their chances of winning come October?
Penrith Panthers
A surprise packet in 2014, the Panthers are consistently putting in tough performances to be at the pointy end of the table. Unlike many teams, their success can not be put down to one individual. The likes of Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Jamal Idris and Matt Moylan have all starred thus far.
A recent loss to the Sharks has suggested that Ivan Cleary’s side will be unable to mix it with the best in the competition come September. Their final six games prove no easy task with the club coming up against five clubs all planning to make the top eight.
Will the Panthers final six games derail their chances of winning their first premiership since 2003? Or will their unfavourable run home prepare them in the best way possible for September football?
Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Being led by one of the best coaches in the game at the moment, the Bulldogs would fancy their chances of lifting the Provan and Summons Trophy in front of their home crowd at ANZ Stadium. The Origin period threatened to ruin the Bulldogs chances of making the top four, but now that they have almost all of their star players back to full fitness, it would seem obvious that the Dogs will make a run to the finals.
But, after consecutive losses to the Tigers and Cowboys, their campaign seems to be spiralling downwards. Their lack of a specialist fullback and the now prominence of a fullback in the NRL seems to be harming their chances at winning the title in 2014.
Can the Bulldogs turn around a recent string of poor performances and win the premiership without a recognised fullback?
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Despite making the preliminary finals for two consecutive years, South Sydney have failed to execute the same brand of football that has worked so well for them in the past few years.
Much of South Sydney’s troubles seem to be centred around their halves uncertainty, in which the club has John Sutton, Adam Reynolds and youngster Luke Keary all pushing their claims to play first grade.
Can Michael Maguire get his combination right leading towards the finals or will South Sydney fans have to wait another year for that premiership they so desperately want?
Sydney Roosters
After a dominant 2013, many expected the Roosters to come out firing in 2014 on the back of a very similar roster. While the Roosters have shown glimpses of what they are capable of, the side has not looked the same, with their halves combination copping much of the criticism.
The side, which looked very ordinary against cellar dwellers Newcastle and Cronulla, will have to lift significantly if they are to go back to back in 2014. Their case has not been helped with a recent run of injuries which now includes star player Sonny Bill Williams but the club are expecting representative centre Michael Jennings and Daniel Tupou to return in the coming weeks.
Can the Roosters lift and provide the same quality football they produced last year or will second year syndrome get the better of the Bondi based club?
Melbourne Storm
Arguably the most dominant side of the past ten years, Origin seemed to harm the Storm’s chances of winning their second premiership in as many years.
However, with the return of the big three to Melbourne in full health along with their workhorse forwards and exciting outside backs, the Storm are a very good chance of returning the trophy to Melbourne.
The rest
It is hard to see the Cowboys, Broncos, Warriors, Tigers or Eels winning the premiership, due to inconsistent seasons thus far. In saying this, the likes of Johnathan Thurston, Jarryd Hayne, Shaun Johnson and Luke Brooks can deliver miracles on their chosen days, so don’t rule out some upsets in the first week of the finals should they sneak into the eight.
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