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The wooden spoon is that annual rugby league competition which no team wants to be a part of.
And it’s approaching an interesting stage with State of Origin Game 1 now almost upon us.
With last year’s titleholder, the Parramatta Eels, apparently out of contention, last year’s runners-up, Wests Tigers, also sitting pretty, the attention has focused to a new crop.
At the back of the current ladder, there are four teams who stand out at serious contenders for the wooden spoon.
Having temporarily given up on predicting results this season I am relying on the all-knowing bookies for a clearer understanding of the contenders odds.
Here are the current odds for each team’s hopes and aspirations this season.
| Team | Premiership | Premiership | Top Four | Top Eight | No Eight | Wooden Spoon |
| Dragons | 101 | 17 | 5 | 5 | 1.15 | 8 |
| Knights | 81 | 26 | 8 | 8 | 1.06 | 4.5 |
| Raiders | 151 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 1.04 | 3 |
| Sharks | 101 | 34 | 9 | 9 | 1.04 | 2.8 |
Cronulla Sharks
The bookies have the Sharks marginal favourites for the wooden spoon at this stage and they are currently sitting in the wooden spoon position. They have only four points from the 20 available and sit on a miserable for and against of 155 to 242 for a differential of -87.
No doubt some will say that it is early in the season and that the Sharks have injury problems, suspension issues and Origin commitments, which will all be overcome in time to climb out of the wooden spoon.
There may be some merit in this view, but the Sharks have a caretaker as coach for this season and they are starting to get used to losing games by close margins, which is not a good sign. I favour the Sharks, despite a tough game against the Rabbitohs coming up, to put the off-field drama behind them and climb out of wooden spoon contention. They won’t make the eight though.
Newcastle Knights
The Knights and Sharks share injuries woes, but the Knights have super coach Wayne Bennett, who bookies seem convinced will drag the Knights off the wooden spoon position.
The Knights are equal bottom of the ladder on four points, with a for and against of 148 to 219, for a differential of -71.
The Knights have had their share of close loses and off-field problems, which are ongoing with ownership and funding of the club still in issue. That may cause further distractions.
I favour the Knights with Bennett pushing hard to climb out of the wooden spoon position, but then Bennett could claim breach of his coaching contract to terminate and go elsewhere. Some Knights players may also be contemplating greener pastures if their contracts are not honoured.
So with the Knights problems yet to be resolved they have to remain in contention for the wooden spoon.
Raiders
The Warriors, who were considered by some to be in contention for the wooden spoon, have acted early to remove coach Matt Elliott and are considered to be out of contention for the wooden spoon, but the same cannot be said of the Raiders.
With two massive defeats in the last two games, Raiders fans are calling for the removal of Ricky Stuart and there seems to be some justification. They only have six points with a for and against of 182 to 284 for a differential of -102.
The Raiders have the worst defence in the competition and the largest negative differential and must remain in contention for the wooden spoon, particularly while the position of coach Ricky Stuart is unresolved.
Dragons
Well , what can you say about the Dragons? Competition leaders in Round 3 and now with the second-worst defensive record of the competition. They have just one win from the last seven games and sit on eight points with a for and against of 179 to 256 for a differential of -77.
Benji Marshall’s signing may well provide some hope for the Dragons, but he needs time to settle in. The Dragons’ next match is against Souths, followed by the Sharks, so the fate of Dragons coach Steve Price may depend on those two games.
If Steve Price remains as coach then they remain potential wooden spoon contenders. But they might have some hope if there’s a smooth transition to a new or interim coach. Making the eight is not out of the question.
Wooden Spoon
So, while there are still three serious contenders, I favour the Raiders for the spoon this season.
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