With the top three predicted in part one, and fourth to sixth in part two, today we look at the NRL teams which will finish seventh to ninth.
Brisbane Broncos
2013 was Brisbane’s worst ever season, and while they lost both their halves during the off season, the acquisition of Ben Barba had many people believing the Auckland Nines runners-up could make the eight.
Throughout the year Brisbane have been sitting in and around the top eight, even though Origin has kept Corey Parker, Justin Hodges, Sam Thaiday and Matt Gillett out of the team.
They have had a mixed bag of results, with some wins against high placed teams and some losses against low placing teams, including a 24-22 loss to cellar-dwellers Cronulla, after leading 22-0 with 30 minutes to play.
Regular season prediction: Eighth. Brisbane will finish just inside the top eight but lose three of their last four regular season matches, with Barba benched due to poor form.
Finals prediction: Quarter finals. A week one loss to the Sydney Roosters will end the Broncos’ season.
Melbourne Storm
In their first 16 seasons the Melbourne Storm have won four premierships (two withdrawn), lost two grand finals (withdrawn), won four minor premierships (three withdrawn), and made the semi-finals 13 times.
Despite the 2010 salary cap breach, the Storm have been up there consistently. In 2013 Melbourne finished third but back-to-back losses to preliminary finalists South Sydney and Newcastle saw them with their worst finish since 2005 (not counting 2010 salary cap breach).
This had every man and his dog saying the Storm were past it. They sit nervously inside the eight on differential, but have their Origin stars back and virtually injury free.
Regular season prediction: Tenth. Oh the horror. Melbourne will miss the eight. They have a fairly even run home but with only three wins in eight starts they will drop outside the eight for the fourth time in the club’s history.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Gareth Widdop signed on to replace Jamie Soward and started the season brilliantly, winning their first three games. After this the Dragons resumed their 2013 form, losing games everywhere.
Steve Price got the sack but in came club legend Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor. McGregor’s ideas weren’t fully functioning right away but thanks to mid season signing Benji Marshall, somehow the Dragons are back in finals contention.
Josh Dugan has been barnstorming at centre and with games against strugglers Canberra, Gold Coast and Newcastle, the Dragons can make the finals.
Regular season prediction: Seventh. The Dragons will start the run home slowly but in the later matches will claim vital points to get into the finals for the first time since 2011.
Finals prediction: Quarter finals. The Dragons will go down to South Sydney in week one and end their season.
Matthew Buxton
Roar Pro
Agreed, looking at Melbournes run home too, I think they'll make it. And good luck to whoever plays them in week 1
Benedict Arnold
Guest
Everyone can keep writing the storm off for all I care. I reckon they will be there again, they have managed to beat manly twice this year and the rabbitohs so I think they can match it with the best if they can find find some consistency again. Putting the other two teams in this list above them is a bit of a long shot imo. If they do make the 8 they often can flick the switch and blow teams away. It happened in 2012 so I don't see why they can't do it again.
Scrubbit
Guest
You fail to provide evidence as to why the storm will miss out here. All year they've been an underdone team and they've shown a few times what they can do when fully fit. Cronk in my opinion is going to fire big time after resting through most of the origin period, with Smith at his clinical (albeit now balding) best. The only question is whether Slaters old legs will soldier on after a full season which he started without any pre season training.
Rick Karaitiana
Guest
I guess only time will tell, I would not right them off, If they do make it, all those teams above them will be looking over there shoulders. predictions are predictions and that's all they are.
Ben Southcombe
Roar Rookie
I was thinking the same regarding the Storm a few weeks back. However, with Cronk's earlier than expected return, it's hard to ride off a team with him, Slater and Smith. They're still a chance of making the 8. If they do, I don't see them progressing very far in the finals. Personally, I hope they miss out. Only time will tell.
Scott Pryde
Expert
+1
Mark
Guest
All I saw was Storm not making the 8. Beautiful.