Spoiler: NRL top eight revealed

With one fixture left in Round 24 of the NRL premiership, and just the two rounds set to follow, the make-up of this year’s top eight isn’t even close to decided.

This is one of the most open seasons I can remember, with the minor premiership, top-eight spots, and possibly even the wooden spoon going down to the final round.

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Although Cronulla’s loss to Canberra all but cemented their position as the worst team of 2014, mathematically they can still avoid the most unwanted prize in professional sport.

The way this season, and even this round of football, has gone, you’d have to be crazy to predict a top eight, but alas, that is what I am going to attempt.

8. Cowboys (30 points)
The Cowboys sent a loud and clear message to the rest of the NRL on Saturday night by disposing of the in-form Rabbits. A one-point loss to the Panthers aside, they’re arguably the form team of the competition in recent times.

They play the bottom-running and top-running sides over the next two weeks. They’ll rack up a score against a busted Cronulla outfit and will push Manly all the way, but will ultimately fall just short.

Hopefully this will be a season without a Cowboy refereeing controversy come September.

7. Eels (32 points)
The Parra juggernaut is well and truly rolling after a season-defining win against the table-toping Sea Eagles on Friday. Jarryd Hayne is in near career-best form, and his supporting cast are firing on all cylinders.

I expect them to have no problems disposing of the poor old Knights this weekend, and the same can be said for Ricky Stuart’s Raiders. Finishing seventh, they’ll need to do it the hard way, but after finishing with two last place finishes in a row, even a straight sets exit in the finals will cap off a hugely improved season.

6. Bulldogs (32 points)
If not for a horrible dip in form post-Origin, the Dogs could have very well finished in the top four. Recovering from the aforementioned form loss to finish comfortably inside the top eight should please many fans.

I’m tipping them to drop their next game to Souths, who will be furious after their efforts against the Cowboys, however they’ll rack up a score against the Titans leading into the finals.

Don’t count the Dogs out, come finals time, as they’ll be looking to avenge last season’s whimpering exit in week one.

5. Storm (32 points)
After looking like they may miss the finals for the first time since their salary cap punishment, the Storm’s return to form coincided with the return of superstar halfback Cooper Cronk, who was denied a chance to defend his Dally M Medal due to injury.

Expect them to beat the Panthers tonight, and be too good for Brisbane in Round 26, however they won’t be able to overcome the red-hot Roosters next week.

Expect them to be there come the second week of finals at very least.

4. Panthers (34 points)
What a season for the boys from the foot of the mountains. After a few lean seasons, a top-four finish sees them well ahead of where they were expected to be in their over-mentioned ‘five year plan’. Jamie Soward has been a revelation, although he is not the only one to exceed expectations.

The Storm will be too strong for them tonight, and I don’t see them overcoming Manly at Brookvale next week, however a last-up win over the Warriors will seal a top-four finish and a second chance, should they need it, come finals time.

3. Rabbitohs (34 points)
This time last week the Souths faithful were certain this was the year they would break their premiership drought, however after being handily beaten by the Cowboys, the gloss of the last few weeks has come off.

They’ll be fired up on Thursday night and should be too good for the Dogs, however just as they did last year, they’ll have to face the Roosters to be any chance at capturing the minor premiership. I don’t see them doing so, however they will be far more dangerous in the finals for the loss.

2. Roosters (36 points)
The defending Premiers looked like they would miss the top four for a large part of this season, but as champion sides do, they’re coming good at the right end of the season. Yesterday they put the in-form Warriors away with ease.

They have two extremely tough games in the next two weeks, and will need to win both to be any chance of retaining their minor premiership.

I can see them winning both games, over Melbourne and heated rivals Souths, however they’ll fall just short of defending their shield. There’s no reason they can’t be there once again on grand final day.

1. Sea Eagles (38 points)
Two losses in three weeks has put their absolute stranglehold on top spot in jeopardy. Their loss to the Eels will surely prove to be a wake-up call and propel this champion side back to form.

Spurred on by Friday night’s loss they will be too good for the Panthers, before capturing the shield in North Queensland a week later. They have the players to overcome off-field troubles, and the fans demand success.

Manly will once again be there come the business end of the season, and they’ll do so from the top.

With games like Roosters versus Storm, Eagles versus Panthers, Roosters versus Souths and Cowboys versus Eagles headlining the final two weeks of competition, positions one to four are still up for grabs, let alone five through eight.

Table wise, this is one of the best seasons in recent memory, and one that despite horror seasons from the Sharks, Raiders, Knights and Titans will be remembered for the battles at the top.