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Teams jockeying for position with two rounds remaining

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Roar Guru
26th August, 2019
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With the NRL finals just a fortnight away, teams one to ten still have plenty to play for before the business end of the season.

We take a look at the week that was, and the outlook for each team still in contention for September.

Melbourne Storm (first)
It was first versus last on Sunday afternoon, but you wouldn’t have thought it during the first half, as a committed Titans led a frustrated Storm side 8-6 at the break, but Melbourne’s class shone through in the second half to claim a 24-8 victory.

The win puts Melbourne four points clear at the top of the ladder, and one win from their remaining two games against the Sea Eagles or Cowboys will officially lock up the minor premiership.

Cameron Munster runs with the ball.

Cam Munster (AAP Image/Darren England)

Sydney Roosters (second)
The Roosters were on autopilot during the first half against the St George Illawarra Dragons, cruising to a 28-nil halftime lead, before closing out the game 34-12 to all but cement a top-two finish.

Still a mathematical chance of claiming a second-straight minor premiership but would need to win their remaining two games and rely on the Storm to lose their remaining two.

Canberra Raiders (third)
Dubbed the “match of the round”, the high-flying Raiders will lament poor discipline as they fell short 18-14 to an impressive Manly outfit in a frustrating performance at home.

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Currently on 30 competition points, the Raiders sit third on points differential ahead of Manly and Souths and will be playing to cement a top-four spot over the remaining two rounds against the Sharks and Warriors, but will need to notch up two wins to ensure a second bite of the cherry in the finals.

Manly Sea Eagles (fourth)
An upset 18-14 victory over the Raiders in the nation’s capital has seen Manly edge Souths into the top four on equal 30 points.

A blockbuster clash with the Storm followed by Parramatta awaits the Sea Eagles as they try to secure a surprising top-four finish.

South Sydney Rabbitohs (fifth)
The blood feud between the Rabbitohs and the Broncos has reignited South’s season as they survived an intense clash at Suncorp, pipping Brisbane 22-20 which temporarily returned them to the top four.

With the goal being a top four finish, it doesn’t get much easier for Bennett’s men as they travel to New Zealand next round to take on the Warriors, followed by a mouth-watering clash against reigning premiers the Roosters.

Parramatta Eels (sixth)
A lacklustre performance saw the Eels go down to a determined Bulldogs outfit 12-6 at Bankwest stadium, making a top-four finish more difficult with two rounds remaining.

Despite already securing a finals berth, Parramatta will still be aiming for a top-four finish or at least ensuring a home final at Bankwest with games against a desperate Broncos and Manly to come.

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Cronulla Sharks (seventh)
Inconsistent for most of the season, we witnessed the absolute best version of this Sharks team stacked with representative and premiership players as they thumped the Warriors 42-16.

With games against the Raiders and Tigers remaining, the Sharks need to win at least one to ensure a spot in the finals. Two losses could see them drop out of the eight.

Brisbane Broncos (eighth)
The Broncos were gallant in defeat against the Rabbitohs and are fortunate to remain in the top eight after their 22-20 loss.

Only one point clear of ninth, the Broncos will need to win their remaining two games against the Eels and Bulldogs to ensure a finals spot, or else they’ll be relying on other results to go their way.

Anthony Milford

Anthony Milford of the Brisbane Broncos. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)

Wests Tigers (ninth)
A thumping 46-4 win over a diabolical Newcastle has ensured the Tigers remain in the hunt for a finals spot.

They will need to win their final two games against the Dragons and Sharks and will be relying on the Broncos to lose at least one game to overtake them.

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Penrith Panthers (tenth)
A very ordinary performance in their 24-10 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys but a still a faint chance of qualifying for the finals.

They will need to win their remaining two games against the Roosters and Knights, but if both the Broncos and Tigers lose their remaining two games, one win would be enough.

The Knights (11th) and Bulldogs (12th), both on 20 points, are still mathematically a chance of making the finals, but would need to win both their remaining games and rely on a host of other results to go their way.

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