NRL Power Rankings: Put the pen through Manly and Chooks - and get ready for a Spoonbowl for the ages

Can you feel it? It’s the wind in your hair as we run down hill to the Finals. That pesky Origin nonsense is out of the way and we can finally look forward to the return of the NRL – remember that thing? – without half the best players being otherwise engaged.

We lost another from the chase in Round 20, with the Roosters now looking at an unbeaten run being required to make the eight. Manly, who defeated the Chooks not long ago, lost themselves to the Cowboys to nix any momentum and, likely, put themselves on life support.

At the top and bottom it remains much of a muchness, but in the middle, there were major moves aplenty. Let’s get into it.

1 – Panthers (-)

Ivan Cleary mentioned that his men have won five from six in the Origin period, where they were the most affected team, as something of a crowning glory. He’s right to. Penrith are a system-first outfit who happen to have some exceptional players, too. These last few weeks have proved that time and again.

2 – Broncos (-)

The Broncos were far too good for the Bulldogs and are now in the stage where they should probably look at resting players going into the Finals.

They’re top four and will almost certainly finish top two, securing that vital home final. The general feeling is that that their ceiling is still below the Panthers and, at a push, the best that Souths have to offer, but with the runs that they have on the board that might not matter. 

Souths roll into the Sunshine Coast this weekend, too, and if the Bronx come up on top there, expect them to be taken a lot more seriously as Premiership threats.

3 – Souths (-)

Souths reggies lost to the Doggies and then had the Bye, so we leave them as is for now. They’ve already proven an ability to hit form and thrash everyone this season, but will need to again with a long road trip that will make or break theiri season.

Win this weekend against Brisbane and it suddenly looks like a very favourable run-in to the Finals…lose, however, and things might be very different indeed.

Joey Manu reacts during the round 20 loss to Melbourne. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

4 – Storm (-)

Melbourne made heavy weather of the Roosters for a decent amount of Saturday evening, but coasted by them in the end.

Craig Bellamy, characteristically, was prouder of the bit where they did it tough than he was of the second half points that followed. They’re flying a bit under the radar at the moment, but that’s just how they like it.

5 – Cowboys (+3)

North Queensland are right among the contenders again. They were smashed by the World Cup and started slowly, but the class of some of their players hasn’t gone anywhere.

The lingering suspicion is that they’ll still struggle against the very best, especially in the spine, but Scott Drinkwater and Tom Dearden might have improved enough to take them to the next level. Warming, as they say, nicely.

6 – Warriors (+3)

New Zealand have struggled against the best of the best, but that clearly doesn’t include Cronulla these days. The Warriors smashed them.

The vibes train keeps rumbling on and we’re all hoping that it takes them all the way to a home final at the very least and maybe even the top four.

7 – Raiders (-)

“Canberra remain inscrutable regarding how good they actually are, but that has been the case for ages now.”

They didn’t play this weekend but this is still true and we’ll keep copy and pasting it until it isn’t. Given that they nearly lost to the Dragons, but didn’t, it’s just as true as ever.

(Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)

8 – Eels (-1)

The Eels got the two points, which is good, but struggled a little bit against the Titans. Parrar were also crushed by the Warriors and, while we don’t like to look too much into form generated by Origin-affected teams, it’s hard to ignore.

They’ll also be without Reagan Campbell-Gillard for a bit and travel to Townsville for a real cruncher this weekend. Lose that and they’ll be looking at a Sharks implosion to make the eight. It’s tight stuff.

9 – Sharks (-4)

Oft accused of being flat track bullies, Cronulla lived right up to that with a poor showing at the Warriors. Several of the Newtown team that won the curtain raiser at Mt Smart Stadium should be in first grade, not least Braydon Trindall.

Big statements are needed from Craig Fitzgibbon, and dropping his tackle-shy five eighth Matt Moylan should be the first of them.

10 – Manly (-)

The Sea Eagles are the next recipients of the big red pen, having nixed their last chance at Finals by losing at home to the Cowboys. Alright, they’re not mathematically done, but it would take a minor miracle from here out.

11 – Knights (+3)

Newcastle are not great, but they are a lot, lot better than some of the other cellar dwellers. They currently sit in tenth on the real ladder, which is probably a bit high, but plenty of teams do well by beating lesser sides and losing to everyone above them. Whether that keeps Adam O’Brien in a job is something entirely different…

(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

12 – Dolphins (-1)

The Phins phought back – that joke will never get old – twice in two weeks, because they are unkillable beasts. The culture is outstanding already and there’s no shame in eventually losing to the Panthers. Redcliffe have achieved more in 18 games than the Titans have in nearly 18 years.

13 – Roosters (-1)

The Roosters told the world they didn’t think they could make Finals by resting James Tedesco at home to the Storm. Duly they lost, and they’d have to be perfect from here out to make anything of this season.

The sensible thing would be to lean into who they think is worth a go in 2024. Their NSW Cup team is running last – though they are also Bears-affiliated, who are top – and there has to be talent there to put in with Sandon Smith and Siua Wong. Xavier Va’a and Thomas Deakin should be top of the list.

14 – Titans (-)

The Titans are a big shrug at the moment, and it feels like you could have written that for most of the last decade when they weren’t outright terrible. Interim coach, player uncertainty, nothing to play for…oh, and they still find ways to lose.

15 – Bulldogs (-)

The end of the year can’t come early enough at Belmore. They go to the Panthers on Sunday lunchtime and it could be anything.

16 – Tigers (-)

Both bad and unlucky. As mentioned previously, we have a joint last place at the moment and nothing’s changed, but there’s a genuine Spoonbowl on Thursday night against the Dragons, pure sickos-only stuff with the Ashes, the Matildas World Cup opener and Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy on at the same time.

17 – Dragons (-)

See above.