It’s easy to lose hope when your team suffers a bad start to the season.
A few injuries, a nasty loss or two, getting stuck in the bottom half of the ladder – and suddenly fans lose all hope of making finals or, better yet, winning the NRL Premiership.
We’re a fickle bunch, aren’t we?
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‘Des is an absolute legend of this club’ | 02:05
But the season is a long one and it’s just heating up, and we all need a reason to believe that maybe, just maybe, our team can still pull off a miracle and win the lot.
With that in mind, here’s the ultimate optimist’s’ guide to why every NRL team can still make something special happen this season – starting from the bottom of the ladder and working our way up.
17th: South Sydney Rabbitohs
A premiership charge by last-placed South Sydney might be looking unlikely at this point, but it’s certainly not impossible.
In 2015, the Cowboys lost their first three games and were bottom of the ladder. That year, they had two talented assistant coaches – Jason Demetriou and David Furner – and they ran up the ladder to win the Premiership. This week, Furner returned to South Sydney to help out JD after a dismal start to the season. Furner’s a defensive expert and the combination have experience in turning around a dire start. Right? The bye week comes at the perfect time, and they’ve got stacks of talent. Don’t write them off just yet.
16th: Gold Coast Titans
OK, things look dire on the Gold Coast but….
Des Hasler has won two Premierships as a coach (and made three other grand finals). You don’t suddenly forget how to win just because you move to the Gold Coast … we think.
Sure, they copped a bruising golden-point loss to Ricky Stuart’s Raiders last weekend, but the NRL conceded that Hasler was right to whinge about a missed off-side call on a potential game-winning Kieran Foran field-goal in extra time. The injustice could ignite their season.
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15th: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Foxx is back. A hat-trick last weekend snapped Josh Addo-Carr’s try-less start to 2024. His left-side combination with Bronson Xerri, who is getting better every game after returning from his doping ban, is coming on in leaps and bounds. And the weekend’s gutsy fightback from going down 10-0 early on against the Storm proved they’ve got plenty of mettle.
14th: Newcastle Knights
They’ve got Kalyn Ponga, the reigning Dally M medallist who is currently equal-first on the leaderboard again this season. If there’s anyone who can produce a bit of Novocastrian magic, it’s him. Two of their losses have been by two points or fewer (Storm, Roosters), so a little bit of luck and some Ponga stardust could have them back in the top eight in no time.
13th: St George Illawarra Dragons
Zac Lomax is leaving for the Eels at the end of the year because he wants to play in the centres – but until then, the Dragons have unlocked an absolute weapon. He’s got five tries in six games and could be the key this season.
Meanwhile, Ben Hunt is happier than ever and even considering a shock contract extension, while the coach-son Flanagan duo are showing promising signs. They were tipped for the wooden spoon, but the Dragons are already proving the doubters wrong.
12th: Wests Tigers
The eighth wonder of the world, Leichhardt Oval is crumbling. But when the Tigers went there for the first time this season, they trounced the ladder-leading Sharks 32-6 and proved that they do know how to score some points (though they seem to have forgotten since then). If Benji can Marshal his troops – pun intended – and remind them how to cross the white line, the Tigers can beat anyone. Don’t give them the (Benji) flick just yet.
11th: Parramatta Eels
He’s out until Round 12, but Mitchell Moses is still one of the NRL’s premier halfbacks. His kicking game is second to none and if the Eels can stay in touch with the top eight in his absence, they should be able to mount a late charge to the finals. Alongside him is Dylan Brown, who is also a potent attacking threat and arguably the best defensive halves in the competition. His responsibilities as a No.7 in Moses’ absence will develop his kicking game and ability organise a team, so Brown could come out of this period a more well-rounded player. This pairing have the makings of a premiership-winning duo.
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10th: Brisbane Broncos
They were 25 minutes away from winning a premiership last season, so why can’t they go one better in 2024? The Broncos have lost some key middle forwards, but they’re still a dominant force. Selwyn Cobbo, replacing Herbie Farnworth in the centres, has been excellent and could be the ‘X-factor’ Kevin Walters needed to spark yet another title charge. Brisbane have also still been winning games without key players in Adam Reynolds and Payne Haas, showing that they will be once again title contenders come the end of the season.
9th: Sydney Roosters
They might remain just outside the top eight after their 18-12 loss to the Storm overnight, but their points differential of +31 is the third-best in the competition. They put 48 points on their biggest rivals the Bunnies, for crying out loud, and have already beaten last season’s grand finalists the Broncos. They’re busting more tackles than a streaker trying to take a selfie with Lionel Messi, and Joey Manu looks hell-bent on winning a Premiership before he jets off to Japanese rugby. He’ll be sipping sake with a third winner’s medal around his neck.
8th: Manly Sea Eagles
Daly Cherry-Evans said it simply. Luke Brooks “is smiling. He is happy.” And the most experienced NRL player to never play finals footy can end that horror streak this year.
Tom Trbojevic has played every minute of every game so far. Cross your fingers, knock on wood, he’ll stay healthy … then Manly can win the comp.
7th: NZ Warriors
The Wahs are on the up … and up. The Warriors have a new steel about them under Andrew Webster as evidence of them coming back from 16-0 down to Manly to draw 22-22 in a golden point thriller shows. The fact that they haven’t reached their best footy yet is an ominous warning to the rest of the NRL and if things click they still present one of the hardest road trips in the competition. The big difference from last year to this year is they have premiership winners Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Kurt Capewell on board, who know how to win and if the rest of the team can follow their lead they can go all the way for a maiden title.
6th: Penrith Panthers
Be serious. They’re the three-time reigning champs. You know they can win the lot. Of course in the modern NRL it becomes harder and harder to keep backing up and winning given the salary cap and players leaving the club each season. However, Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris, while massive cogs in the Penrith machine, they don’t leave until November, which gives the old band one last shot at going all the way in 2024. Nathan Cleary’s injury could also be a blessing in disguise and keep him fresh over the course of a long season that is expected to include Blues Origin duties.
5th: Dolphins
The Dolphins led the NRL after a win over the Tigers in Round 5, but lost key recruits Thomas Flegler and Herbie Farnworth, while Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow joined them in the casualty ward a week later in a loss to the Broncos. Even allowing for a favourable early draw, to lead the competition in their second season is a massive effort from the Dolphins and Wayne Bennett knows how to get a team deep into the finals. The challenge will be their depth and filling the voids until they get some troops back on deck. But if everyone is fit, write the Dolphins off for a late charge to the finals at your peril.
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4th: North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys are scoring for fun this season. They’ve bagged 31 tries this season already, five more than any other team, and have 177 points in total – averaging 29.5 per game. That’s proper premiership numbers in terms of their attack, even allowing for a softer draw to start the season. Unfortunately, their defence has been leaky at times, but Todd Payten showed in 2022 that this team can defend at an elite level as they went within 20 minutes of the grand final that season. If the Cowboys can rediscover their mojo in defence they have the attack to match it with any team in the competition all the way to a first title since 2015.
3rd: Canberra Raiders
Ricky Stuart is always up for a fight, and he’s been at the top of his game this season. From wild press conferences to dropping an F-Bomb on Des Hasler in the sheds after the game on the weekend, Sticky is at his absolute best so far in 2024. Oh, and his team’s playing like it too. Their points differential is +48, they’ve got a host of youngsters stepping into the limelight, and they’re a great chance of going all the way if they can get some luck with injuries in key positions. Just you watch.
2nd: Cronulla Sharks
The old saying was waiting for the Sharks to win a premiership was like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt, but Cronulla fans may not have to wait as long for their second title as they did for their first. Granted, they have had an easier draw than some to start the season, but the Sharks have been beating sides well without some of their troops due to injuries in the forwards. The knock on the Sharks is that they haven’t won a finals game under Craig Fitzgibbon, but they would have learnt plenty form the two previous years and if they can get to finals time with a clean bill of health, they will be pumped to turn around their horror recent finals record. With Nicho Hynes and Braydon Trindall developing an excellent partnership and Blayke Brailey and William Kennedy coming of age, the Sharks can party like it is 2016.
1st: Melbourne Storm
All the talk this week is how the Storm have lost their aura after a poor performance against the Bulldogs at home, but they still managed to win the game which is the sign of a good team when they don’t play their best and still get the chocolates. Their win over the Roosters saw them jump the Sharks into first overnight. Cameron Munster has only just returned from injury and with him and Jahrome Hughes driving the ship, they have arguably the best spine in the competition including a reborn Ryan Papenhuyzen and Origin star Harry Grant. The challenge is for the Storm forwards to set the platform up front, led by returning star Nelson Asofa-Solomona because they have a backline that can match the best in the competition. Throw in the added motivation of winning Craig Bellamy one last premiership if he decides to retire and the Storm have plenty of motivation for a first title since 2020.
Source Agencies
