The stage is set for a winner-take-all shootout for the NRL minor premiership as Melbourne and Penrith remain neck-and-neck atop the ladder after round 23.
The ladder-leading Storm (38 points) and reigning premiers Penrith (36) were both far from their best in respective wins at the weekend.
The Panthers needed three tries in the final seven minutes to eke out a two-point comeback defeat of Parramatta, while coach Craig Bellamy questioned the Storm’s consistency after a 28-16 win over South Sydney.
But the pair’s status as the two premiership front-runners is not up for question ahead of Thursday’s clash in Penrith, which could double as a grand final preview.
With the Panthers two wins ahead of the third-placed Sydney Roosters, 2024 is set to be the sixth consecutive season the minor premiership has been won by either Melbourne or Penrith.
The Panthers are likely to be without first-choice second-rowers Scott Sorensen (hamstring injury) and Liam Martin (suspension) against the Storm.
But star prop James Fisher-Harris and fullback Dylan Edwards are both chances to return from injury, while second-rower Eliesa Katoa could be an inclusion for the Storm.
Of the seven bottom-eight sides that entered the weekend still in finals contention, only Brisbane, Newcastle and the Dolphins managed to snare victories.
The Dolphins were the big winners in terms of ladder position, defying recent form to beat the Warriors in extra time and oust St George Illawarra from eighth spot.
Elsewhere, North Queensland’s shock 42-18 loss to Brisbane meant the Cowboys dropped to seventh place behind Manly, 46-24 winners over Canberra at GIO Stadium.
It means the sixth-placed Sea Eagles are on track for a home final, which will be music to Anthony Seibold’s ears given Manly have lost only once at Brookvale Oval this season.
The Panthers celebrate after beating Parramatta. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)
After round 23, only 11 teams are still able to finish the season with better than a 50 per cent winning record, with Gold Coast’s 44-0 loss to Cronulla ruining their chances.
But as many as 15 sides are still in mathematical contention for the finals; even 15th-placed South Sydney are still able to squeak into the top eight if results fall their way.
The Rabbitohs and Warriors’ round-23 losses have given both sides a mountain to climb, though, not least because they must respectively face heavyweights Penrith and Cronulla on the run home.
Run home for the finals contenders
1. MELBOURNE (38 points, +169) – Penrith (away), Dolphins (home), North Queensland (a), Brisbane (a)
2. PENRITH (36, +164) – Melbourne (h), Canberra (a), South Sydney (h), Gold Coast (h)
3. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (32, +219) – Parramatta (h), Gold Coast (a), Canberra (h), South Sydney (a)
4. CRONULLA (32, +175) – Newcastle (h), St George Illawarra (a), Warriors (h), Manly (a)
5. CANTERBURY (30, +110) – Dolphins (h), Warriors (a), Manly (h), North Queensland (h)
6. MANLY (29, +115) – Warriors (h), Wests Tigers (a), Canterbury (a), Cronulla (h)
7 NORTH QUEENSLAND (28, +5) – Canberra (h), bye, Melbourne (h), Canterbury (a)
8. DOLPHINS (26, +35) – Canterbury (a), Melbourne (a), Brisbane (h), Newcastle (a)
9. ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA (26, -108) – Gold Coast (h), Cronulla (h), Parramatta (a), Canberra (h)
10. NEWCASTLE (24, -89) – Cronulla (a), South Sydney (a), Gold Coast (h), Dolphins (h)
11. CANBERRA (24, -97) – North Queensland (a), Penrith (h), Sydney Roosters (a), St George Illawarra (a)
12. BRISBANE (22, -4) – bye, Parramatta (h), Dolphins (a), Melbourne (a)
13. GOLD COAST (22, -98) – St George Illawarra (a), Sydney Roosters (h), Newcastle (a), Penrith (a)
14. WARRIORS (21, -34) – Manly (a), Canterbury (h), Cronulla (a), bye
15. SOUTH SYDNEY (20, -136) Wests Tigers (a), Newcastle (h), Penrith (a), Sydney Roosters (h)
Newshttps://https://ift.tt/Kfnoa82 Run Home: Minor premiership on the line, Cowboys fall back in the pack, Dolphins leapfrog Dragons
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