The Roosters are a long way off title contenders after they barely fired a shot against the Cowboys who have been defending atrociously until Magic Round.
Meanwhile, the Dragons are proving wooden spoon predictions right and the Raiders have joined Souths as the form teams in the competition.
Read on for the NRL Power Rankings after Round 10.
Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
FOX LEAGUE PODCAST – INSIDE MAGIC ROUND
Eight games over three days in the one location — What does Magic Round look like from the media’s perspective? Stories from the winning and losing sheds, the other side of Wayne Bennett no one sees, a fuming Craig Bellamy and the NRL’s new cult figure. Listen here >
Roosters deny early Sua’alii release | 05:56
17. DRAGONS
Last week’s rank: 16th (down one spot)
Analysis: The Dragons are in free fall with their 18-16 loss to the Tigers their fifth in a row by a total of just 13 points combined and it is hard to see where their next win is coming from.
There were good signs with Ben Hunt’s switch to hooker with Jayden Sullivan scoring a double at halfback, but Anthony Griffin needs to go all in on the switch because playing his skipper in two positions won’t help the team with cohesion and consistency.
The Dragons have a tough draw in the next five weeks starting with the Cowboys who put in their best performance of the season against the Roosters, so they could lose 10 in a row, which may prove pre-season wooden spoon predictions correct.
MORE NRL NEWS
YES CAMPAIGN: NRL endorses Indigenous Voice to parliament
‘LOW AS I’VE SEEN’: Roosters attack labelled ‘all over the shop’
‘BEEN POOR’: Suaali’i a ‘good chance of leaving’ as Roosters consider early release
‘IMMINENT’: Griffin to be axed ‘in a matter of weeks’ as Dragons eye replacement
16. BULLDOGS
Last week’s rank: 13th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Bulldogs were valiant but went down 34-30 to the Raiders to make it four losses from their last five games as their horror injury list starts to bite hard.
Jake Averillo is in superb form after another double, while Jacob Preston also grabbed two tries to continue his breakout season and Matt Burton is showing promising signs as the team’s new halfback.
However, the Bulldogs missed a whopping 39 tackles prompting Cameron Ciraldo to call out his team post match and while some troops return in the coming weeks it doesn’t get any easier against the stoic Warriors next up.
Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
15. COWBOYS
Last week’s rank: 17th (up two spots)
Analysis: Just when we were ready to put a line through the Cowboys’ season they produced their best performance of the year to upset the Roosters 20-6 in Magic Round.
Reuben Cotter put a slow start to the year behind him with a starring role at lock, while Tom Dearden and Chad Townsend had their best game all year as a halves pairing.
The Cowboys will be hoping they have turned a corner defensively and with clashes against the Dragons, Tigers and Eels next up, Todd Payten’s side can go on a run to keep their finals hopes alive.
14. KNIGHTS
Last week’s rank: 14th (no movement)
Analysis: The Knights had the bye in Round 10 after their 43-12 hammering by the Eels, but if they were looking to keep a low profile, a Bali holiday for a number of players put a stop to that.
Time will tell if a trip to Bali over the course of a long season may actually help the team, but on what they dished up against the Eels the time could have been better spent working on their defence.
Adam O’Brien still needs to work out the best position for his skipper Kalyn Ponga because their attack has deserted them since his return and they need to get their defence back on track against the Titans next up.
13. WESTS TIGERS
Last week’s rank: 15th (up two spots)
Analysis: There is life in the Tigers’ season yet after they beat the Dragons 18-16 to make it back-to-back victories for the first time since Round 6 of last year.
Jahream Bula looks like being one of the finds of the season at fullback, while Brandon Wakeham and Luke Brooks are starting to click as a halves combination and Api Koroisau is proving his worth at dummyhalf for a young side.
The Tigers face a huge challenge to beat the high-flying Bunnies next up, but if they can spring an upset they can get off the bottom of the ladder and a far-fetched run at the finals might not be out of the question.
12. SEA EAGLES
Last week’s rank: 9th (down three spots)
Analysis: Manly’s inconsistent season continued with a convincing 32-6 loss to the Broncos in Magic Round that showed how far they still have to go as a team.
Manly was banking heavily on Josh Schuster as a playmaker after letting Kieran Foran go, but his unavailability has left Daly Cherry-Evans short of a partner in crime and the side’s attack has suffered as a result.
Tom Trbojevic is back which will help the team going forward, but until they address their leaky defence, Manly will struggle to beat the top teams and they face another top four side in the Sharks in Round 11.
11. EELS
Last week’s rank: 8th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Eels missed a golden opportunity to keep in touch with the top eight in their 26-24 defeat to the Titans.
Dylan Brown was back to his brilliant best, while Maika Sivo scored a superb hat-trick, but Clint Gutherson had a mixed night with Kieran Foran scoring two crucial tries while he was in the sin bin.
The Eels will be without star halfback Mitchell Moses due to concussion for their crunch clash with the resurgent Raiders in Canberra in Round 11.
10. TITANS
Last week’s rank: 12th (up two spots)
Analysis: The Titans made it back-to-back victories with their 26-24 win over the Eels despite their penchant for letting leads skip almost coming back to bite them again.
Kieran Foran wound back the clock with a classy double, while Alofiana Khan-Pereira also scored two tries in an eye-catching display and David Fifita continued his bid for an Origin recall in another excellent performance.
The Titans are looking for three straight wins when they face the Knights next up and can cement their place in the top eight with a favourable draw before the bye in Round 13.
9. ROOSTERS
Last week’s rank: 6th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Roosters’ inconsistent season went from bad to worse in their 20-6 loss to the lowly Cowboys, with their attack looking non existent until a late try to Angus Crichton.
Luke Keary and Joseph Manu had a mixed performance with four linebreak assists and a try assist to go with six errors between them and there is an argument Manu is more dangerous at centre with Sam Walker in the halves.
The constant changes in the backline is not helping the side’s cohesion, but with their roster the Roosters are nowhere near where they should be and their attack will again be tested by the best defence in the NRL when they face the Panthers in Round 11.
8. WARRIORS
Last week’s rank: 7th down one spot)
Analysis: The Warriors were brave in their 18-6 defeat to the Panthers with the gutsy performance soured by some contentious refereeing decisions going against them.
Addin Fonua-Blake is having his best season since leaving Manly, but the Warriors need more from Dylan Walker and Shaun Johnson, who had a mixed afternoon as a halves pairing against Penrith.
The Warriors are making it hard on themselves with repeated sin bins and they will be hoping to improve their discipline against a desperate Bulldogs side in Round 11, as they aim to keep in touch with the top eight.
7. DOLPHINS
Last week’s rank: 11th (up four spots)
Analysis: The Dolphins didn’t read the script against the Sharks and wrote their own for Wayne Bennett in his milestone 900th match in a shock 36-16 result.
Valynce Te Whare announced himself to the NRL world in a stunning two-try performance on debut, while Kodi Nikorima was impressive at five-eighth, but there wasn’t a bad Dolphins player as they led 30-0.
The Dolphins have a well earned bye before a huge clash with the Storm that will show just how far this team has come ahead of their first Origin period, and a win remarkably could see them in the top four.
6. STORM
Last week’s rank: 4th (down two spots)
Analysis: The Storm are looking short of the standards Craig Bellamy has set for so long as they went down 28-12 to South Sydney, who they have historically dominated for a long time.
Jahrome Hughes has been below his best all season, while Cameron Munster has fallen short of his own high standards of late and the Storm are missing Ryan Papenhuyzen’s potency in attack.
However, the Storm’s spine is suffering from the lack of a platform their pack is setting up front and they need to get their defence right when they take on the ladder leading Broncos in Round 11, as they bid to stay in touch with the top four.
5. RAIDERS
Last week’s rank: 10th (up five spots)
Analysis: They may have done it the hard way in a 34-30 win over the Bulldogs, but the Raiders have now won four on the trot for 10 points including a bye and are only outside the top eight due to points differential.
Hudson Young continued his stunning form this season with another try, while Xavier Savage made a successful return on the wing with the Raiders’ back five scoring five of their tries between them.
The Raiders keep finding ways to win, which is a welcome change for a team that found ways to lose early in the year and they will back themselves to get the job done against the Eels at home in Round 11 for their fifth straight victory.
4. SHARKS
Last week’s rank: 3rd (down one spot)
Analysis: The Sharks continued their confoundingly inconsistent season with a 36-16 thrashing at the hands of the Dolphins, who led 30-0 at one stage.
When the Sharks click they look like title contenders, but their worrying defensive lapses and over-reliance on Nicho Hynes is becoming a theme this season.
No doubt Craig Fitzgibbon will be reading the Riot Act this week as he tries to get his team’s defence in order for a huge clash with Manly at Brookvale Oval, with their grip on a top four spot at risk.
3. PANTHERS
Last week’s rank: 5th (up two spots)
Analysis: The Panthers have been struggling in attack, but proved they are still the best defensive team in the NRL with a 18-6 win over the Warriors in a ferocious encounter.
James Fisher-Harris showed the Panthers how much they have missed him in his return, while Nathan Cleary was huge for Penrith on the defensive end and he and Dylan Edwards controlled proceedings in attack.
The Panthers have a huge fortnight against the Roosters and Broncos before the bye, but if they can win at least one of those games they will be well placed heading into the tough Origin period.
2. BRONCOS
Last week’s rank: 2nd (no movement)
Analysis: The Broncos bounced back from a convincing loss to the Bunnies to blow Manly off the park in a 32-6 victory in Magic Round that showed everything they are doing so well.
Reece Walsh continued his push for an Origin debut, while Selwyn Cobbo found form with a stunning hat-trick that will do his Maroons chances no harm.
Payne Haas showed how much he means to this team in his return from suspension and the Broncos can make another title statement when they face the Storm in Melbourne in Round 11.
1. RABBITOHS
Last week’s rank: 1st (no movement)
Analysis: The Rabbitohs are the form team of the NRL after winning their fifth straight game in their 28-12 defeat of the Storm, which came on the back of victories over the Panthers and Broncos.
Cody Walker is back to his best at five-eighth, while Damien Cook’s running game is electric and Latrell Mitchell knows exactly when to chime in and punish the opposition’s defence.
Alex Johnston scored a double in his 200th game, but it is the work of the Souths’ forward pack that is making life so easy for their backline at the moment and they will fancy themselves to make it six on the trot against the Tigers next up.
