The Eels have overcome a slow start to the year and some key personnel changes to surge back into top eight contention.
Meanwhile, the Sharks are in free fall with their Achilles heel coming back to bite them amid a rare form slump for Nicho Hynes and the Broncos have firmed in title favouritism.
Read on for the Power Rankings ahead of Round 16.
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17. DRAGONS
Round 12 rank: 15th (down two spots)
Analysis: Since Round 12 the Dragons have lost to the Dolphins 26-12 and the Panthers 26-18, before beating an undermanned Rabbitohs team 36-30.
Ben Hunt has been carrying the team all season, but there has been improvements under rookie interim coach Ryan Carr and Tyrell Sloan is starting to find some consistency at the back.
However, the Dragons are currently wooden spoon favourites and with clashes against the Warriors, Sharks and Raiders between their two byes in the next month, they may struggle to get off the bottom of the ladder.
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16. BULLDOGS
Round 12 rank: 14th (down two spots)
Analysis: The Bulldogs had the bye in Round 13, before losses to the Roosters 25-24 and the Eels 34-12.
The Bulldogs missed a whopping 56 tackles against the Eels prompting a frustrated coach Cameron Ciraldo to spray his team and forecast changes in the search for the right players to apply his defensive strategy.
Reed Mahoney and Matt Burton have been strong, but Bulldogs are just missing too many tackles in the middle and on the edges to compete and it doesn’t get any easier against the Sharks, who will be smarting from their big loss to the Storm in Round 16.
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15. KNIGHTS
Round 12 rank: 14th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Knights upset the Sea Eagles 28-18 before going down to the Broncos 24-20 after their bye in a game they led for most of the match and should have won.
Kalyn Ponga has rediscovered his mojo since returning to the No.1 jersey and the Knights look far stronger in the spine with Tyson Gamble and Jackson Hastings in the halves.
However, the Knights are missing Jayden Brailey at hooker and while Adam O’Brien has his side improving, clashes with the desperate Roosters and the Panthers in the next fortnight will make it tough to climb the ladder.
14. WESTS TIGERS
Round 12 rank: 11th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Tigers’ mini resurgence has hit the skids after a 20-19 loss to the Raiders after their bye followed by a disappointing 28-12 loss to the Titans.
Compounding the losses are injuries to key players including a broken jaw to skipper Api Koroisau and a hamstring issue for Luke Brooks that has decimated their spine, which is already without Adam Doueihi.
Brooks’ decision to knock back an extension has left the club dangerously low on halves for the future and more pressingly his injury will make it tough to beat an undermanned Storm in Round 16.
13. COWBOYS
Round 12 rank: 17th (up four spots)
Analysis: The Cowboys are on an upward tick after their narrow defeat to the Eels 20-16, before blowing the Storm away 45-20.
The Cowboys’ Origin contingent of Valentine Holmes, Reuben Cotter, Murray Taulagi, Jeremiah Nanai and Reece Robson are all starting to find form, but the down side is they will all be missing on Origin duty for their clash with the Panthers.
Todd Payten welcomes back skipper Jason Taumalolo from injury in Round 16, but with clashes against Penrith and Souths in the next fortnight, the Cowboys could go backwards before they go forwards.
12. ROOSTERS
Round 12 rank: 13th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Roosters had the bye in Round 13, before scraping home 25-24 against the Bulldogs and then being convincingly beaten by the Panthers 30-6 for the second time this season.
The experiment of Luke Keary and Joseph Manu in the halves hasn’t worked and the Roosters need Sam Walker back when he returns from injury to spark their spluttering attack, which is the worst in the competition.
Trent Robinson desperately needs to find some answers against the Knights, Raiders and Sea Eagles before the bye or the finals could be out of the equation, which would be massive for a team many experts picked to make the grand final.
11. TITANS
Round 12 rank: 16th (up five spots)
Analysis: The Titans were trounced 46-28 by the Rabbitohs after the bye, before beating the Tigers 28-12 in one of their better performances of the year.
The Titans are still struggling to put 80 minute performances together consistently, but with Sam Verrills back at hooker and AJ Brimson and Jayden Campbell starting to click in the spine, this side could be a dark horse at the back end of the year.
Luckily the Titans have a bye while their star forwards Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, David Fifita and Moe Fotuaika are on Origin duty, but they will need all hands on deck for a tough clash with the Broncos in Round 17.
10. DOLPHINS
Round 12 rank: 7th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Dolphins beat the Dragons 26-12, but there were worrying signs their depth is starting to ware thin after convincing losses to the Warriors 30-8 and the Sea Eagles 58-18.
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Kodi Nikorima need some help after carrying the attack of the team on their own at times, while a season-ending injury to Tom Gilbert in Origin and the suspension of Felise Kaufusi has left them short in the forwards.
The bye has come at a good time, but the Origin period was always going to be make or break for Wayne Bennett’s side and with clashes against the Eels and Broncos next up things could get worse before they get better.
9. SEA EAGLES
Round 12 rank: 10th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Sea Eagles struggled without their Origin stars in a 28-18 loss to the Knights before thrashing the Dolphins 58-18 after the bye.
Tom Trbojevic is starting to find some consistency at club level and Josh Schuster and Daly Cherry-Evans are building their combination nicely since the former’s return from injury.
The Eels will be a big challenge without their Origin stars in Round 16, before tough clashes with the Storm and Roosters, but if they can win at least two of those, they can set themselves up to make a run at the back end of the year.
8. EELS
Round 12 rank: 9th (up for spots)
Analysis: The Eels are surging after beating the Cowboys 24-16 and the Bulldogs 34-12 either side of their bye in Round 14.
The loss of Dylan Brown will be tough to overcome, but Mitchell Moses is back to his best and Clint Gutherson is also in hot form as the Eels look to make a run at the finals after a slow start to the year.
Unfortunately, the Eels will be without Moses due to Origin duty against the Sea Eagles, but Manly will also be without their Origin stars, so it is a good chance to jump back into the top eight.
7. SHARKS
Round 12 rank: 2nd (down five spots)
Analysis: The Sharks are on a worrying slide after defeats to the Broncos 20-12 and the Storm 54-10 after their bye in Round 13.
Nicho Hynes has struggled for form during the Origin period to date, but the Sharks have poor against top eight teams all year and they need to address their leaky defence if they want to make a run in September.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s side have a good chance to get back in the winner’s circle against the Bulldogs and the Dragons either side of their next bye, but bigger battles await this team in the next month.
6. WARRIORS
Round 12 rank: 8th (up two spots)
Analysis: The Warriors pushed the Broncos all the way in a 22-26 loss, before convincing wins over the Dolphins 30-8 and the Raiders 36-14.
Shaun Johnson’s resurgence continues to stun and his combination with new halves partner Luke Metcalf is developing nicely, while Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has been a revelation at fullback.
However, the biggest improvement under Andrew Webster has been in the forward pack and the extra toughness in defence and the Warriors will get a great gauge of how far they have come against the Rabbitohs after their clash with the Dragons following the bye.
5. RAIDERS
Round 12 rank: 6th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Raiders’ season resurgence continued with wins over the Rabbitohs 33-26 and the Tigers 20-19, before a disappointing 36-14 loss to the Warriors at home.
The Raiders are benefiting from the Origin retirements of Jack Wighton and Josh Papalii, while Jarrod Croker has wound back the clock in his return to the team and brought up 300 games against the Warriors.
The concern for Ricky Stuart is the Raiders still have a loss like the Warriors one in them, but a cruisy draw against the Roosters, Titans and Dragons before their next bye could see them surge into the top four.
4. RABBITOHS
Round 12 rank: 3rd (down one spot)
Analysis: The Rabbitohs have not handled the Origin period well with losses to the Raiders 33-26 and the lowly Dragons 36-30 either side of a 46-28 comeback win over the Titans.
The club have missed Latrell Mitchell’s influence, while injuries to Cameron Murray, Jai Arrow and Cody Walker haven’t helped, but Souths would have been hoping for more to cement a spot in the top two.
Their first bye has come at a much needed time for Souths and they need to get back on track when they face the Cowboys and the Warriors in their next two matches if they want to make a push for a drought-breaking premiership.
3. STORM
Round 12 rank: 4th (up one spot
Analysis: It has been a strange old season for Craig Bellamy’s side with their 45-20 loss to the Cowboys followed up by their 54-10 thrashing of the Sharks, which sums up their inconsistent year.
However, the Storm showed against the Sharks how dangerous they can be when they get some troops back in the forwards and their spine is at their best and they have surged into the top four on the back of Cameron Munster, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant’s brilliance.
The challenge for the Storm is getting their new look forward pack to all get on the same page, but with clashes against the Tigers and Sea Eagles in the next fortnight they can cement their top four spot and their title credentials.
2. BRONCOS
Round 12 rank: 5th (up three spots)
Analysis: The Broncos are handling the Origin period with ease so far after three straight wins over the Warriors 26-22, the Sharks 20-12 and the Knights 20-24.
Granted, they haven’t been at their best, but winning in those circumstances is always a sign of a good team and with Adam Reynolds and Reece Walsh driving their attack and Payne Haas leading the forwards, they will fancy their chances against any opposition.
The bye has come at a great time given their Origin contingent for game two and they can cement their top two spot with derbies against the Titans and Dolphins before their next bye in Round 19.
1. PANTHERS
Round 12 rank: 1st (no movement)
Analysis: The Panthers found a way to win against the Dragons 26-18 after the bye, before thrashing the Roosters 30-6 to cement top spot on the ladder and the power rankings.
The loss of Nathan Cleary to a hamstring injury is a massive blow, but Jack Cogger has shown he can do a job and Jarome Luai, Isaah Yeo and Dylan Edwards can help fill the void until he returns.
Cleary’s lay-off could be a blessing in disguise to freshen him up for a run at a third straight premiership and with clashes against the Cowboys and Knights next up, the Panthers will back their NRL best defence to get the job done.
