The Knights showed there is life in their season with a convincing victory over the Jekyll and Hyde Titans.
Meanwhile, the Broncos enter a tough Origin period battered and bruised and the Panthers and Jarome Luai answered their critics.
Read on for the NRL Power Rankings after Round 11.
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Foxx set to return against Titans | 01:05
17. DRAGONS
Last week’s rank: 17th (no movement)
Analysis: The Dragons’ season is in free fall after they lost their sixth game on the trot in a convincing 42-22 defeat to the Cowboys, which culminated in Anthony Griffin’s sacking.
The decision to chop and change Ben Hunt and Jayden Sullivan is doing neither player nor the team any favours as they try desperately to find some consistency.
The Dragons have the third worst defence in the NRL and if they lose to the Roosters next up they could be wooden spoon favourites.
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16. BULLDOGS
Last week’s rank: 16th (no movement)
Analysis: The Bulldogs’ once promising season is in danger of turning into a nightmare after their 24-12 loss to the Warriors, their fifth defeat in the last six games.
Matt Burton continues to go from strength to strength at halfback, but he needs help to drive the Bulldogs’ attack from the other spine members, who are just not delivering enough try-scoring opportunities.
The Bulldogs desperately need a victory against the hot and cold Titans before a tough period after their bye in Round 13, or their losing streak could be about to get a lot worse.
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15. WESTS TIGERS
Last week’s rank: 13th (up two spots)
Analysis: The Tigers’ mini resurgence came crashing back to earth with a 20-0 shut out at the hands of the ladder leading Rabbitohs.
The Tigers are an improved defensive outfit, but their attack looks non-existent against the better defensive teams in the NRL, while they failed to convert their only linebreak for Luke Brooks.
However, the Tigers can still climb off the bottom of the ladder with a win over the Cowboys at Leichhardt before the bye in Round 13.
14. SEA EAGLES
Last week’s rank: 12th (down two spots)
Analysis: Manly’s promising season has taken a dive with their 20-14 loss to the Sharks their third defeat on the trot.
Manly improved their defence against the Sharks, but their attack is still not clicking with too much of the onus on Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic to do everything with ball in hand.
Manly need Josh Schuster to return from injury to add some much needed spark to the Sea Eagles’ attack ahead of a crunch away game against the Raiders in Round 12.
13. EELS
Last week’s rank: 11th (down two spots)
Analysis: The Eels’ finals hopes are in real danger after they slumped to their third defeat in their last four games in a 26-18 loss to the Raiders.
The Eels missed Mitchell Moses in attack and Dylan Brown and Clint Gutherson struggled to fill the void, while the side’s two hookers had just one run between them, which shows how much pressure that is putting on the halves.
It doesn’t get any easier for the Eels who come up against their bogey side in the Rabbitohs in Indigenous Round.
12. TITANS
Last week’s rank: 10th (down one spot)
Analysis: The Jekyll and Hyde Titans put in arguably their worst performance of the year to nearly give up 50 points in a 46-26 loss to the Knights.
David Fifita is a near certainty to be recalled by the Maroons after running for 228 metres and scoring two tries, while Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Moe Fotuaika are consistent every week, but the rest of the team can’t seem to find that consistency.
The Titans missed 37 tackles against the Knights and need to address that area of their game away against the Bulldogs in Round 12.
11. ROOSTERS
Last week’s rank: 9th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Roosters suffered back-to-back defeats after being hammered 48-4 in an embarrassing loss to the Panthers.
The fact the Roosters made five linebreaks for just one try is an indictment on their attack and it might be time to inject Sam Walker back into the team to unleash Joey Manu on the edge.
Joseph Suaalii’s form slump and Brandon Smith’s inability to ignite the attack form dummyhalf have contributed to the Roosters’ dip in form and they face a must win clash against a Dragons side, who have lost their coach in Round 12.
10. COWBOYS
Last week’s rank: 15th (up five spots)
Analysis: The Cowboys have made a mini resurgence after thrashing the Dragons 42-22 for their second straight win.
Tom Dearden was back to his best with his running game scoring two tries, while Heilum Luki and Kyle Feldt also grabbed doubles in eye-catching displays.
The Cowboys are now just two points outside the top eight and can edge closer with a win over the Tigers in Round 12 before a tough Origin period.
9 KNIGHTS
Last week’s rank: 14th (up five spots)
Analysis: The Knights bounced back from their 43-12 hammering by the Eels before the bye to stun the Titans 46-26.
Kalyn Ponga found form with three try assists and a try in a timely reminder of his talents ahead of Origin I, while the Knights’ back five had six tries between them as they ran riot.
Adam O’Brien’s side can push for a top eight spot when they clash with the Sharks in Coffs Harbour in Round 12.
8. WARRIORS
Last week’s rank: 8th (no movement)
Analysis: The Warriors bounced back into the winner’s circle with a 24-12 win over the Bulldogs snapping a three-game losing streak in the process.
Ronald Volkman impressed after filling the five-eighth void, which allowed Dylan Walker to shift back to the utility role, while Shaun Johnson was again strong with two try assists.
The Warriors have the bye in Round 12, before three tough clashes against top eight sides in the Broncos, Dolphins and Raiders, before their second bye.
7. DOLPHINS
Last week’s rank: 7th (no movement)
Analysis: The Dolphins are coming off the bye after their 36-16 upset win over the Sharks in Magic Round cemented their top eight spot.
Wayne Bennett’s side face a huge test against the resurgent Storm next up, which will be a big indicator of just how far this team has come in their first season.
A favourable draw against the Dragons, Warriors and Sea Eagles before their next by could help the Dolphins navigate their first Origin period, with a number of their players likely to feature.
6. STORM
Last week’s rank: 6th (no movement)
Analysis: The Storm have struggled for consistency this season, but they still sit just outside the top four following their 24-16 win over the Broncos.
Jahrome Hughes found form in his best game of the year, while Cameron Munster was dangerous with his running game tearing the Broncos apart on the edges.
The return of Tui Kamikamica added some starch to the Storm pack and they will be looking to back it up against the Dolphins at Suncorp Stadium before a tough Origin period after the bye.
5. RAIDERS
Last week’s rank: 5th (no movement)
Analysis: Apart from the Rabbitohs, the Raiders are the form team in the NRL after securing their fifth straight win in a 26-18 result against the Eels.
Hudson Young continued his brilliant season to date, while Jamal Fogarty and Jack Wighton are combining well in the halves in their last season together as a scrumbase pairing.
The Raiders will be looking to cement their top eight spot against the Sea Eagles in Round 12, before a mouth-watering battle with Wighton’s new team the Bunnies in Round 13.
4. BRONCOS
Last week’s rank: 2nd (down two spots)
Analysis: Just about everything that could go wrong did in the Broncos’ gutsy 24-16 loss to the Storm, their 13th loss in a row against Melbourne.
Brisbane lost Adam Reynolds to a head knock early, while they were on the wrong end of a number of confusing referee calls, most notably Patrick Carrigan’s sin-binning.
Reynolds will be missing for their blockbuster clash with the Panthers in Round 12, before a tough Origin period, with a number of Broncos stars expected to feature for the Blues and Maroons.
3. SHARKS
Last week’s rank: 4th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Sharks bounced back from their shock loss to the Dolphins to beat the Sea Eagles 20-14 and cement their top four spot.
Nicho Hynes and William Kennedy are driving the Sharks’ attack, but coach Craig Fitzgibbon would have been most pleased with his side’s improved defence against Manly.
The Sharks will be looking to show some consistency when they host the Knights in a crucial clash in Coffs Harbour in Indigenous Round.
2. PANTHERS
Last week’s rank: 3rd (up one spot)
Analysis: The Panthers have quietly chipped away this season, but they won’t be flying under the radar anymore after their ruthless 48-4 dismantling of the Roosters.
Jarome Luai answered his critics with his best performance of the season, while Scott Sorensen and Tyrone Peachey were also strong with classy doubles.
The Panthers have the best defence in the NRL and now that their attack is starting to click it has put the competition on notice ahead of their blockbuster clash with the Broncos in Indigenous Round.
1. RABBITOHS
Last week’s rank: 1st (no movement)
Analysis: It wasn’t their best performance, but the Rabbitohs were rarely challenged in their 20-0 win over the Tigers to cement top spot on the ladder and the power rankings.
The Rabbitohs have now won six games on the trot and Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook again had their finger prints all over the victory.
Only the Panthers have a better defensive record than the Rabbitohs this year and they will back themselves to make it seven straight wins against the Eels in Round 12.
