The Sharks are starting to hit their straps after back-to-back wins, while the Rabbitohs are proving they could be the real deal after breaking their drought against the Panthers.
Meanwhile, the Knights were brave in Kalyn Ponga’s return, but need to start icing close games or risk sliding further.
Read on for the NRL Power Rankings after Round 8.
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17. WESTS TIGERS
Last week’s rank: 17th (no movement)
Analysis: The Tigers are getting agonisingly close to their first win of the season after blowing a late lead in their 22-16 loss to the Sea Eagles.
There were plenty of positives with Jahream Bula impressing on debut at fullback and Api Koroisau putting in his best game in Tigers colours.
However, the fall-out from five-eighth Brandon Wakeham’s sledging match with Samuela Fainu and altercation with Josh Aloiai again took the focus off a much improved display and it doesn’t get any easier against the Panthers next up.
16. TITANS
Last week’s rank: 13th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Titans produced their best half of football for the season to lead 26-0, but followed it up with their worst to go down 28-26 in a confounding loss.
The three towers Moe Fotuaika, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and David Fifita are doing their jobs every week, but the rest of the Titans pack and edge defenders need to step up if they are too fix their horror defence, which is one of the worst in the NRL.
AJ Brimson made a successful return, but the downside was Jayden Campbell was wasted on the bench and the Titans need both firing if they are to upset the Sea Eagles in Round 9.
15. BULLDOGS
Last week’s rank: 16th (up one spot)
Analysis: The undermanned Bulldogs were brave minus a plethora of their stars, but ultimately their injured contingent created too much of a gulf in class in their 33-20 loss to the Sharks.
The jury is still out on Matt Burton’s switch to halfback and Kyle Flanagan is clearly not a five-eighth, so it might be time to blood young gun Karl Oloapu.
The Bulldogs will be desperate to avoid a fourth straight defeat when they clash with the equally desperate Dragons in Round 9.
14. DRAGONS
Last week’s rank: 15th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Dragons showed plenty of fight to come back from 26-8 to go down to the Roosters 27-26 in an ANZAC epic, but ultimately they were made to pay for their slow start.
Tyrell Sloan came of age in a brilliant second half performance to prove he can be a genuine superstar in the NRL.
However, another loss will only add to the pressure on coach Anthony Griffin and there will be no excuses if they can’t beat the injury-hit Bulldogs at home on Sunday.
13. COWBOYS
Last week’s rank: 15th (up two spots)
Analysis: It was ugly and they only just scraped home, but the Cowboys will be hoping their 18-16 win over the Knights can be the catalyst to turn around their lagging season.
Valentine Holmes took it upon himself to put the team on his back in a superb display, while Scott Drinkwater had his best game since returning from suspension.
However, the Cowboys still need more form their halves Tom Dearden and Chad Townsend if they want to make it back-to-back wins when they face an in form Sharks side on Thursday night.
12. EELS
Last week’s rank: 12th (no movement)
Analysis: The Eels were good in patches, but still gave the Broncos far too big a headstart in their 26-16 loss that came at a cost with a long-term injury to Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
The Eels pack was just starting to look back to its formidable best before Campbell-Gillard’s injury, while there are still awkward issues with their dummyhalf duo of Josh Hodgson and Ben Hands in attack.
Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses can’t seem to fire in the same game at the moment and the onus is on the big money duo turning this season around for the Eels starting with a clash against the Knights on Friday night.
11. RAIDERS
Last week’s rank: 10th (down one spot)
Analysis: The Raiders had the bye in Round 8 and all eyes were on star playmaker Jack Wighton as he was courted by the Dolphins and the Rabbitohs.
Wighton’s decision to leave the Raiders for Souths will leave a massive hole in their side and possibly lead to a rebuild at the club next season.
But more pressing for the Raiders, they need to beat the Dolphins, Bulldogs and Eels in the next three weeks if they want to be a realistic chance of playing finals this season.
10. KNIGHTS
Last week’s rank: 7th (down three spots)
Analysis: The Knights were brave again for the second week in a row, but ultimately failed to ice the game in their 18-16 loss to the Cowboys.
On a bright note Kalyn Ponga looked solid in his return from concussion, but there are awkward issues with the rest of the spine after Lachie Miller and Tyson Gamble were not at their best and Adam O’Brien needs to work out his best combinations.
The Knights are showing plenty of grit and fight in 2023, but O’Brien admitted that isn’t enough and they need to be more clinical and ruthless to convert tight losses into wins, starting with a clash with the Eels in Round 9.
9. DOLPHINS
Last week’s rank: 9th (no movement)
Analysis: The Dolphins keep surprising everybody in their inaugural season after they followed up their worst half of football for the year with a record comeback in their 28-26 win over the Titans.
Robert Jennings overcame a couple of bizarre blunders to score a crucial double, while Euan Aitken scored the match winner in his best game of the season and Jarrod Wallace was immense off the bench.
The Dolphins can cement their spot in the top eight with a second win over the Raiders this season in Round 9 and they should get some troops back on deck in the coming weeks.
8. ROOSTERS
Last week’s rank: 8th (no movement)
Analysis: The Roosters did it the hard way in the end, but ultimately their class players stood up when it mattered in their 27-26 win over the Dragons.
The Luke Keary and Joey Manu halves pairing is still a work in progress, but both stepped up with a try each and the match winning field goal to the halfback.
The Roosters have not been convincing or consistent this season and they need to beat an injury-hit Warriors next up if they want to be a genuine top four team this year.
7. SEA EAGLES
Last week’s rank: 11th (up four spots)
Analysis: It wasn’t pretty but the Sea Eagles found a way to get the job done in their 22-16 win over the Tigers to cement their spot in the top four.
Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu continued their hot form, while Jason Saab showed signs he is getting back to his best after a long-term injury.
However, an injury to Tom Trbojevic is a concern for the club and they face a hungry Titans side still burning from letting a 26-0 lead slip against the Dolphins, when Kieran Foran returns to Brookvale.
6. WARRIORS
Last week’s rank: 4th (down two spots)
Analysis: They may have gone down to the Storm 30-22, but the Warriors proved there is a new steel to them after leading for most of the match in difficult circumstances.
The Warriors were reduced to zero players on their bench for a large chunk of the second half and the Storm came home to pip them in a thriller.
Addin Fonua-Blake was awesome for the Warriors, but they face a tough ask against the Roosters next week with a number of players racing the clock to overcome injuries.
5. SHARKS
Last week’s rank: 6th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Sharks left a few tries out on the field most notably from a Ronaldo Mulitalo clanger, but they still beat the Bulldogs convincingly 33-20.
Nicho Hynes continued his brilliant run of form, while William Kennedy repaid the club’s faith in re-signing him with a classy hat-trick.
The Sharks are still finding themselves drifting in and out of games, but if they can put it all together against the Cowboys at home in Round 9 that will mark three straight wins as they hunt a top four spot.
4. STORM
Last week’s rank: 5th (up one spot)
Analysis: The Storm started slowly, but ultimately their class players proved too much for an injury-hit Warriors side in a 30-22 ANZAC Day win.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona was the difference between the two sides after an inspired performance off the bench, while Nick Meaney put in a man-of-the-match display.
Still the Warriors led for most of the match and the Storm will have to be a lot better to beat the Rabbitohs in Magic Round after the bye.
3. PANTHERS
Last week’s rank: 2nd (down one spot)
Analysis: The Panthers put themselves in the box seat to continue their dominance over the Rabbitohs before blowing a lead late to go down 20-18, but Stephen Crichton was superb scoring every point for Penrith.
Penrith are down on troops especially in the forwards, but it is up to Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai and Dylan Edwards to step up until James Fisher-Harris and Liam Martin return.
The Panthers have now lost tight ones to the Broncos, Eels and Rabbitohs this season and need to start turning their tight losses into wins, but they are odds on to get back in the winner’s circle against the Tigers on Saturday night.
2. RABBITOHS
Last week’s rank: 3rd (up one spot)
Analysis: The Rabbitohs found every way to lose the game against the Panthers, before eventually pulling a stunning victory out of a near certain loss in a 20-18 thriller.
This was a win Souths needed to have to prove to themselves they can beat Penrith after a losing 10 of their last 11 in the fixture and their big guns Cody Walker, Latrell Mitchell and Damien Cook stood up.
All the talk is around Jack Wighton turning them into a premiership winning team, but they may win one before he gets to the club if they keep up their current form trajectory in 2023.
1. BRONCOS
Last week’s rank: 1st (no movement)
Analysis: It was not their most clinical display this season, but the Broncos were rarely threatened in their 26-16 win over the Eels to cement top spot on the power rankings.
Adam Reynolds is at the peak of his powers and guiding the team around with ease ahead of his grudge match with Souths, while Hebie Farnworth and Kotoni Staggs are looking like the most dangerous centre pairing in the game.
The Broncos’ depth will be tested without the suspended Payne Haas for their blockbuster clash with the Rabbitohs which could prove a real danger game at home.
