Aladinsane
New member
I have been thinking this for the last week or so ,and a piece in today's SMH , confirms my worse thoughts that…Even if our Wests Tigers go on another 7 or 8 game winning streak , with our current negative F/A I can't see the team making the Top 4.
Even a worse thought is that they will have to win 6 of the their last 8 games to make the 8, as it's going to maybe take 32 points just to get in the 8.
The last 3 games should have been all wins for the Wests Tigers , and it's going to hurt us come Leichhardt Time :bash ....Here's the article in today's SMH, who have us missing the 8....Your Thoughts??
Melbourne 42
Canterbury 40
Manly 38
Souths 38
Brisbane 36
Cronulla 33
Cowboys 30
Warriors 30
**Nine teams vying for eight spots just won't go**
Date July 13, 2012 …Glenn Jackson
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**WESTS TIGERS may have to beat the likely minor premiers, Melbourne, in the final round of the premiership to seal a place in the top eight.**
The Herald has run the rule over the final two months of the competition, and identified the round 26 clash between the current and pre-season premiership favourites as the match most likely to have a significant impact on the top eight on the final weekend. Melbourne might need to win to secure the minor premiership for the second straight season, while the Tigers may be relying on a victory to scrape into the finals.
**It appears that, the way the teams are progressing this season, the chase for top-eight spots is a race in nine. With 30 points being the current expected cut-off, the Tigers and Warriors are expected to be fighting it out for eighth spot**. Meanwhile Cronulla, who face an uncertain future without their skipper, Paul Gallen, are set for a slide out of the top four.
Approaching the final eight rounds, some interesting facts have emerged about this point of the season; only three times since 1998 have the top two teams after round 18 made the grand final, while all but three times a team in the top four at the end of round 18 has won the premiership. That makes a Melbourne-Canterbury grand final unlikely, while also suggesting that the teams currently out of the top four - Manly, South Sydney, North Queensland and the Warriors - will also have to buck history.
Advertisement Of course, the new finals system also seems geared towards the top four teams, making it arguably more important for teams this season to finish in the four after round 26.
A bolter has historically emerged over the years, but this season, options are slim; Canberra, St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters are the only sides outside that top nine who are realistic chances of sneaking into the finals. But it is likely that they would have to win at least six games.
Here is a rundown on how the contenders are shaping up:
**Melbourne**
To play: Cowboys, Eels, Dragons, Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Tigers
The minor premiership is theirs to lose, despite the Bulldogs' recent surge. The Storm have lost three of their past four matches, but will have fullback Billy Slater back in their side in the run home, and are too good a squad to turn this stumble into a fall.
**Canterbury**
To play: Eels, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Knights, Broncos, Tigers, Raiders, Roosters
Also tipped to win seven of their last eight matches, leaving them outright second. They have five home games to finish the season, while out of their three remaining away games, two are against teams in the bottom half of the table.
**Cronulla**
To play: Dragons, Raiders, Panthers, Warriors, Knights, Rabbitohs, Storm, Cowboys
Are they overachievers right now? We're about to find out. If Paul Gallen is back quickly from his abdominal tear, they might prove the crystal ball wrong, but they have a tough draw. Their game against St George Illawarra on Sunday could be season-defining.
**Brisbane**
To play: Warriors, Titans, Eels, Raiders, Bulldogs, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers
Always a danger, but it's still unknown how they will respond after having a high representation in State of Origin. They have stalled over the last month; can they kick again, without Darren Lockyer to guide them, over the final two?
**Manly**
To play: Knights, Bulldogs, Warriors, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Knights, Broncos, Titans
On top of their four remaining home matches, they have the luxury of playing South Sydney away at Gosford, while the only other away match against a current top-eight team is a clash with the seventh-placed North Queensland. It's difficult to see them faltering.
**South Sydney**
To play: Roosters, Dragons, Tigers, Titans, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Eels, Knights
They go into the final two months in form, with most of their squad fit, and with arguably the most comfortable draw of all the top-eight teams. It's how they handle it.
**North Queensland**
To play: Storm, Tigers, Bulldogs, Manly, Warriors, Dragons, Knights, Sharks
The next five rounds are about as hard as it gets out of all the finals aspirants. How they perform then is likely to make or break their season.
**Warriors**
To play: Broncos, Knights, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Cowboys, Panthers, Dragons, Raiders
In good form, and when given a sniff at this time of year, the Auckland-based side is always difficult to keep out.
**Wests Tigers**
To play: Panthers, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons, Bulldogs, Roosters, Storm
On their day can match anyone. But the question remains; who misses out to allow them in?
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nine-teams-vying-for-eight-spots-just-wont-go-20120712-21yy7.html#ixzz20RQjzWab
Even a worse thought is that they will have to win 6 of the their last 8 games to make the 8, as it's going to maybe take 32 points just to get in the 8.
The last 3 games should have been all wins for the Wests Tigers , and it's going to hurt us come Leichhardt Time :bash ....Here's the article in today's SMH, who have us missing the 8....Your Thoughts??
Melbourne 42
Canterbury 40
Manly 38
Souths 38
Brisbane 36
Cronulla 33
Cowboys 30
Warriors 30
**Nine teams vying for eight spots just won't go**
Date July 13, 2012 …Glenn Jackson
\
\
**WESTS TIGERS may have to beat the likely minor premiers, Melbourne, in the final round of the premiership to seal a place in the top eight.**
The Herald has run the rule over the final two months of the competition, and identified the round 26 clash between the current and pre-season premiership favourites as the match most likely to have a significant impact on the top eight on the final weekend. Melbourne might need to win to secure the minor premiership for the second straight season, while the Tigers may be relying on a victory to scrape into the finals.
**It appears that, the way the teams are progressing this season, the chase for top-eight spots is a race in nine. With 30 points being the current expected cut-off, the Tigers and Warriors are expected to be fighting it out for eighth spot**. Meanwhile Cronulla, who face an uncertain future without their skipper, Paul Gallen, are set for a slide out of the top four.
Approaching the final eight rounds, some interesting facts have emerged about this point of the season; only three times since 1998 have the top two teams after round 18 made the grand final, while all but three times a team in the top four at the end of round 18 has won the premiership. That makes a Melbourne-Canterbury grand final unlikely, while also suggesting that the teams currently out of the top four - Manly, South Sydney, North Queensland and the Warriors - will also have to buck history.
Advertisement Of course, the new finals system also seems geared towards the top four teams, making it arguably more important for teams this season to finish in the four after round 26.
A bolter has historically emerged over the years, but this season, options are slim; Canberra, St George Illawarra and Sydney Roosters are the only sides outside that top nine who are realistic chances of sneaking into the finals. But it is likely that they would have to win at least six games.
Here is a rundown on how the contenders are shaping up:
**Melbourne**
To play: Cowboys, Eels, Dragons, Panthers, Titans, Broncos, Sharks, Tigers
The minor premiership is theirs to lose, despite the Bulldogs' recent surge. The Storm have lost three of their past four matches, but will have fullback Billy Slater back in their side in the run home, and are too good a squad to turn this stumble into a fall.
**Canterbury**
To play: Eels, Sea Eagles, Cowboys, Knights, Broncos, Tigers, Raiders, Roosters
Also tipped to win seven of their last eight matches, leaving them outright second. They have five home games to finish the season, while out of their three remaining away games, two are against teams in the bottom half of the table.
**Cronulla**
To play: Dragons, Raiders, Panthers, Warriors, Knights, Rabbitohs, Storm, Cowboys
Are they overachievers right now? We're about to find out. If Paul Gallen is back quickly from his abdominal tear, they might prove the crystal ball wrong, but they have a tough draw. Their game against St George Illawarra on Sunday could be season-defining.
**Brisbane**
To play: Warriors, Titans, Eels, Raiders, Bulldogs, Storm, Sea Eagles, Panthers
Always a danger, but it's still unknown how they will respond after having a high representation in State of Origin. They have stalled over the last month; can they kick again, without Darren Lockyer to guide them, over the final two?
**Manly**
To play: Knights, Bulldogs, Warriors, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Knights, Broncos, Titans
On top of their four remaining home matches, they have the luxury of playing South Sydney away at Gosford, while the only other away match against a current top-eight team is a clash with the seventh-placed North Queensland. It's difficult to see them faltering.
**South Sydney**
To play: Roosters, Dragons, Tigers, Titans, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Eels, Knights
They go into the final two months in form, with most of their squad fit, and with arguably the most comfortable draw of all the top-eight teams. It's how they handle it.
**North Queensland**
To play: Storm, Tigers, Bulldogs, Manly, Warriors, Dragons, Knights, Sharks
The next five rounds are about as hard as it gets out of all the finals aspirants. How they perform then is likely to make or break their season.
**Warriors**
To play: Broncos, Knights, Sea Eagles, Sharks, Cowboys, Panthers, Dragons, Raiders
In good form, and when given a sniff at this time of year, the Auckland-based side is always difficult to keep out.
**Wests Tigers**
To play: Panthers, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Dragons, Bulldogs, Roosters, Storm
On their day can match anyone. But the question remains; who misses out to allow them in?
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Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/nine-teams-vying-for-eight-spots-just-wont-go-20120712-21yy7.html#ixzz20RQjzWab
