Almanac Rugby League – NRL 2022 Round 7: Mind the gap!

 

 

 

It may not look like it when you peruse the NRL ladder but I fear that, already in mid-April, a gap is developing in the competition that suggests that there are only seven teams realistically in contention for the finals series and, probably even more worrying, only four with genuine premiership credentials.

 

Some might well say that that’s hardly any surprise given the strength of the top squads and the paucity of across-the-park talent among the also-rans. But wasn’t it only a month ago that the likes of Newcastle were being talked up, the Broncos seemed to have a new lease of life, the Raiders looked good on paper and the Titans were due to show their colours? Even the Cowboys had their backers. The harsh reality that is the weekly grind of the competition has soon exposed all of these, and those below them on the table, as ‘not-bloody-likelies’, at least on recent form. And which of them, if any, would you nominate as capable of turning around their season?

 

From where I sit, it looks like Penrith and Melbourne in Group A and likely Grand Finalists. The Sharks, Eels, Roosters and Rabbitohs (just, at this stage) comprise Group B and are likely finalists. Then the rest make up the numbers. Round 6 matches and form shown there merely confirmed my opinion, if we assume that the Tigers’ win was an aberration.

 

So what does Round 7 have to offer? More of the same as far as I can see. The only game with real potential is tonight when the Sharks host the Sea Eagles. DCE is running hot and Manly are doing well to cover the absence of Turbo at this stage. The Sharks are the big improvers this year but now have injury worries of their own to cope with. I like the style of the Sharks and they’re at home for this one but I’m not sure about their depth at this stage. I’ll stick with Manly.

 

Tomorrow night the Broncos and the Bulldogs engage in an effort to boost their sagging fortunes. Brisbane are good at times and will be happy to Haas back on board; the Bulldogs lack scoring weapons and poor Matt Burton must be wondering what he’s let himself in for by going to Belmore. But hats off to the veteran Josh Jackson who, even in his twilight years, is still a class player and never found wanting in his efforts. Brisbane by a nose.

 

On Saturday evening, the Cowboys take on the Titans in Townsville in a minor Queensland derby. Full marks to the Cows for their comeback last week but they were simply more enthusiastic than the Raiders when it mattered but the northerners were hardly convincing. The Titans remain an enigma – so capable but without the ticker to play out a whole game. The Tinosaur sets a good example but not enough are following. The Cowboys to hogtie the Titans. Then the Tigers play the Rabbitohs which should allow the Bunnies to continue to regain their best form after a slow start to the season. Damien Cook is back to his best, a prerequisite for Souths to ‘click’, and Cody Walker showed a bit more form and less frustration last time out.

 

On Sunday afternoon, the Knights host the Eels who seem to have more starch this year but had a poor, one-off day against the Tigers. I think that loss will refocus them and they’ll come out breathing fire. The Knights’ pack should be doing better given their personnel but, after a promising start, have fallen back in their output. Consequently their halves and capable outside backs, Bradman Best in particular, have neither time nor space to attack. The Eels for me. In the later game, the Panthers look likely to continue their unbeaten run when they host the declining Raiders who simply fell in an awful heap last week, yet again blowing a good lead.

 

The Dragons v Roosters Anzac Day match is usually worthy of the occasion but I can’t see that happening this year. Although the Roosters are not yet up to an 80-minute effort, they’re getting there while the Dragons had all the luck in the world and still only just beat the modest Knights. I fear the Roosters might run up a cricket score at the SCG. Finally, the Storm play the Warriors in Melbourne and you can only see one result here. The Munster is firing, Papenhuyzen is flying and whoever plays in the forwards gets the job done. Bellamy is a wizard!

 

So my winners this week are the Sea Eagles, Broncos, Cowboys, Rabbitohs, Eels, Panthers, Roosters and Storm.

 

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