Winners & Losers of the NRL at the Halfway Point

As we head into round 15 of the competition let’s take a look at some key teams who’ve greatly exceeded expectations or disappointed the fans.

5. Loser: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles – Clipped Wings

It’s hard to put the Sea Eagles on a losers list, but they’ve lost the key to their entire season in Tom Trbojevic. “Turbo” Tom had one of the most historic seasons in 2021, think Hayne 09 or Barba 12. While Manly didn’t make the Grand Final like the previous two player’s teams did, the signs were there for growth and improvement in 2022. Now they sit in the middle (9th) after 14 rounds with 7 wins and 7 losses not knowing where they’ll end up. Points against has been a big issue as the club is letting in 21 points per game which is currently good enough for 10th in the competition. No wins against current Top 8 teams are cause for concern as better teams will look to expose the loss of Turbo. Unless they can pick up the slack be competitive in big games it looks like Manly are headed for a finish outside the top 8.

5. Winner: Cronulla Sharks – We’re Goin’ Fishin’ Boys!

A new look side in 2022 the Sharks have shot out to an 8-5 record which has them sitting 5th on the ladder. New recruit Nicho Hynes has been carving up the competition with Dally M like numbers and New Coach Craig Fitzgibbon has adopted some changes that made the Roosters so successful in 2018-19. They play great up-tempo football, using their dominant forward pack to put sides on the backfoot. Wingers Mulitalo and Katoa have grabbed 10 tries a piece and are easily the two most athletic finishers in the league. The Sharks are primed and poised for a return to finals footy in 2022. The question is, how far can they go?

Loser: Newcastle Knights – Round Table Woes

2 straight wins to open up the season and the Knights were looking juicy. Then “Oh, Dear” they fell off a Cliff-ord. Winning only 2 of the next 11 games it’s been nothing but heartbreak and despair for Newcastle fans. They cannot use the ball effectively hallmarked by having the worst attack in the league at just over 12 points per game. Ponga and his troops are looking battered, bruised and tired out there. Even at home they’ve been awful conceding five 30+ scores and not showing a shred of defensive resilience. Injuries have played a part in the Knights early season dismay, but it’s not an excuse. The Newcastle fans expect and deserve better from a team that has played finals footy for the last two years.

Winner: Melbourne Storm – Late Showers Forecast

Melbourne is sitting in 2nd position heading into round 15, but it’s been a rough road to the top for this champion side. Injury bug has run rampant down south with Papenhuyzen, Welch, Asofa-Solomona, Hughes and Brandon Smith missing games throughout the first half of the season. Their struggles haven’t stopped there as on the field they’ve been uncharacteristic conceding the most penalties of any team in the league. Despite these setbacks though they’ve proven that the “next man up” mentality is working and with any luck carry them through the origin period. It’ll be interesting to see where they finish, but for now they’re winners in our books.

Loser: South Sydney Rabbitohs – Bad Hare Day

Sitting in 7th you might not expect to see the Rabbitohs on this list at the halfway point. Don’t get us wrong they’ve recovered well after starting the season 0-4, but their performances have left a lot to be desired. Cody Walker looks nothing like the player that notched up 33 try assists last year, often trying too hard or doing too much to try and get his team over the top. Zero wins against current top 8 sides this year has left Rabbitohs fans wondering if they’re even going to be competitive, come post-season. There’re two main issues with the Rabbitohs at present. One is their defensive play is downright sloppy at times conceding over 20 points per game. Secondly is the lack of direction in the middle. Life without Reynolds was always going to be a big adjustment, but the club is yet to live up to the lofty standards they always set and that’s why thus far they’ve been losers in 2022.

Winner: Penrith Panthers – Premiership 101

The Golden standard of the league, the Panthers have once again shown that they’re the team to beat. Boasting the best defence and attack in the league through 14 rounds, the Panthers have beaten down their opponent’s week after week. The quality of this side can be exemplified by the selection of 6 players in the NSW state of origin squad. Currently they’re favourites to win the premiership, it’s hard to see many sides putting a dent in this phenomenal team down the stretch.

Loser: Cantebury- Bankstown Bulldogs – Ruff Start

The busiest team in the off-season, the Dogs made several big-name signings to help them get off the bottom of the ladder. However, these signings haven’t helped the team through 14 rounds. Sporting a record of 3 wins, 11 losses the Dogs sit a miserable 15th on the competition ladder. For a club that hasn’t played finals since 2016 it’s got to be hard for fans to take. The team’s attack has been a problem for years, with an inability to score tries on a regular basis. A question mark still remains over most of the spine positions bar Burton at 6, as nobody knows who’ll be suiting up around him each week. Rudderless and now Coach-less the Dogs are already looking to 2023. Let’s hope additions of Kikau and Mahoney can make a difference to this proud club and get them back to the promised land.

Winner: Broncos – Runaway Rabbit

After a wooden spoon and 2 years of disappointment the Broncos appear to be on the rise again, having posted 9 wins from 13 games. Buy of the season Adam Reynolds took a leap of faith to join the team that managed 14th on the Ladder last year and what a turn around we have witnessed. The Broncos are showing clarity and resilience in areas that were non-existent in 2021. The attack is smooth and consistent with Reynolds at the helm and even with him missing a few games the younger players have stepped up carrying them to 2 straight wins. The addition of Te Maire Martin at Fullback has enhanced the backline link they’ve been missing in recent seasons. A young forward pack led by Pat Carrigan is taking it to some much bigger, more experienced packs and providing the opportunities to their outside men. The Broncs have a tough run home so hopefully they continue the good form and stay in the 8.

Loser: Gold Coast Titans – Teen Titans

Unlike true Titans, Gold Coast look like schoolboys out on the field. They’ve been a team synonymous with attack throughout their history, but in 2022 they can’t put the ball over the line. They lack a steady playmaker and steel in their defensive play, plus sweeping changes from week to week haven’t enabled them to build any kind of consistency. The underperforming big money players have become more of a problem than a solution. In 2021 they finished 8th and were almost victorious over the Roosters in Finals week 1. Now not even a year later they’re dwindling at the bottom of the ladder with not much hope in sight and a coach under enormous pressure to keep his spot. It’s such a shame as they were a welcomed addition to the finals last season. Gold Coast need to get their act together and salvage something from season 2022 or their fans might consider a switch to support the Dolphins in 2023.

Winner: North Quensland Cowboys – Yeehaw!!!

Sitting in 3rd position after 13 rounds it’s no secret that these Cowboys are a vast improvement from the team, we saw in 2021. Many punters had the Cowboys finishing near the bottom of the Ladder and needless to say by the halfway point, they’ve put the doubters to bed. Aided by some cheeky acquisitions like Townsend and Hiku, as well the emergence of the young talent in Dearden, Luki, Cotter, Taulagi and Nanai this roster is showing the potential to be great for years to come. The Biggest turn around has to be the defence, allowing an astonishing 12 points per game (2nd) compared to 31 points a game (16th) in 2021. We also can’t go past the Cowboys without mentioning the superior form of Scott Drinkwater. Scotty despite not starting in round 1 has lit up the NRL igniting a Cowboys attack that now smells blood in the water, putting on points in a flurry. The absolute surprise packets of the season have a way to go in 2022 but with form like this it looks like they’ll be back in the finals for the first time since 2017.