How final round shapes for NRL contenders
BEST AND WORST FINISHES FOR THE NRL FINALS CONTENDERS:
1. PENRITH (42 POINTS, +336) v Cowboys (away). Best: 1st. Worst: 1st
Have had the minor premiership wrapped up for weeks and will likely rest most of their side for the trip to Townsville and a match that means little to them.
2. CRONULLA (36, +187) v Knights (a). Best: 2nd. Worst: 3rd
The equation is simple. A win against Newcastle will guarantee a home final at PointsBet Stadium. Second spot would also be guaranteed if North Queensland lose earlier in the weekend.
3. NORTH QUEENSLAND (34, +242) v Panthers (h). Best: 2nd. Worst: 4th
Must beat Penrith on Friday night and hope Cronulla lose to Newcastle to claim second spot and a home final against the Sharks. A loss would leave them at risk of dropping to fourth if Melbourne are victorious.
4. MELBOURNE (32, +255) v Eels (a). Best: 3rd. Worst: 6th
Need to overcome the resurgent Eels to wrap up fourth spot and could yet secure third if they win and the Cowboys lose to Penrith. If they lose they would drop to fifth but could also slump to sixth providing the winner of the Roosters v Rabbitohs game enjoys 64-point and 115-point swing respectively.
5. PARRAMATTA (32, +111) v Storm (h). Best: 3rd. Worst: 6th
Will fancy their chances of claiming fourth with a home game to finish the season but would need a huge swing of points and results to go their way to finish third. If they lose they risk dropping to sixth spot given the superior for-and-against enjoyed by Souths and the Roosters.
6. SYDNEY ROOSTERS (30, +191) v Rabbitohs (h). Best: 5th. Worst: 8th
Fifth spot beckons for the Roosters if they can open the new Sydney Football Stadium with a win over Souths and Melbourne down the Eels. Mathematically a chance to fall to eighth although that is unlikely.
7. SOUTH SYDNEY (30, +140) v Roosters (a). Best: 5th. Worst: 8th
Could move up to fifth providing they beat the Roosters and Parramatta lose to Melbourne. Like the Roosters they could end up in eighth spot but that depends on some incredible point swings.
8. CANBERRA (28, +17) v Tigers (a). Best: 7th. Worst: 9th
The 43-point buffer is key in the Raiders' quest to pip the Broncos to eighth spot. Canberra have to win and hope Brisbane don't overcome that points obstacle. Could yet finish seventh but would require several records to be broken.
8. BRISBANE (28, -26) v Dragons (a). Best: 8th. Worst: 9th
Must beat the Dragons away and hope they can make up enough ground on the Raiders on for-and-against should Canberra overcome the Tigers.
