FINALS RACE HOTTING UP

FINALS HOPES: Corey Oates and the Broncos are in the finals mix while the Panthers are hanging on by their fingernails. guaranteed. However, two wins from their final three should keep them in third place.

4 SEA EAGLES

Run home: Rd 23 v Raiders (A), Rd 24 v Storm (H), Rd 25 v Eels (A) Analysis: v Sea Eagles (H)

Analysis: Last year’s wooden spooners will play finals football in 2019, now it’s time to see how high they can finish.

If Parramatta keep going they could go from fourth in 2017, to last in 2018, and back to fourth in 2019.

The Eels’ four straight wins is the second longest current streak behind the Roosters (five) ahead of Thursday’s danger game against bitter rivals Canterbury, who have already tripped up Penrith’s finals charge and dented Souths’ top-four hopes.

The Bulldogs would love nothing more than to burst the Eels’ bubble.

6 RABBITOHS

Run home: Rd 23 v Broncos (A), Rd 24 v Warriors (A), Rd 25 v Roosters (H)

Analysis: Wayne Bennett is right: Souths’ slide is bordering on terminal. A three-match losing run and matches against Anthony Seibold’s top-eight chasing Brisbane (away), New Zealand (away) and the Roosters (home) means the Rabbitohs could head into the finals having lost five of their last six games.

Injuries to Sam Burgess and the luckless Braidon Burns are further blows and even if Souths can turn around their form, a top-four finish could hinge on the outcome of the Round 25 Parramatta-Manly clash.

7 SHARKS

Run home: Rd 23 v Warriors (H), Rd 24 v Raiders (H), Rd 25 v Wests Tigers (A)

Analysis: Back in the eight but can still miss the finals, even if they win two of their last three games.

The Round 24 blockbuster against Canberra at home will be pivotal, as will the fortunes of Brisbane, Penrith and Newcastle, the latter of whom face off in Round 25.

With matches against New Zealand (home), Canberra (away) and Wests (away), the Sharks are in control of their own destiny but can’t afford a slip-up.

8 BRONCOS

Run home: Rd 23 v Rabbitohs (H), Rd 24 v Eels (H), Rd 25 v Bulldogs (A)

Analysis: That Round 17 draw with New Zealand literally gives the Broncos a crucial point of difference. They can win two of their last three games, finish on 27 points and it will likely be enough for them to qualify for the finals.

Anthony Seibold hosts Wayne Bennett’s Bunnies at an opportune time — in a form slump and facing key injuries. If they don’t win that grudge match, the Round 24 home clash with Parramatta will decide their fate before finishing off the season away to Canterbury.

9 KNIGHTS

Run home: Rd 23 v Wests Tigers (A), Rd 24 v Titans (H), Rd 25 v Panthers (A)

Analysis: When was the last time a team had losing streaks of five and six games respectively in the same season, finished with 26 competition points and still made the finals?

Newcastle could do it with games against Wests, Gold Coast and a last-round clash with Penrith that could decide the eight. Although their positive points differential is a bonus, they would be relying heavily on other results, hoping Brisbane and Cronulla drop games.

10 PANTHERS

Run home: Rd 23 v Cowboys (A), Rd 24 v Roosters (A), Rd 25 v Knights (H)

Analysis: A disappointing loss to top-eight rival Brisbane, a horrible points differential and still needing to play the Roosters. Stuck in a log jam of teams, if the Panthers can roll the Cowboys in Townsville this week it’s back home for a monumental challenge against the Roosters before a potentially finals-deciding battle with Newcastle at Panthers Stadium. Penrith will be hoping other results (Brisbane and Cronulla both losing) go their way in the mean time.

11 TIGERS

Run home: Rd 23 v Knights (H), Rd 24 v Dragons (A), Rd 25 v Sharks (H)

Analysis: Have left them in the finals running because a) ‘mathematically’ they can still make it on 26 points, pending other results, and b) Tigers fans need some positivity given how their season has fallen away.

Even if they beat Newcastle (home), St George Illawarra (away) and Cronulla (home), their horrendous points differential remains a big problem.

This week we say goodbye to: 12 New Zealand. Once were, and always shall be, Warriors. Strong on paper, paper thin on the paddock.

Already gone: 13 Canterbury, 14 St George Illawarra, 15 North Queensland, 16 Gold Coast Titans.