Rugby League Rankings

ROUND 022008

With Round 2 of the 2008 NRL Season in the record books – we have seen the reigning premiers beaten at home for the first time since 2006 and two teams who finished in the Final Four last year have yet to register a victory. Last year’s also-rans the Knights, Tigers and Sharks are undefeated and are joined at the top of the ladder by the Broncos – the only finalist from last year with a perfect record.

But onto the Power Rankings for Round 2 – reflecting how a team is travelling based on current form, recent opposition and a host of intangible factors that make a difference. Simply put, Rugby League Rankings rank your team where they belong alongside the other 15 teams each week, even if the competition ladder suggests otherwise.

Round 2, 2008 – Rugby League Rankings

1. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (Last Week: 3 Difference: UP 2)
2008 Record: 2-0-0 Streak: Won 2 Last Round: Won 17-16 v Storm (A)
When the NRL draw was released at the end of last year Ricky Stuart would have been happy if his team could have won one of their opening two games against last year’s Grand Finalists. Greg Bird and Paul Gallen have been huge on either side of the ball for the Sharks and Brett Kimmorley is doing his job directing the team around like the seasoned halfback he is. Now the Sharks have gone to Brookvale Oval and Olympic Park and registered impressive victories to push themselves to the top of the Power Rankings after just two weeks of competition.
Next Week: v Titans at Skilled Park: Cronulla have won both their games with a swarming defence and outstanding performances from their best two players – Paul Gallen and Greg Bird. The Titans have the star power to match those two but given how the team laboured in the wet against the Dragons, the Sharks have the edge in momentum.
Next Four: @ Titans, @ Dragons, @ Rabbitohs, v Panthers.

2. Brisbane Broncos (Last Week: 5 Difference: UP 3)
2008 Record: 2-0-0 Streak: Won 2 Last Round: Won 20-14 v Roosters (A)
Peter Wallace may have got the accolades in the win over the Roosters but Justin Hodges was the backbone of the team’s 20-14 victory. Continually finding metres from dummy half when the Roosters knew he was going to run gave the likes of Wallace and Darren Lockyer the field position to keep the pressure on the home team all night. Tonie Carroll’s try from a set move was a beautiful thing to watch, while Lockyer was relatively quiet in his second game back from knee surgery.
Next Week: v Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium: Brisbane should enter this game as strong favourites given they are 2-0 and playing great football even with Lockyer not back to his best. The Cowboys can’t tackle and have Matt Bowen struggling with injury which is nullifying his combination with Thurston. Broncos look good things but this is the Cowboys who could be 80 minutes from being relabeled premiership contenders if they turn it all around at Suncorp.
Next Four: v Cowboys, @ Storm, @ Knights, @ Titans. Read the rest of this entry »

Round 1 of the 2008 NRL Season has been played out and two things remain constant from last year.

Firstly – Melbourne look like they can play in 3rd gear and still beat a good side and secondly – the Panthers have a good looking team on paper but play some ordinary football once they take the field. Of course in Round 1 there are upsets from a bookies point of view and the Sharks victory over Manly at Brookvale was the standout result.

But onto the Power Rankings for Round 1 – reflecting how a team is travelling based on current form, recent opposition and a host of intangible factors that would take far too long to explain. Simply put, Rugby League Rankings puts your team where they belong alongside the other 15 teams each week even if the competition ladder begs to differ (and it will once the completely futile two points for a Bye kicks in come Round 7).

Round 1, 2008 – Rugby League Rankings

1. Melbourne Storm (Last Week: n/a)
2008 Record: 1-0-0 Streak: Won 1 Last Round: Won 32-18 v Warriors (H)
Were good but nowhere near great against the Warriors in their home opener on Monday Night. Billy Slater’s first half hat-trick was impressive but it was Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk’s class steering the team around the park that saw Melbourne hold off the gallant Warriors. Sadly the team resorted to stalling tactics before the first and second half to gain an advantage over the Warriors – and now face a $10,000 fine as a result.
Next Week: v Sharks at Olympic Park: Cronulla will be looking to knock off both of last year’s Grand Finalists in consecutive weeks while the Storm need to focus on getting on the field on time first and winning the game second.
Next Four: v Sharks, @ Roosters, v Broncos, v Sea Eagles.

2. Gold Coast Titans (Last Week: n/a)
2008 Record: 1-0-0 Streak: Won 1 Last Round: Won 36-18 v Cowboys (H)
Scott Prince out played Johnathan Thurston comprehensively on Friday Night even though the reigning Dally M Winner scored two tries. Prince directed the Titans around the park brilliantly and made a fairly non-descript three-quarter line look dangerous. Jordan Atkins was on the receiving end of this service and simply did his job as a winger in a strong debut. With Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi excelling up front the Titans will ride Prince as far as he takes them.
Next Week: v Dragons at WIN Stadium: The Gold Coast won the corresponding fixture at WIN last year and enter the game with momentum following their comprehensive victory over the Cowboys, while the Dragons need a drastic turnaround in form and attitude to make any sort of stand at home.
Next Four: @ Dragons, v Sharks, v Raiders, @ Eels. Read the rest of this entry »

Nicolson Sports Consultancy’s 2008 NRL Season Preview for Radio 2GB’s website – http://www.rugbyleaguelive.com/ can be located here at http://rugbyleaguelive.com.au/News.aspx?ns=news&nk=44.

All 16 NRL sides are comprehensively covered and ranked with the internet’s most objective analysis, resulting in the web’s best NRL preview for 2008.

Just click on your team’s logo to go directly to their Preview and find out where NSC ranks your team for Rugby League’s Centenary Season 2008.