LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
As the NRL season approaches its climax with five weeks remaining, the landscape of the finals remains unpredictable following a series of stunning upsets in Round 22. The recent outcomes have muddied the waters as teams jostle for a favorable position ahead of Round 23.
Key surprises included the New Zealand Warriors' defeat by the Dolphins, the Canberra Raiders losing to the St George Illawarra Dragons, and the Wests Tigers stumbling against the Canterbury Bulldogs. These results have significant implications for the final ladder as teams scramble to secure their spots.
The setbacks for the Raiders and Bulldogs have effectively neutralized the Melbourne Storm's earlier loss to the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 20, returning the top three teams to their original standings at the start of this series with eight rounds left.
However, the Warriors' second consecutive defeat has cost them their place in the top four in the projected end-of-season rankings, allowing the Penrith Panthers to move ahead and now expect to secure a double chance when finals time arrives.
Meanwhile, the Sydney Roosters maintained their position in the top eight by defeating the Manly Sea Eagles, while the Titans continue to be pegged as the likely wooden spooners.
Despite the chaos, the current predictions for the remainder of the season remain intact, although there are growing considerations to re-evaluate certain matchups involving the Storm, now without Jahrome Hughes, and assessing the Bulldogs and Warriors given their recent performances. Ultimately, the expectation is that the Warriors will manage to win three of their last five matches.