Last weekend marked the first big milestone of the NRL season. By the end of Round 10, it is a 65 per cent chance that the season’s eventual premier is already in the top four.
The stats from all seasons after 1998 further tells us that 85 per cent of the time they are already in the top eight.
By this stage last year, seven of the final top eight were already in the eight. Only the Titans forced their way in afterwards.
So the chances are high that the premier will be either the Storm, Sharks, Roosters or Broncos.
Conversely, there are a few sides that were talked about as potential premiers in February that statistically now have bugger all chance just two and a half months into the season.
Following their great finishes to the 2016 season, the Raiders and Panthers were touted as red hot chances to lift the silverware on the first weekend in October. Both are now very much rated as outsiders.
There was also a fair bit of talk that Kieran Foran joining the Warriors – along with Stephen Kearney taking the helm – would see them finally achieve their massive potential.
They haven’t. They are as disappointing and inconsistent as ever.
So what has gone wrong? And is the dream really over for each of these clubs in 2017?
Let’s take a look.
The New Zealand WarriorsMore:
http://feeds.theroar.com.au/~r/theroar/rugby-league/~3/Dfb3jf5W5OM/
Topic: Contenders to pretenders: The Warriors, Panthers, and Raiders assessed
