Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart: Round 24

And so it has come to this. Nine teams. Eight spots. Who will make it? And which teams will finish where? Tough questions, but happily, Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart has the answers.

Crikey

Aug 31, 2007

And so it has come to this. Nine teams. Eight spots. Who will make it? And which teams will finish where? Tough questions, but happily, Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart has the answers.

Based on the form, here’s how the first week of the NRL finals will shape up:

Melbourne to host the Eels
Three weeks ago, Parramatta looked a certainty to finish top 4. Now, Crikey’s Hot Form Chart has them taking on the toughest away trip in the competition. And this is not even the worst case scenario for the Eels who could miss out on finals altogether should they lose to Brisbane and the Tigers belt the bejesus out of the Knights.

Manly to host the Bulldogs
The Sea Eagles have now lost two in a row, and while some stars were absent against the Warriors, momentum is still a precious commodity heading into a finals series. Fortunately for Manly, the Form Chart is tipping the Bulldogs to be without any momentum either after they lose to the Cowboys this week and slip to 7th on the NRL ladder.

Cowboys to host Brisbane
There’s about 1300 kilometres in between Townsville and Brisbane but that won’t stop this meeting being the hottest local derby of the finals series. If the Broncos defeat Parramatta this weekend, they could find themselves in the tropics, and Queensland will have at least one team going deep into September.

Warriors to host Souths
The Rabbitohs have made a furious dash for the finals and could finish anywhere from fourth to ninth depending on this weekend’s results. Crikey’s Hot Form Chart has them charging into fifth which will probably mean a trip across the ditch. Of course, if Penrith upset the Warriors, Souths can still grab a home ground finals advantage.

The floater: Wests Tigers
The Tigers can do themselves a big favour on Friday night by walloping likely wooden spooners, the Knights. Then all they need is for west-side rivals, Parramatta, to come to their rescue and belt the Broncs; or for Souths to get soundly done by the boys from Bondi. Unfortunately, Tigers fans, neither result is on Crikey’s cards.

Form over last 5 weeks	Team	Last week’s form rating	NRL ladder position	Sequence
1	Melbourne	2	1	L-W-W-W-W
2	Rabbitohs	4	7	W-L-W-W-W
3	Cowboys	5	3	L-W-W-W-W
4	Warriors	6	4	W-D-W-L-W
5	Manly	1	2	W-W-W-L-L
6	Bulldogs	3	5	W-L-W-W-L
7	Penrith	11	15	L-W-L-W-W
8	Roosters	7	11	W-D-W-L-L
9	Dragons	9	13	L-W-L-L-W
10	Canberra	10	14	W-L-L-W-L
11	Tigers	12	9	W-L-L-W-L
12	Titans	13	10	L-W-L-W-L
13	Brisbane	14	8	W-L-L-L-W
14	Cronulla	15	12	L-L-W-L-W
15	Parramatta	8	6	L-W-L-L-L
16	Newcastle	16	16	L-L-L-L-L