Worshipping false idols is a sin when it comes to Power Rankings and the Cronulla bubble burst in spectacular fashion at Penrith in Round 12. The Panthers are now back on top of these ranks even if the Sharks still hold a slight edge on the actual premiership ladder. Take your time, Nathan Cleary.
The three-time premiers have the rare luxury of being able to give the game’s best player another week or two once his hamstring has healed to be back in time for the final couple of months of the regular season before their shot at history – a fourpeat, is that a thing? The Connect Four? An Awesome Foursome? And there’s also a change at the bottom with South Sydney rising to the dizzying heights of 15th on the back of their victory over Parramatta. More League We now move into the trickiest part of the season – the seven-week stretch when State of Origin tears the competition asunder. Top teams can come back to the pack as the rep workload takes effect while the struggling side can make a run if they jag an upset or two but also consign themselves to a miserable existence in the second half of the season if they can’t get going over this stretch.
Team by team, here’s how the Power Rankings stack up after Round 12. 1 Panthers (last week 2): If they can knock off the first-placed team by 42 with Nathan Cleary out and Liam Martin only playing half the match, imagine how they’ll go at full strength. Tigers fans should be happy with what they saw from Jarome Luai on Saturd.
