Any of the top 6 are a chance but realistically you think results will go:
50 - Wests - GPS (W), Bye, Norths (W), Souths (W) - probably finish on 65 assuming they pick up bonus points in 3/3 games
Knowing they have the bye the following round, Wests will go all out to beat GPS at home this weekend to reverse last year's semi final loss at the same venue. They can then recuperate and practise their finals moves in the last two round games against Norths & Souths. They just look like a team on the rise that will take their chances when it matters. Depth, strike and fitness this year. Big big chance.
46 - Brothers - Bye, Easts (W), Bond (W), Sunnybank (W) - finish on 60 with bonus points from 2/3 games
Hiccough last week against Uni. But plenty of quality troops back. And the rest this week will have them geared to win their last three. Unfortunately it may not be enough to finish in the top 2 if UQ form continues. Always a chance but looked a level below Uni. Or were we watching the Grand Finalists? I am not sure. The filth pedigree is to be in the big one and they will be do everything in their power to be there. Look out !!
43 - Uni - Easts (W), Bond (W), Sunnybank (W), GPS (W) - finish on 62 points with bonus points from 3/4 games
Always a danger once the September air starts approaching. Great finals preparation v GPS in the last round of the season but the physicality of that battle (depending on the stakes) could be Uni's downfall. Not the depth of previous years and a question mark on the players they have back and their ability to gel quickly. Cannot write them off but I am not sure this is their year. Having said that, the quality and speed of the game v Brothers was first rate. Their coaching is probably best in QRU and how many GFs have they played in the last 10 years? It is 7.
42 - GPS - Wests (L), Norths (W), Souths (W), Uni (L) - finish on 52 points with bonus points from 2/4 games
Not a big accumulator of bonus points and lost 5 points for an administrative mistake, which would otherwise see them on 47 points. It is fair to say that 4 or 5 of their backs would not have been in the first XV selected at the start of the year. Not sure on who they might get back from injury but comfortably have the second best 'For & Against' to Wests who they play this week. Three out of last four games at home gives them a chance to finish the table in the top 2, because not sure they can win it from 4th.
40 - Easts - UQ (L), Brothers (L), Bye, Bond (L) - finish on 41 points with a bonus point from 1/3 games
Have probably left their run too late and cannot see them beating UQ and Brothers at this time of the year. Close losses to GPS and Norths probably cruelled their season but they DID beat Wests 2 weeks ago, so they will have belief. Too inconsistent for mine. They will know by their Bye round that Mad Monday is a coming.
38 - Bond - Souths (W), UQ (L), Brothers (L), Easts (W) - finish on 48 points with bonus point from 2/4 games
Surprising they are running 6th given they have beaten GPS and Brothers this season. But one win less than UQ is 3 places on the ladder! They have the talent to win the next 4 games. Youth and experience win finals series. They have both. But can they make the 4? I don't think so. 2023 will be their year if they can retain their squad and minimise interstate poaching.
First round of the finals would see:
1v2 or Wests v Uni
3v4 or Brothers v GPS