Two rounds to go now and there is still plenty to play for with a lot of spots still undecided.
Colts 1
Sydney Uni (78 - Gordon, Parramatta) and Randwick (65 – West Harbour, Southern Districts) have the top 2 spots sewn up.
Eastwood (56 – Northern Suburbs, Penrith), Southern Districts (54 – Warringah, Randwick) and Eastern Suburbs (51 – Parramatta, Gordon) are all in the mix for the positions 3rd to 5th.
On form Easts should win both and go to a maximum 61 points, Eastwood should account for Penrith and go to 61 points with game in hand, and Southern have two hard – must win clashes to make top 4.
Key Games –Rnd 17 - Eastwood vs Northern Suburbs, Southern Districts v Warringah. Rnd 18 - Southern Districts vs Randwick.
Warringah (47 – Southern Districts, Northern Suburbs) and Manly (42 – Penrith and West Harbour) are still in a battle for 6th spot and a finals berth.
On form Manly should win both and go to a maximum 52 points, while Warringah have a harder road home. Warringah need to win 1 game with bonus point and find a win or a bonus point in the other to secure 6th place. If Warringah can only win one game and only find 1 bonus point then both sides will be locked on 52 points and for and against will be telling. Currently Warringah +38, Manly +3.
Key Games –Rnd 17 – Warringah vs Southern Districts, Manly vs Penrith (Manly need the for and against so a win on forfeit might do more harm than good). Rnd 18 – Warringah vs Northern Suburbs.
Northern Suburbs (38), Gordon (33), Parramatta (30), West Harbour (13) and Penrith (1) are all beyond making finals but can have a big impact on whom does.
Colts 2
Randwick (73 – West Harbour, Southern Districts), Eastern Suburbs (70 – Parramatta, Gordon) and Sydney Uni (66 – Gordon, Parramatta) will be the top 3 and should probably finish in that order.
Northern Suburbs (62 – Eastwood, Warringah) and Southern Districts (54 - Warringah, Randwick) should finish 4th and 5th, but Southern Districts could still mathematically snatch 4th if results went their way.
Key Games –Rnd 17 – Warringah vs Southern Districts, Northern Suburbs vs Eastwood. Rnd 18 - Southern Districts vs Randwick, Northern Suburbs vs Warringah.
Gordon (47 – Sydney Uni, Eastern Suburbs), Eastwood (39 – Northern Suburbs, Penrith) and Warringah (38 - Southern Districts, Northern Suburbs) are all in the hunt for the 6th and final place.
On form Gordon will most likely struggle against the heavyweights staying at 47 points. Eastwood should account for Penrith making the Northern Suburbs game vital for them to stay alive. Whilst Warringah need to win everything and rely on other results.
Key Games –Rnd 17 – Warringah vs Southern Districts, Northern Suburbs vs Eastwood, Gordon vs Sydney Uni. Rnd 18 - Northern Suburbs vs Warringah, Eastwood vs Penrith, Gordon vs Eastern Suburbs.
Manly (19), Parramatta (14), West Harbour (11) and Penrith (11) are all looking to finish their seasons on a high in the last two rounds.
Colts 3
Sydney Uni (74 – Gordon, Parramatta) and Randwick (70 – West Harbour, Southern Districts) will take the top 2 spots.
Eastwood (55 – Northern Suburbs, Penrith) and Eastern Suburbs (52– Parramatta, Gordon) will round out the top 4.
On form the Eastwood vs Northern Suburbs game looks like it may decide whom finished third.
Key Games –Rnd 17 - Northern Suburbs vs Eastwood.
Warringah (46 - Southern Districts, Northern Suburbs), Parramatta (44 – Eastern Suburbs, Sydney Uni), Gordon (35 - Sydney Uni, Eastern Suburbs), and Northern Suburbs (34 – Eastwood, Warringah) are all in a battle for the 5th and 6th spots on the ladder and a finals berth.
Warringah have enough comp points to lose both remaining games and still make at least 6th spot, so they will be one of the sides. On form it is hard to see Parramatta or Gordon toppling their more fancied opponents leaving them at 44 and 35 points respectively. Finding a bonus point for Parramatta might be enough as two Northern Suburbs victories with maximum points will only bring them level on 44 points. If Parramatta cannot find a bonus point in the next two weeks then it will come down to for and against and Parramatta have the edge here at -38 while Northern Suburbs are at -120.
Key Games –Rnd 17 – Warringah vs Southern Districts, Parramatta vs Eastern Suburbs, Northern Suburbs vs Eastwood, Gordon vs Sydney Uni. Rnd 18 - Northern Suburbs vs Warringah, Parramatta vs Sydney Uni, Eastwood vs Penrith, Gordon vs Eastern Suburbs.
Southern Districts (32), Manly (26), West Harbour (22) and Penrith (0) can all try to finish the season with a win or two.