There are nine rounds remaining before the NRL finals in season 2008.
In my mind, Melbourne, Manly, St George Illawarra, Cronulla, Sydney Roosters, are all definites to make the top eight.
Brisbane, Parramatta, Penrith, Wests Tigers, the Titans and the Knights, will battle it out for the remaining three spots.
Everyone rates the Broncos good things to make the top eight.
They should with the amount of talent they have in key positions, but in the back of my mind I have doubts.
Should Darren Lockyer, Peter Wallace, Justin Hodges and Karmichael Hunt get hurt their odds lengthen dramatically. In fact, Hodges has been suspended for five weeks and returns soon, Lockey out with a dodgy knee and Wallace recovering from surgery.
Without Wallace and Lockyer in the halves the team is rudderless.
I can't believe with all the resources at their disposal when the Broncos' key playmakers are missing, how inept and devoid of ideas the back-up halves show.
But you can put a line through them winning the competition.
Manly and Melbourne have got them covered or power and skill, especially in the forwards and coach Wayne Bennett _ Dragons bound _ won't win another title as coach. Mark my words 2006 was his sixth and final one for Bennett and I will make this prediction he won't last three years at Saints.
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That's how confident I am.
Souths, the Warriors, Raiders and Cowboys won't get to the eight, but watch the Raiders next year.
They are team on the way up and improving all the time.
The Tigers have the potential to make the eight but need to put three wins together.
I am predicting a big game from Newcastle tonight against Penrith.
If they win it could be the start of a big roll towards the eight, if the Panthers topple Newcastle then I believe it's ''goodknight'' for the top eight in '08.
The Cowboys and Bulldogs need a complete overhaul and attitude.
Souths are the big improvers the past six weeks, coach Jason Taylor has learn more about himself than ever before as a footy coach when the Rabbitoh's lost seven straight and were scratching their heads for answers.
The answer was plain and simple, ditch the old guard and start promoting youngsters, with hunger and the right attitude and who can play as natural footballers.
Not programmed, regimented, mannequins.
The gamble has worked.
In '09 the Souths' team will prosper from hard decisions made in '08.
Parramatta, on talent alone should be in the top four, but coach Michael Hagan has I reckon two more weeks before he has to scalp some aging, predictable and ''Bob the Builder'' type forwards, who work hard, try hard, but the reduced interchange rule and the speed of the game has taken its toll on them.
Every league pundit under the sun and rock says the Storm are invincible.
The Storm are the premiers, grand finalists for the past two years, but can be beaten in '09.
Don't tell me how I know but I trust my inner voice and a Sydney based team will win the competition in the Centenary Year of the game.
It won't be any Queensland team, or the much-favoured Storm. When they don't hold the trophy aloft this season, coach Craig Bellamy and his architects of wrestlemania can grapple with the disappointment all season.
I reckon the Sea Eagles will win.
The Titans deserve full credit for way they have played and are credit to coach John Cartwright.
But injuries and the fact he they lack the genuine quality overall is starting to tell at the crucial time of the year.
The Sharks and Dragons have earned their stripes and won't wilt between now and the finals.
Coach Ricky Stuart is building the right, steel-foundation at the club.
When Trent Barrett and Anthony Tupou arrive next season they will break their duck and win the title in "09.
Enjoy the run to the finals.
We can't get enough of the footy.
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