Likely Premiers and Dark horses.

[Vasco]

Funny how there was a meltdown when we lost to the Dogs when we had 12 men for most of the game. We nearly beat them.

If we played them now I'd be confident of beating them.

If Cleary stays on the field Penriff are still the team to beat.

[bondi.boy]

Dogs are coming to get the top 4 in the finals and be crowned Premiers, apparently.

Stranger things have happened, and their playing style seems to be exactly what the game managers like.

[nayfo]

After watching the Sharks play the Knights I’d say they are no chance, even when Nicho returns.
Id have Storm marginally in front of Panthers but Chooks at their best can beat both.

I believe our best is better than any other teams best. Problem is we don’t play our best footy against the best

[Bates]

The Bulldogs are getting warmer however they still need to sign Cleary, Martin, Edwards and To'o before they become a real threat.

[Big Dog]

Finals are a different ball game - The Roosters still need to win at least 2 games to cement a top 4 spot.

The Roosters need to be consistent across the 80 minutes.

There is the possibility of us having a home semi against the guppies first week of the finals.

[BTRD]

I will say we will win it.

Yes I have had my negative comments and thoughts - and yes I believe the Storm and Penrith are the 2 best teams.

But stuff it. ROOSTERS to win on Oct 6.

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

Dark horses are Easts imo. Storm and Panthers in another class but you never know.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

Penrith v Melbourne grand final. Penrith to win.

A long way back to the 3rd best team - us.

We have the talent to win it, but not the steel or the brainpower.

[milanja]

There is the possibility of us having a home semi against the guppies first week of the finals.

Panthers won’t finish less than 3rd, they may drop one match, but they finish with raiders,Souths and titans.

more likely they win them all and we play them in Penrith.

[Qld Chook]

Anything less than a GF appearance this year for us is a missed opportunity imo.

I cant write the Dogs off with their defence being so good.

[Nicola Tesla]

The gap between our halves and the top two is quite substantial I feel... Hughes/Munster...Cleary/Luai.... DCE/Brookes.... We pip Manly because of everything else we have.... but the other top two teams in Penrith and Storm match us in many areas (maybe slightly behind us in some) but their halves take them ahead of us!. And most of all, their long kicking game is so much better.
But this is Sam walkers time to stand up.
Someone mentioned leadership.. on friday night Teddie threw a pass at the end of a multi hand move by us, to nobody just hoping. It was the 4th tackle and totally not required. That is not leadership. (But still love him!) and KEary has me worried since that Manly game...that was not leadership!They need to get better.

[roosterchook]

Either storm or Penrith. Dark horse Cronulla. We haven’t beat any of those sides this year so despite our great showing against bottom of the table teams, when it comes to the really good teams we are not in the race.

[weplayforprems]

Canterbury are the not so dark horses

They are morals to beat Melbourne week one if they sneak into 4th.

I would hate to play them week 2 if we lose to Penrith. Crowd would be 50-50 and they’d have heaps of momentum

[Waylander]

Like others, it looks like a 3 horse race to me. I still genuinely believe we have a great chance. Robbo primes this team for the finals, and we have the advantage of not being busted and desperate to scrape into the 8 like the last coupe of seasons. We almost beat the Storm with 1/2 a NSW Cup side last September. We are much better placed this year. Have faith!!

I think the Dogs are still one or two good props short of being able to compete with the best teams. The others are not consistent enough to win 3 very tough games in a row.

[weplayforprems]

The Cleary injury is a massive boost for us.

I find it hard to believe they will risk him week one of the finals. It’s more a prelim and pray or GF and bust problem for them I think.

To get them week one without Cleary should fire us right up.

I’m not having that Melbourne are unbeatable. Our best footy shits on theirs. We just need to do it for longer.

It wouldn’t surprise me if Manly or the Dogs make a prelim. If either of them go further than us we’ve choked massively.