Soward: Souths grab top spot; Knights, Manly rising

More movement in the Power Rankings, as the Rabbitohs toughed it out against the Raiders to jump up to No.1.

Des Hasler and the Sea Eagles keep defying the odds, while the Panthers, Titans and Dragons have big problems to solve.

Check out where your team ranks in this week's pecking order.

1. South Sydney Rabbitohs (last week: 2)

The Bunnies were in and out of that game against the Raiders. They physically dominated at times and vice versa, but they just know how to come up with the right plays at the right time. Their big-name players continue to be in career-best form and Wayne Bennett has unlocked Cody Walker. Every time he gets the ball at the moment he punishes the other team.

2. Sydney Roosters (1)

The premiers have been up for a long time and this is what happens when you're the champs - everyone wants to beat you and you're going to get everyone's best game every week. The Broncos were playing for their season, they were at home and also didn't have to travel the previous week for Magic Round, and they need wins, so I'm sure the Roosters will be fine.

3. Melbourne Storm (3)

They've been in the same situation four or five times this season and got out of jail - except against the Sharks a few weeks ago - and they have that knack for coming up with big plays in crunch time. If you were a Tigers fan you never felt comfortable, but I'm still in a bit of a holding pattern in terms of where the Storm are going to finish this competition but they've been impressive to start the year.

4. Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (6)

You can give Coach of the Year to Des Hasler now, because what he gets out of this squad every week is nothing short of remarkable. They turn up with effort, they all do their job, they compete and don't give up on any play. Manly out-enthused the Sharks and it's really refreshing to see a squad not blame injuries or make excuses. The players all know their roles and just go out there and do their jobs.

5. Canberra Raiders (4)

I give the Raiders a pass because they were fantastic against the Rabbitohs and it was one of the games of the year. Their attack still has some question marks over it but they were physical and never stopped competing, and they matched it with one of the biggest packs in the competition. Ricky Stuart should take a lot from that game.

6. Newcastle Knights (8)

Four wins in a row and it's nice to see them delivering on the promise they had at the start of the year. Ponga back at fullback is paying huge dividends, Mitchell Pearce is back to some of his best form and everyone around them is doing their job. When they all do their job their match-winners are up there with some of the best in the comp.

7. Brisbane Broncos (9)

Where's this been? Seriously, watching that game against the Roosters you'd have thought you were watching a top-four side playing the champs. The Roosters have been up for a long time so I give them a big pass. But whatever the Broncos did last week and whatever the coach said, they need to bottle that and come out and produce again in Auckland this week.

8. Cronulla Sharks (5)

I was really disappointed with their performance against Manly. They lacked polish in attack but it was their defence that surprised me because they let in some uncharacteristically soft tries in the first half and it put them under the pump. When you've got young guys you can't be chasing the game all the time, but I expect them to bounce back this week.

9. Parramatta Eels (7)

The Eels are on the slippery dip and it looks like they can't play away from home. They're going to rely on those home results to get them in the top eight and that won't be good enough, so Brad Arthur needs to go back to the drawing board and get his side buzzing again and playing with excitement. They're dying for a home game and get one this week.

10. Wests Tigers (11)

It's still hard to get a true read on the Tigers. The last two weeks have been outstanding but it was only three weeks ago against the Roosters that it looked like their season was done. A great effort against Melbourne on the weekend and they need to bottle that effort with the enthusiasm they had at Magic Round and they should be OK.

11. Canterbury Bulldogs (12)

A good comeback win over the Titans and this is the effort we've been trending, where they come up with gritty wins and the young players have good games. Jack Cogger went well, Kieran Foran was outstanding and some of the older guys put their hands up and led from the front. Good to see the Dogs get another win.

12. New Zealand Warriors (13)

I'm giving the Warriors fans some love and moving them up one spot from last week. Good to see them dig in and get back-to-back wins in Australia, and this is probably the team we think we should see every week. The challenge is for them to back it up at home, so I'm still pumping the brakes on them because I want to see it for a month and whether they can make a run at the top eight.

13. North Queensland Cowboys (14)

Also up a spot after a scrappy win against the Eels but they still struggle to score points and I don't expect them to make the top eight. They put in a good effort and really wanted to win and it was nice to see Michael Morgan control things in crunch time. That's game management. It wasn't a pretty game but the Cowboys got the job done.

14. St George Illawarra Dragons (10)

It's hard to fathom how the Dragons were in an Anzac Day belter a month ago against the Roosters and since then they haven't fired a shot. They've lost four in a row and conceded 40 points, they look tired and it seems as though they're hoping that someone steps up. They've lost their two playmakers but that doesn't explain 40 points.

15. Gold Coast Titans (15)

They're lucky the Panthers are playing so badly or they'd be 16. Their million-dollar player Ash Taylor just isn't leading the team. Tyrone Roberts leads the team around and they aren't getting enough out of Taylor. When you lead at half-time the last two weeks and don't score a point in the second half that comes back to your halfback.

16. Penrith Panthers (16)

I don't really know where to start. I keep waiting for them to turn the corner with some energy and enthusiasm in what they're doing and it hasn't happened. James Maloney looks frustrated and at half-time they all looked like they were in trouble at school. Very disappointing and very hard to watch at the moment.

 

The views in this article do not necessarily express the opinions of the NRL, ARLC, NRL clubs or state associations.