Queensland clubs have made a flying start in the NRL Power Rankings for 2023, with the Broncos and Dolphins occupying the top two spots after emerging from the opening fortnight undefeated.
After downing reigning premiers Penrith in Round 1, the Broncos ran hot in attack to beat the Cowboys 28-16 in a local derby match last week and confirm their place as the competition's form team heading into Round 3.
Kevin Walters' men now turn their attention to hosting the Dragons on Saturday, who after sitting out Round 1 on a bye opened their season with an impressive 32-18 win over the Titans, which propelled them to third spot in the Power Rankings.
Across town the Broncos' new neighbours, the Dolphins, made a dream start to life in the Telstra Premiership with a stunning opening-round upset of the Roosters, followed by a gutsy comeback win over the Raiders.
Phins Up: Dolphins first win in colour
They sit second on both the NRL ladder and the Power Rankings ahead of playing their first away game this Friday against the Knights, who sit ninth in the rankings, two spots higher than their ladder position.
The Sea Eagles, who sit atop the ladder after an opening-round win followed by a bye, are fourth in the rankings, followed by a Rabbitohs side who beat the Sharks first up before falling to the Panthers by six last week.
Penrith meanwhile are down in seventh in the rankings, despite heading into this week's bye in fifth place on the ladder.
The biggest disparity between Power Rankings position and position on the ladder comes via the Bulldogs, who thanks to last week's 26-12 rout of the Storm are sixth in the rankings, eight spots higher than their current spot on the ladder.
Match Highlights: Storm v Bulldogs
The bottom three teams on the ladder – the winless Raiders, Eels and Wests Tigers – all sit in the same spots in the rankings as they do on the ladder.
The weekly Power Rankings are determined by competition results data, with the formula taking into account each team's points on the Telstra Premiership ladder as a starting point, before adding or subtracting points based on results from across the previous three rounds.
