After 27 rounds, we have our top eight ready to take the next step in September and October. But what about the bottom nine? Which teams were unlucky to miss out and can expect a better 2024? Which teams disappointed? Which teams are due for a clean out?
9th – SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS (12W, 12L)
After 11 rounds, Souths had eight wins, were playing entertaining footy, and looked like genuine title contenders. But the Rabbits won only four games from there to slide out of the eight. Their season ended with back-to-back losses to Newcastle and the Sydney Roosters. And rumours of off-field trouble late in the season didn’t help.
Alex Johnston (21 tries – with two hat-tricks) had another excellent season, but he’d probably trade a few of those tries for a finals berth.
At least they have an opening round trip to Las Vegas next year to try and turn things around, as well as their new signing Jack Wighton. Where will he play? And how much shenanigans will he and Latrell Mitchell get up to?
Embed from Getty Images10th – PARRAMATTA EELS (12W, 12L)
Parramatta became one of a handful of teams in NSWRFL/NSWRL/ARL/Super League/NRL history to miss the final the season after making a grand final.
Parramatta had a nightmare start to the season, winning one from their first five. But by round 17, they had won nine games and were seventh.
But they won only three of their last eight, to fall short of the finals. Amazingly, they beat defending premier Penrith twice. The second Panthers win ended their season (with a final round bye), but it was too late by then. Can they return to the finals in 2024?
Embed from Getty Images11th – NORTH QUEENSLAND (12W, 12L)
After narrowly missing the 2022 Grand Final, the Cowboys suffered a nasty hangover, but recovered enough to nearly make the finals.
North Queensland were second-last after 13 rounds (with a 5-8 record). The Cowboys won seven games from their next 10 (six in a row from round 14 to 21) and needed to beat Penrith in the final round to leapfrog Canberra. But Penrith, chasing the minor premiership and playing a full-strength team, won 44-12.
Was their excellent 2022 an aberration, or can they return to the finals in 2024?
Embed from Getty Images12th – MANLY-WARRINGAH SEA EALGES (11W, 12L, 1D)
After last year’s horrible collapse, Manly improved in 2024, but still not enough to make the finals.
Manly won four – and drew one – of their first seven games and won just seven more after that. Though they celebrated Daly Cherry-Evans’ 300th game with a 24-18 win over St George Illawarra.
They only missed the finals by three points after a huge final round win over the Wests Tigers, so they’ll be looking to go one step closer in 2024.
Embed from Getty Images13th – DOLPHINS (9W, 15L)
As far as debut seasons go, the Dolphins exceeded expectations.
They won six of their first 10 (to sit in fifth) before the grind of their first season took a toll, winning just three more games from there.
Though that didn’t stop Jamayne Isaako having a brilliant season, with 24 tries and 244 points (both the top try-scorer and top points-scorer this season). While The Dolphins may not have a “marquee” name yet, Isaako and Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow (15 tries for The Hammer) led the way. And Valynce Te Whare became a cult hero.
They also started and ended their season with surprise wins at Lang Park.
The Dolphins will be better for the run, so expect a rise up the ladder in 2024 as supercoach Wayne Bennett works his magic.
Embed from Getty Images14th – GOLD COAST TITANS (9W, 15L)
Two seasons after their last finals appearance, the Titans continued to fall down the ladder.
There were plenty of distractions, with Justin Holbrook sacked mid-season (replaced by Des Hasler from 2024) and signing dramas around David Fifita and Tino Fa’asuamaleaui. Though both stayed at Robina, Fifita was awfully close to going to Canberra.
The Titans’ issue was consistency: only winning consecutive games on two separate occasions (Rounds 9/10 and 15/17 – including a round 16 bye) and losing eight of their last 10.
The Titans were one of the worst second half teams: including losing to the Dolphins 26-24 after leading 24-0; losing 20-18 to Canterbury after leading 14-0; and losing 48-26 to South Sydney after leading 22-16. Even in their final round win over the Bulldogs, the Titans led 34-18 but let in two late tries to only win by four points (though the win was never in doubt).
Can Hasler give the Titans the steel they clearly need?
Embed from Getty Images15th – CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS (7W, 17L)
Another year of promise that proved a huge letdown. Despite signing big names Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, and Penrith assistant coach Cameron Ciraldo, the Bulldogs never looked like challenging for the finals – though a nightmare injury list didn’t help.
Canterbury started with three wins from their first five, but a 50-16 Good Friday loss to South Sydney started the slide, with just four more wins for the season – including conceding 108 points in two losses to Newcastle.
With some players allegedly unhappy with Ciraldo’s training methods, 2024 might be another rough season for the Bulldogs.
Embed from Getty Images16th – ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS (5W, 19L)
After a promising 2022, the Dragons regressed in 2023, and were lucky to avoid the wooden spoon.
Coach Anthony Griffin was sacked after the round 11 loss to North Queensland (also Ben Hunt’s 300th game), with interim coach Ryan Carr taking over. While he got a first up win over the Sydney Roosters, the Dragons only won two more games, and lost their last six.
While rumours of Ben Hunt leaving mid-season didn’t eventuate, it’s clear the Queenslander isn’t happy and wants out. How long can new coach Shane Flanagan keep him at the Dragons? And will “Flanno” get the Dragons in reach of the finals again?
Embed from Getty ImagesWooden Spoon – WESTS TIGERS (4W, 20L)
It was another drama-filled season for the Tigers. They dropped from 16th to 17th to claim their second straight wooden spoon. They lost their first seven games, won three of their next four (including a 66-18 belting of North Queensland), and then lost 10 straight (with the Cowboys getting revenge by belting them 74-0).
The season descended into farce when the controversial Lee Hagipantelis threatened to sue a Tigers fan podcast (WestsLife Podcast) and the departing Luke Brooks – who played 205 games for the Tigers – was given a BBQ as a farewell gift. And the Tim Sheens-Benji Marshall partnership didn’t last: the veteran Raiders premiership coach decided to step down, with Marshall taking over as sole head coach.
Can Marshall guide the Tigers out of the bottom four and give fans hope of a finals return?
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