[Tim Gerry Mander]

Originally posted on 07/09/2013:

I honestly dont think the Dogs are a chance. Warriors are lucky to be in that list, but it is doable on their day, but not that Dogs. They dont have the halves or the backs that the other teams have.

Bit harsh mate....

Apart from Mitch Brown, the rest of the backline would walk into any other side in some position.
Barba and Morris are Origin class, while Inu and Perrett are NZ Internationals.

As for the halves, Josh Reynolds is a pretty handy player and Hodkinson won a premiership from memory with Manly.

It all comes down to the forwards, who have been below par this season, affecting the performance of the backs.
No coincidence that the top teams have dominant forward packs which allow their halves and outside backs more time to pick their spots in attack while the defensive line is on the retreat and in two minds.
Put the Souths backline with the Tigers or Eels forward pack and will see how good they perform.

I agree with Sando, the winner will be from that group of 6 teams.

At this stage, the Rabbitohs look the best all-round team.
However, all it takes is a couple of inuries at crucial stages, a lucky bounce or dodgy refs call and things can change in an instant.

Just look at last season, the Dogs were red-hot, while the Storm were struggling through Origin with many "experts" writing them off.
They then went on a lethal run to the GF and completely shut-down the Bulldogs by stifling their pet second-man Barba play by rushing up outside and the Dogs had no Plan B.