Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart

It wasn’t shaping up like it a few weeks ago, but the Tigers v Parramatta clash is all of a sudden one of the key match-ups of the season. The new top two on the Hot Form Chart are coming like locomotives as the season nears the end, but neither has yet guaranteed a finals berth, adding the keenest of edges to tonight’s match. A loss could see the Eels miss altogether, while a win will have them challenging for the premiership and for that reason, we like Parramatta.

The Dragons’ surprise loss last week has them dipping a little on the Form Chart but Wayne Bennett’s current mob should go north again after fixing up his former charges tonight.

The Knights must win — and will — to keep their finals chances alive, while a Bulldogs’ win could yet see them challenge for the minor premiership should St George slip up.

And 2008’s grand finalists meet in Melbourne in Sunday; certainly the last time for many years anyone will be able to say that about Manly and the Storm. Both teams are fading fast, and while the Sea Eagles could perhaps spring a surprise or two at the business end, Melbourne look about as likely as Darius Boyd wheedling his way into a post-career PR gig for the NRL.

Form* Team Last week NRL ladder position Sequence
1 Tigers 2 5 W-W-W-W-W
2 Parramatta 3 9 W-W-W-W-W
3 Bulldogs 4 2 W-L-W-W-W
4 Dragons 1 1 W-W-W-W-L
5 Titans 7 3 L-W-L-W-W
6 Manly 11 6 W-W-L-L-W
7 Rabbitohs 5 12 W-W-L-W-L
8 Penrith 8 10 W-W-D-L-L
9 Brisbane 9 8 L-L-L-W-W
10 Canberra 13 13 L-L-W-L-W
11 Newcastle 15 7 W-L-L-L-W
12 Melbourne 6 4 L-W-L-W-L
13 Warriors 12 14 W-L-D-L-L
14 Cowboys 10 11 L-L-W-L-L
15 Roosters 14 16 L-L-W-L-L
16 Cronulla 16 15 L-L-L-L-L

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round 24 are:

  • Dragons
  • Parramatta
  • Newcastle
  • Rabbitohs
  • Manly
  • Titans
  • Warriors
  • Bulldogs

Last week: 6 (Season total: 108)

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart

No need to rub your eyes, the Form Chart is not on the blink. The Saints, for the first time since Methuselah woke up with damp sheets and a guilty conscience, have an “L” next to their name. Redemption should come fairly quickly with a win over North Melbourne on Sunday, but the competition will be glad for the glimpse of fallibility.

None more so than our new Form Chart leaders Collingwood and the Blues. Both appear capable of penetrating deep into September and Carlton may even push for a top-four berth should the Cats scratch the Dogs tonight at Docklands — a match that easily wins game of the round honours.

The real action is, of course, at the nether regions of the eight, with Essendon, Port Adelaide, Sydney and the Hawks all still in the mix. The Bombers could stitch up eighth with a win over Fremantle but are no certainties given the injuries and the travel that confront the club. The Hot Form Chart reckons it may well come down to next week’s clash between Essendon and the Hawks.

But that is then and this is now, and all this talk of damp sheets, penetration and nether regions has made the Form Chart’s thoughts stray to the possibility of Russell Robertson being picked up by the new Gold Coast team … god knows why.

Form* Team Last week AFL ladder position Sequence
1 Collingwood 2 3 L-W-W-W-W
2 Carlton 3 5 W-L-W-W-W
3 Geelong 4 2 W-W-W-L-W
4 St Kilda 1 1 W-W-W-W-L
5 West Coast 7 12 L-L-W-W-W
6 Bulldogs 10 4 W-L-W-L-W
7 Richmond 6 14 D-W-W-L-L
8 Brisbane 5 7 W-W-L-D-L
9 Adelaide 12 6 L-W-L-L-W
10 Sydney 8 10 L-W-L-W-L
11 Fremantle 9 15 L-W-L-W-L
12 Port Adelaide 11 9 W-L-W-L-L
13 Essendon 15 8 L-L-L-D-W
14 North Melbourne 14 13 D-L-L-W-L
15 Hawthorn 13 11 W-L-L-L-L
16 Melbourne 16 16 L-L-L-L-W

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round 21 are:

  • Bulldogs
  • Carlton
  • Adelaide
  • Brisbane
  • Hawthorn
  • St Kilda
  • Collingwood
  • Fremantle

Last week: 4 (Season total: 103)