Five weeks remain in the NRL season, with unpredictable finals following surprising Round 22 upsets.
As the NRL season approaches its climax with five weeks remaining, the landscape of the finals remains unpredictable following a series of stunning upsets in Round 22. The recent outcomes have muddied the waters as teams jostle for a favorable position ahead of Round 23.
Key surprises included the New Zealand Warriors' defeat by the Dolphins, the Canberra Raiders losing to the St George Illawarra Dragons, and the Wests Tigers stumbling against the Canterbury Bulldogs. These results have significant implications for the final ladder as teams scramble to secure their spots.
The setbacks for the Raiders and Bulldogs have effectively neutralized the Melbourne Storm's earlier loss to the Manly Sea Eagles in Round 20, returning the top three teams to their original standings at the start of this series with eight rounds left.