The Bulldogs are inside the top eight at the halfway point of the season for the first time since 2016, while Shane Flanagan’s Dragons are breathing fire.
The Origin period has already rocked some premiership contenders, while things have gone from bad to worse for the embattled Wests Tigers.
We paused our power rankings during the Origin-imposed split rounds but with a full complement of games this weekend it’s time to see where your team lands on our list.
The top four on the ladder, Storm, Sharks, Panthers and Dolphins have all endured inconsistent form over the past month.
Read on for our Power Rankings ahead of Round 15!
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1. PENRITH PANTHERS
Just when you think Origin should slow this juggernaut of an NRL club, once again their conveyor belt of talent steps up to the plate.
In their final hit-out before Origin teams were named, Penrith went to Cronulla to take on a 9-1 Sharks side sitting pretty on top of the table.
By the time the teams walked off Shark Park that Saturday night, it was the Sharks who’d been mauled in a 42-0 bloodbath.
Yes, they uncharacteristically gave up a 10-point halftime lead against the Dragons the following week but they beat Manly last week and there’s a reason they’re all the bookies favourite to win a fourth straight premiership.
2. CRONULLA SHARKS
They looked to be slipping off their perch after poor losses against the Panthers and Eels but Cronulla came roaring back to life against the Broncos last weekend.
The 22-12 statement win on Brisbane’s home turf even came after coach Craig Fitzgibbon rested NSW halfback Nicho Hynes.
Cameron McInnes backed up from his Origin debut with a 54-minute shift that helped guide his side to the upset victory.
The Sharks are trying to shake their flat track bullies tag after losing their past three finals clashes, and this win went a long way to silencing the critics.
3. MELBOURNE STORM
We’ve arrived at the halfway point of the season and once again Craig Bellamy’s side sits on top of the ladder.
Year in, year out, Melbourne finds a way to simply win no matter who runs onto the park in the mighty purple and navy blue.
The Storm have been without superstar five-eighth Cameron Munster for five games this season but they still beat premiership favourites Penrith without him.
Captain Harry Grant and winger Xavier Coates will play all three games for Queensland but Melbourne will undoubtedly once again get through the Origin period relatively unscathed.
4. SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Without their Origin stars, they were run down by the Cowboys in their last start but that has been one of just two blips in an otherwise sublime six weeks.
Since thrashing the Dragons on Anzac Day, the Roosters have been averaging 38 points per game as they also knocked off the Broncos, Warriors and Raiders.
Trent Robinson’s side have been criticised in recent years for starting their seasons too slowly, but the Roosters are sixth on the ladder and just one win outside the top four.
The Origin period could hurt the Tricolours though, with James Tedesco, Joseph Suaalii, Angus Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Lindsay Collins all picked in Game II.
5. BRISBANE BRONCOS
We said in the last edition of these Power Rankings two weeks ago that there was no cause for concern just yet after Brisbane were upset by the Titans.
However, we might have to reconsider that after the Broncos’ loss to the Sharks last Saturday.
The Sharks were missing Nicho Hynes and Broncos were without Reece Walsh, but it was a game Brisbane just should of won after a dominant first half.
This Friday is a game against Souths, who have hit form after two consecutive wins.
They hold fifth spot for now, but a loss to Souths would ensure a fall down the rankings and far more importantly, the NRL ladder.
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Reece Walsh won’t play before Origin 2 | 01:46
6. NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
The hottest team in the NRL right now is arguably the Warriors.
Their season looked to be on death’s door a month ago after their fourth straight loss and a rising injury toll, but Andrew Webster has rallied his men to record three straight wins, including a thumping of the Cowboys last week.
Shaun Johnson is set to return this week in an added boost with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck not far away.
The Warriors are well and truly back to their best form. If they can hold it and continue on their charge to the top eight, they will be a dangerous conveyance for any team who faces them in the second half of the year.
7. DOLPHINS
The Dolphins sit inside the top four halfway through just their second season in the NRL. Let that sink in for a moment.
Yes, they’ve dropped their past two games – tight losses to the Warriors and Raiders – but Wayne Bennett’s men are well and truly on track to play finals.
By comparison, their Queensland rivals the Gold Coast Titans came into the NRL 18 years ago and they’ve played finals just four times.
A somewhat soft draw has helped but you can only play who’s in front of you and you’d be brave to dismiss their chances of upsetting the second-placed Sharks this week.
8. CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS
Well who saw this coming?
Everything said about Cameron Ciraldo is becoming prophetic, with the Bulldogs inside the top eight at the halfway point of the season for the first time in eight years.
Ciraldo was touted as the next big name in the coaching world when Canterbury signed him back to turn the struggling club around.
Their gutsy comeback victory over the Eels last week simply wouldn’t have happened in years gone by and it felt very much like the beginning of something special at Belmore.
Stephen Crichton and Matt Burton will be on Origin duties for the rest of series but the Dogs are a genuine finals chance for the first time in a long time.
9. CANBERRA RAIDERS
It’s only points differential keeping Ricky’s Raiders out of the top four, as their stunning season continued with a one-point win over the Dolphins last week.
Not bad for a side that almost everybody tipped to miss the finals, with some pundits even nominating Canberra to collect their first wooden spoon in 42 years.
Teenage sensation Ethan Strange has proved a revelation in his rookie season, with the five-eighth putting shots on and setting up tries in eye-catching displays well beyond his years.
The critics will still tell you that it’s only a matter of time before the boys from the capital become the ‘Canberra Faiders’ again, but not if Ricky has anything to say about it.
10. MANLY SEA EAGLES
They’ve been there or thereabouts all season and some close losses could end up costing the Sea Eagles at the business end of the season.
But they’ve been more than competitive in their past three hit-outs against competition heavyweights the Broncos, Storm and Panthers.
They fell to Brisbane 13-12, knocked off Melbourne 26-20 and then came up short against Penrith in a 32-22 loss.
A clash against the Dragons this weekend should give us a good indication of where Anthony Seibold’s men are at this season.
11. NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
The Knights have lost their last two games after winning four on the trot.
One of those was an ugly performance against the Bulldogs where they failed to score a try.
They are a solid side but at the moment, there are more questions than answers.
Bradman Best returns to the backline in what is a huge inclusion, but will it be enough against the might of the Panthers, who get back Dylan Edwards?
They need to get back into the winners circle, because their season could spiral out of control with another couple of quick losses.
Hastings clashes with Loireo on fulltime | 00:45
12. ST. GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Keep on keeping on do the Red V.
There were some nervy moments against the lowly Tigers last week before a second half which was sheer dominance, as they won 56-14 to help improve the points differential.
The Dragons are one of several teams with seven wins on the season, and sit just outside the top eight and only two points behind the fourth-placed Dolphins.
A good test awaits this weekend in the Sea Eagles, and if they can win that, they should be discussed as a genuine top eight hope.
13. NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
Two of their six Origin stars in Reece Robson and Murray Taulagi didn’t back up against the Warriors last weekend, but it wouldn’t have mattered too much considering they were thoroughly outplayed by their opposition.
The win over the Roosters in Round 13 was one filled with courage and tenacity, but unfortunately for Cowboys fans, those are traits that your team doesn’t always display. If they did, they’d be in the top five-six on the ladder.
They face the Raiders in Canberra this week which is never an easy assignment, but if North Queensland bring their best, it’s a game they should be winning.
What changed for the Cowboys? | 04:47
14. SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
After a tumultuous two and a half months, the Bunnies are beginning to warm up now.
Latrell Mitchell has been at his brilliant best and the forwards are finally starting to measure up after some meek performances throughout March, April and May.
Souths have now won their last two by the combined margin of 50.
There’s still a bit of work to do considering they are on just 10 competition points, but there’s a long way to go and Souths have the class and talent to go on a run and nab a top eight spot.
A very tough test in the Broncos awaits them on Friday night but based on the differing form of the two sides entering this contest, it’s anyone’s game.
15. PARRAMATTA EELS
Looked good winning against the Sharks in Mitch Moses’ return game two weeks ago, but badly let one slip in the King’s Birthday clash against the Bulldogs.
There have been signs of improvement in recent weeks, but their inability to string together an 80-minute performance has been so costly this season.
Things don’t get any easier this weekend with a clash against the Roosters on the horizon.
16. GOLD COAST TITANS
They had won three of five games, including a big scalp against the Broncos, heading into last weekend’s game against Souths.
Unfortunately, all that good work and progress went by the wayside, as the Rabbitohs took them to the cleaners.
Their best form shows that they are a much better team than that result suggests, but until they start to string some wins on end, the Titans will continue to be parked down the bottom of these rankings.
17. WESTS TIGERS
The easiest position to sort out this week was the Tigers at 17.
Not much more you can say about a side who is in the midst of a nine-game losing streak.
There were some good signs in that first half against the Dragons, but what’s troubling is how easily they folded in that second forty.
If nothing changes, a third straight wooden spoon will be theirs.
They get one of their best chances to end the slide when they host the Titans this week.
– with Eamonn Tiernan