NRL Power Rankings: Week 4

1. St George Illawarra Dragons

Last week: 1st

They rose into first place last week as one of two teams still undefeated, and they maintain that spot this week with a win over the Newcastle Knights.

With Ben Hunt and James Graham’s positive influence on the club, it’s hard to see the Dragons slipping down the standings or the power rankings too quickly this year.

2. New Zealand Warriors

Last week: 4th

Who would’ve thunk it?

The only knock on the Warriors before this week was that they hadn’t beaten anyone. That all changed this week when they knocked off the Sydney Roosters on the road. Can they vault into top spot next week with a win over North Queensland?

3. Wests Tigers

Last week: 3rd

Back into the winner’s circle this week, another W for the Aucklanders also means they’ll have to be content with staying in 3rd for this week. A win over the Melbourne Storm next week may change things.

4. Penrith Panthers

Last week: 8th

Proving last week’s loss to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs was just an aberration, the Penrith Panthers turned heads this week, beating the North Queensland Cowboys on the road.

5. Melbourne Storm

Last week: 5th

The Melbourne Storm are lucky to not be dropping further after a loss to the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks this week, but they certainly will if they rack up a second in a row next week against the Wests Tigers.

6. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Last week: 9th

The Sharks have bounced back nicely after two losses to start the season, with consecutive wins over Parramatta and Melbourne.

Next week against a similar-paced Roosters side will be a good indicator of which side of the stick they fall.

7. Brisbane Broncos

Last week: 2nd

This is what a loss to the Gold Coast Titans will get you.

They appear to have gotten back on track after consecutive wins over the Cowboys and Tigers, but this week was a big step back, losing to Garth Brennan’s men at home.

8. Sydney Roosters

Last week: 6th

The jury is still out on Sydney, 

Last week, they appeared to be heading in the right direction, about to finally click and make lives of the rest of the competition a living hell, but they showed how beatable they really were this week with a loss to the Warriors.

9. North Queensland Cowboys

Last week: 7th

After a win in Week 1, it’s now three losses in a row for North Queensland, who will desperately need to get back on track next week lest they lose touch with some of the teams they hope to be playing with late into the year.

The bad news: next week’s opponents are the (supposedly) for real Warriors.

10. South Sydney Rabbitohs

Last week: 12th

A last-minute win over the Bulldogs is not all that convincing, but at least the South Sydney Rabbitohs are moving in the right direction. 

Next week, they have a statement game vs the Dragons. Win that, and they could make some serious traction in the right direction.

11. Gold Coast Titans

Last week: 14th

A very good win against the Brisbane Broncos sees Gold Coast jump a deserved few spots up the standings, and they can jump a few more next week if they beat the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles.

12. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Last week: 13th

The Sea Eagles took care of business against the Canberra Raiders, but then again, so is everyone. Unfortunately, next week’s game against the Titans is also a compulsory win, unless they want to slide further down the rankings.

13. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Last week: 10th

The Dogs lost to a team just a little further along in their development this week, but have been punished by teams below them grabbing necessary wins. Lord help them if they lose to Canberra next week.

14. Newcastle Knights

Last week: 11th

Ah, the Newcastle Knights are finally back where they belong.

Punished twice in the row by far better teams, the young Novocastrians are beginning to learn what a full season of NRL is all about, and they don’t like it. Next week, they get to face a pissed-off Broncos team hungry for redemption.

15. Canberra Raiders

Last week: 15th

It’s been their spot since Week 2, and they don’t look like giving it up any time soon. Few more words are required until Ricky Stuart stops blaming his team and starts looking elsewhere for answers.

16. Parramatta Eels

Last week: 16th

It’s Groundhog Day for the Eels, who rack up another loss this week, and get to play Penrith again the next. It’s tough to see when the bleeding will stop for Brad Arthur’s troops.

How do RealSport's Power Rankings stack up against yours? Let us know in the comments below.