We've reached the halfway point of the 2025 NRL season, and the competition is still tighter than ever. Just six points separate 5th place from last, meaning the Top 8 could look very different come finals time.
With all 17 clubs still in the hunt for a playoff berth, one thing is clear: no side in this competition is invincible.
What is the chink in your club's armor? We analyse every club's kryptonite as we inch closer to finals footy.
15Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs: Themselves
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have been flying in 2025, sitting at first on the ladder longer than any other position this season.
They look to be the real deal this year, but with abrupt roster changes, players being moved on, and a potential new spine being planned midway through the season, the Bulldogs may just shoot themselves in the foot before they can fire a shot in the finals.
When the Bulldogs are locked in, they're almost invincible. They have put more clubs to the sword than any other team this year, with their only two losses coming in wet, chaotic conditions.
While their success so far is commendable, Cameron Ciraldo and Phil Gould have been criticised for wanting too much too soon, with the recent addition of Lachlan Galvin creating shockwaves throughout the NRL media.
While they are 2-1 since Galvin's arrival, the drama is far from over, as no one, including the coach, knows what the Dogs' spine will look like by September.
This unconfirmed reality has led to rumours of an early exit for Toby Sexton and Reed Mahoney, two pivotal pieces to the Bulldogs' game plan.
This controversial spine shake-up could be detrimental to the current ladder leader's success moving forward, and if it does, they only have themselves to blame.
