Power Rankings: Week 19

1. Raiders (3)

The Green Machine are officially the form team of the competition with a 30-18 win in Penrith. The win was their sixth in even weeks and has them entrenched in the top four. Don't let the refereeing comments distract from the incredible performance by the Raiders. They scored six tries to three over a side who hadn't tasted defeat in almost two months of football. Bateman, huge. Wighton, huge. Rapana scored a beauty. They overcame almost zero possession in the opening minutes to outplay the former form side. Brilliant.

2. Storm (1)

The Storm's incredible run had ended at the hands of bitter rivals Manly in amazing circumstances. This was one of the most intense games in memory and lasted just shy of 90 minutes. A late try to Brandon Smith tied this up and endured an incredible last 15 minutes. I could go on all night about this blockbuster but this felt like a preview of a rematch later in the season.

3. Sea Eagles (4)

Manly stole it in literally the last minute thanks to a DCE golden point field goal. As mentioned this was an incredible game and probably deserved to end in a draw. Manly incredibly missed left than half the tackles of their hosts and made almost three times as manly offloads. Manly are the real deal in 2019 and may have another encounter with the Storm in a game of higher stakes.

4. Panthers (2)

The Panthers run has come to an end following a humbling defeat to the Raiders. Conceding six tries to three, don't let the refereeing controversy fool you, they were outplayed. Missing 38 tackles was a definite contributor here as they struggled to contain the Green Machine. There was a late fightback but it wasn't to be. The mountain men really missed Kikau in the contest. Penrith have a chance to return to winning ways against the Dogs next weekend.

5. Roosters (5)

The Roosters were probably made to work harder for the points against the Dogs than most expected in their 20-12 win. Tedesco was again irrisistable while Manu was a beast on his return. The Chooks lost Cordner and SST but held on against a fast finishing Dogs. Truthfully they never looked in danger of losing this game but didn't run away with a 14-0 halftime lead.

6. Rabbitohs (6)

The Bunnies stole the competition points with the literal last play of the game in their 20-16 win over the Dragons. Campbell Graham crossed in the 79th minute after a brilliant backline movement in a game that looked lost. The four try to two win was much more difficult than it needed to be after Souths blew a series of opportunities. Ultimately they did enough to remain second on the ladder but look a far cry from their earlier 2019 selves.

7. Eels (8)

All the media talk was re that pass, which is a shame given the attacking footy on show here. Maika Sivo is fast becoming a genuine highlight every week. Nathan Brown is back to his workhorse best with 186 metres and 51 tackles. The Eels only missed 18 tackles in this contest although 15 errors makes for dreadful reading. The Eels did literally just enough here but they're now two wins in front of the fringe of the eight. Huge victory.

8. Broncos (10)

The Broncos have made their way back into the eight following a local derby thumping of the Titans. The Broncs ran in six tries on their short trip south. Leading 28-6 at the break this game was well and truly over in the second stanza. Katoni Staggs continues his ride with a first half double. Payne Haas is another youngster on his way to superstardom with another metre topping performance. The Broncos face a much tougher task against the Storm this weekend but this win has set up a genuine finals chase.

9. Tigers (12)

The Tigers kept their finals chances alive with an entertaining 28-26 win in the Hunter. An awful injury Michael Chee Kam was a scary moment but reports indicate he'll be fine. Corey Thompson continues to star scoring another two tries. Benji Marshall turned back the clock with a brilliant solo effort try. Newcastle threw everything at the Tiges late but the club celebrated Robbie Farah's 300th game with a win. They now sit just one win outside the eight.

10. Knights (7)

The Knights slide continued with a two point loss at home to the Tigers. A late fightback was haulted by Pongas sin binning. Leasing 12-0 inside the opening eight minutes they really should have gone on with this but the consistency just isn't there. Klemmer lead the way again while Ponga was magic with the ball. Pearce and co just couldn't find the late knock out blow leaving the Knights outside the top 8 by a single competition point.

11. Warriors (9)

How different this would have been if not for a matter of cms. I've seen multiple angles of this pass and it's split almost 50/50 on social media so who knows? The fact is they did enough to capture two very difficult road points but felt just short. Copy and paste: RTS was huge yet again and topped the metres AGAIN. What an absolute superstar he is.

12. Sharks (15)

The Sharks ended a nasty slump with a scrappy win over the Cowboys. Shaun Johnson was at his best in the 16-14 win and was in everything. Young Mulitalo scored his first try in the top grade to put the home team on the board. They blew multiple opportunities earlier with Feki being left unmarked twice. Two late tries to Dugan and Xerri ultimately got them home but it was a tense final 10 times. Not a pretty win but exactly what the club needed.

13. Cowboys (11)

The Cowboys will be seething that they let this game go after taking a 14-4 lead. Taumalolo was limited to only 186 metres with only McLean joining him in running for over 100 metres in the pack. Matt Scott scored a try after announcing this season would be his last. A series of errors and penalties late handed the Sharks too much possession for the visitors to hang on. Drinkwater was again lively from the back.

14. Bulldogs (13)

Another brave performance from the Dogs yet another loss for the Dogs. Incredibly they again completed at 80% but just lacked the class late on. Remis Smith added another two tries to his 2019 tally. There was never a time that the Dogs felt like they'd win this contest but despite a 14-0 halftime deficit the Dogs were never really going to get flogged either. This was a strange game but a pretty typical Dogs performance, brave but outclassed.

15. Dragons (14)

The Dragons looked shot in this contest with 20 minutes to go only to fight back, take a late lead yet lose it even later. The performance summed up the side in 2019 with some good signs sandwiched by moments of horror. That botched short drop out would be out of place in park footy. Two late tries to young Jason Saab brought this game to life before a 78th minute clutch kick from Widdop looked to have won it. Dragons fans won't need reminding of what happened next.

16. Titans (16)

The Titans had it all to play for but on the back of an abismal completion rate of 58% were never in this contest. The Titans forwards were reduced to spectators at times here. Fotuaika was huge off the bench but the Titans starters, Wallace aside, were poor. The Gordon sinbinning cost them huge with a series of tries conceded. Hard to see this side moving off the bottom of the table any time soon.