I cannot stress enough how just important Round 11 is.
This is the completion of the "first third" of the NRL season.
With the Origin period starting from Round 12 onward, and seemingly lasting for three months, the competition is completely different moving forward.
Of course a win or a loss this weekend won't decide a season ... except it might.
In the case of the Knights vs the Eels, the loser is all but done for the year. I'd argue the winner faces an uphill battle to play finals, but a much easier task than their opponent.
Each and every round presents its own round of questions, but this weekend just seems that little bit more special.
Here are the five big questions to be answered in Round 11:
5. When does the Warriors bubble burst?
I've heard it all this week.
The Warriors are lucky. The Warriors are the worst side to ever sit second at the completion of Round 10. The fact they have a zero points differential ...
The Warriors are a good footy side. A great footy side.
I admit though, I am guilty of sitting back and waiting for the bubble to burst.
We're at Round 11. If it was going to burst, wouldn't it have already?
The Dolphins present a danger game! They're capable of anything. So too are the Warriors.
Let me be frank here, even if they lose by 50 to the Phins, the bubble hasn't burst.
That said, if they do lose, I guarantee you the social media coverage will be just that. The Warriors are frauds, they're pretenders, etc etc.
If they win, unless it's by 40, they got lucky. They've got a points differential of +whatever.
Rugby league fans, myself included, are very prone to hyperbole.
Mark my words; if the Warriors lose on Saturday afternoon, people will rush to social media to flood the timelines with the Warriors bubble is bursting.
This game may show us just how serious the Warriors are though. If they win, they enter the Origin period in the top two.
I suppose heading in being in fourth place isn't that bad either.
Dan – I have cheated and I’m reading /replying on Sunday night:
Sharks the real deal ? Based on the first half – losing two players to injury and going in comfortably in front – then I’d say “Yes”. Based on the second half, “No”.
Wests – false dawn ? Yes. They are better than previous years, but fringe-eight only.
Zac to keep his spot ? Yes: he’s good and he’s enthusiastic. (Compare to DCE)
DCE a spent force ? Not washed up, but not putting in 100%. I suspect he’ll get motoring only at the end of the season, to help get a new deal.
Warriors bubble to burst ? Well, didn’t happen at the weekend, but they never give me any confidence that they are going to keep on keeping on.