The race to the finals is on and a spot in the top four is well and truly up for grabs with the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Melbourne Storm both losing in round 24.
The fourth placed Rabbitohs, sitting on 30 points went down to the Bulldogs who now sit in seventh position on 28 points. They blue and whites are within two points of the top four and the Melbourne Storm who are also on 28 points, but ahead of the Bulldogs because of for and against after going down to the 16th placed Newcastle Knights.
The Broncos, Cowboys and Roosters will lock up the top three positions, but fourth place is wide open.
Both the Storm (28) and the Rabbitohs (30) have the toughest final two games of the regular season with the Storm having to face the Cowboys and the Broncos, whilst the Rabbitohs will end the regular season with blockbusters against the Broncos and the Roosters.
The Bulldogs (28) and the Sharks (30) on paper have the easier draw with both teams playing teams outside the top eight.
The Bulldogs will head to Newcastle in round 25 and host the Warriors in round 26, while the Sharks face off against the Eels, before ending their regular season with a clash against the Manly Sea Eagles.
Manly (24) are still a mathematical chance of making the top eight, but need a lot of luck to go their way and the Dragons who are in eighth position on 26 points, will need all teams in front of them to lose convincingly and themselves win comfortably to make the eight.
With two weeks to go before the finals begin, the race to secure that top four spot and the opportunity to have 'two bites at the cherry' is well and truly up for grabs.
THE RUN HOME:
RABBITOHS (30) - Broncos, Roosters
SHARKS (30) - Eels, Sea-Eagles
STORM (28) - Cowboys, Broncos
BULLDOGS (28) - Knights, Warriors
DRAGONS (26) - Titans, Tigers
SEA EAGLES (24) - Roosters, Sharks
