The eight has been decided and in a few short weeks we will also know the 2003 NRL Premiers. With Cronulla and St George out, and Penrith rejoining the race alongside Melbourne- it certaintly will be a hard to predict series.

Qualifying Finals
With Brad Drew, Jason Croker, Michael Monaghan, and Mark McLinden all in doubt or out- the Raiders will succumb to an upset loss against the Melbourne Storm.

In the game of the round, Canterbury will out-muscle the New Zealand Warriors to progress to the semi finals.

The Sydney Roosters will have little trouble against the Johnsless Knights, who may be decent in his absence, but won't be able to get revenge after Sydney knocked them out 38-12 in last year's semi's.

Sunday afternoon will see Penrith doing battle against Brisbane and their critics, and they should triumph on the back of their unpredictable attack.

OUT
Brisbane and Newcastle, both big-guns who have been ravaged by injury and Origin selection will crash out.

THROUGH
Sydney and the Panthers will head through to the major semi-finals.

Minor Semi Finals
Melbourne and New Zealand will provide an interesting regional derby, with New Zealand too strong for the wild card Storm.

Meanwhile the Bulldogs will end Canberra's incredible season, making up for the upset loss at their hands a few weeks ago.

Major Semi Finals
Two sides fresh off the bye, which has traditionally been bad for all involved.

In a thrilling semi-final offering, the reigning premiers host the bookies favourites as Sydney clash with The Dogs. The Roosters will be spoiling for revenge after two Bulldog beatings this year, and will get through to their second consecutive Grand Final on the back of some Fittler flare.

Penrith will then play the Warriors, where I think they will finally meet their match. The Warriors and Penrith both boast incredible attacking flare, but where Penrith's defence is lackadasical, the Warriors have been hardened by recent big clashes with Sydney and Brisbane- not to mention last year's finals experience against the likes of Cronulla and Sydney.

The Grand Final
A carbon copy of last year, who'd have thought? Sydney may have been the better side that night, but there's no doubting that New Zealand have vastly improved this year despite finishing lower on the ladder.

However, as much as I'd love to see the youthful Warriors get up and get some pride in New Zealand League, I think Sydney will make it 2 from 2 in a much tighter contest.

Just my take, would love to read other opinions.

Qualifying Finals
as much as id love to see the storm win, canberra will just do enough to get the victory in a close one.

Canterbury will just and i mean just win over the warriors but it comes at a price with heaps of minor injuries suffered at the hands of the warriors destroying defence.

Roosters will pwn the knights.

What a game this will be, the broncos will be back to there best in this one and will run away with it in the final 20 minutes after penrith lead for most of the game.

OUT
Warriors & Newcastle. Warriors very unlucky, like chris wrote they are definetly a finals contender. Knights would be a totally different story if A. Johns was there.

THROUGH
Sydney & Canterbury through, sydney are looking very good now, canterbury should feel lucky that they got the week off after the bashing they copped from the warriors.

Minor Semi Finals
Penrith will beat Melbourne rather easily, melbourne just arent up to the task of winning finals football, theyve really struggled all year away from melbourne and will struggle again to shutdown, gower & campbell.

In another easyish victory the broncos will defeat the raiders. The Raiders again wont be able to match it with the broncos who look like a new side with scott prince leading from the front.

Major Semi Finals

In the match of the year Roosters have a 17-0 halftime lead over the broncos but the broncos rally in the second half to lead 18-17 with ten to go. roosters then score a try to make it 23-18 but the broncos reply with a try scored in the corner with a devere conversion miss making it 23-22 to roosters with a few minutes to play with the clock running down and the broncos looking out of it lockyer tries a 45 metre drop goal and is succesful to send the game into extra time. the game winner is scored by scott minto who does a high jump, leap over the goalposts to score :P. Broncos winners and into there 6th Grand Final.

In another close game the bulldogs were in front for more then 10 for 65 minutes of the game but with the sin binning of mark o meley for fighting penrith were able to put in lots of quick points to win by 4 in a somewhat of an anti climax.

The Grand Final
In a close win Penrith defy the odds and win a thriller against the broncos despite leading from the 3 minute mark.

Couldn't help yourself, could you?

Seven straight losses and one from ten. :P

Chris

and i was being fair chris, personally i think we will win hehe.

I reckon the Storm will win, Canberra just has too many injuries.

The Warriors I reckon will win based on form, but not by much.

Roosters should win against the Knights, who will miss the class of Johns.

Panthers should do it easy against the Broncos who have found it hard to score points lately, whereas tha Panthers are the opposite and can score from nothing.

Newcastle and Broncos out.

Roosters and Penrith through

Melbourne I think can beat the Warriors on the right night. Ill tip the Storm.

The Doggies will beat Canberra.


Sydney beat the Dogs.

Melbourne are beaten by Penrith. (Just)

Sydney win in the grand final (I hope).

Rowland