We’re officially one third of the way through the 2023 NRL regular season which means it’s time for our tri-annual club rankings.
This sort of content has a habit of triggering some of the rusted-on fans, so I’ll preface this by stating this is just my own opinion!
I’ve ranked each club based on what they’ve shown so far and how I think they might play out the rest of the season.
This includes consideration of injuries and player availability as well as strength of draw and roster depth. Let’s dive in!
1) South Sydney Rabbitohs
It’s difficult to not seem bias when my club is at the top of the list, but stay with me…
The Rabbitohs endured one of the toughest starts to the NRL season all while their forward pack was decimated by injuries.
They’ve come out the other side to be 6-and-3 after nine games.
Seven of those games were against current Top 8 sides, and another was against the up-and-down Roosters.
Despite the quality of their opposition, Souths boast the second best defensive record in the NRL and the fourth best attack.
Their defensive improvements this season is why I have them ranked so high.
The Rabbitohs will happily outscore most opposition on their day, but they’re making that task so much easier by keeping opponents to an average 15.3 points per game.
As they welcome more players back from injury, South Sydney are every chance of improving further.
2) Penrith Panthers
The defending premiers worked their way slowly into the 2023 season but are finding their feet, nine games in.
As expected, Api Koroisau’s influence was missed around the ruck, leaving Isaah Yeo and Nathan Cleary with less time to play with the ball.
Their attack plodded along as a result, but their defence was as good as ever.
Allowing their opposition only a touch over two tries per game is putting Cleary in a position to win it late more often than not.
Dylan Edwards has been in sublime touch, dragging his team to a few results already this year to be the Panthers best.
How they navigate injuries to key players (T.May, I.Tago, J.Fisher-Harris and L.Martin) is the question mark.
They’ve had a blessed run over the last few years but their current injury toll is a test we haven’t seen them face.
3) Melbourne Storm
In Round 3 the Storm conceded 38 points to lose against the Gold Coast Titans.
In their next three games they allowed 12, 10 and 8 points respectively.
Are you noticing a theme here?
Defence wins premierships and Melbourne are working hard to get their key areas right.
Their forward pack is finding its way after a challenging start.
The Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi left gaping holes in Melbourne’s forward rotation, but Trent Loiero, Max King and Eli Katoa etc are doing a job and will only improve from here.
The form of Harry Grant – and Melbourne’s improved defence – is what has them ranked so high for me.
4) Brisbane Broncos
Made the most of a soft opening draw to position themselves very nicely on the ladder.
They’re dominating through the middle thanks to Payne Haas and Pat Carrigan, and Adam Reynolds is bringing his strike outside backs into the game expertly from there.
The form of Reece Walsh has been another standout, but he won’t always play behind a winning pack. How the Broncos stack up against top opposition is the next question to answer.
5) New Zealand Warriors
Enjoying immediate improvement under new coach Andrew Webster.
Their resilience is among the best in the NRL – they defend errors and absorb pressure like only elite teams do.
Wayde Egan is working well with his forwards and Shaun Johnson is pulling the strings in the backline.
His combination with Tohu Harris and Te Maire Martin could be a real point of difference in the back end of the season; they interchange positions seamlessly in attack to present great variety to the opposition.
They’re managing an injury crisis right now but are still winning the games they should. Let’s Gone.
6) Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla have arguably the best attack in the NRL on their day.
Blayke Brailey his hugely underrated, Nicho Hynes is somehow still improving, William Kennedy’s timing in the backline is elite and both wingers are classy finishers.
Their defence is the question though, teams are finding joy around both Matt Moylan and Hynes on the edges, and their middle has leaked a concerning 28% of tries (7) to start the year.
They’ve got points in them to trouble the best teams, but make it too difficult for themselves sometimes.
7) Parramatta Eels
I’m sure this ranking will raise a few eyebrows, but I’ve seen enough in Parramatta’s 4-and-5 record to believe they can still do something this season.
Josh Hodgson continues to draw criticism for overplaying his hand while synonymously never receiving credit for the opportunities he creates around the ruck.
He and Junior Paulo tore Newcastle apart in Round 9 and it’s a possible glimpse into the future of the Eels attack; compress the middle and create space for Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown on the edges.
Their defence has been patchy to start the season but we know Parramatta can turn it on in the big games.
8) Sydney Roosters
I’m still a believer – this spine just needs more time.
Trent Robinson has clearly grown tired of waiting for things to click, moving Joey Manu into the halves as a short-term fix.
That move has coincided with a forward pack that is nearing full strength and when it is, the Roosters will play a power game through the middle that few teams in the NRL will match.
I’m convinced it’s a matter of when – not if – the quartet of Brandon Smith, Victor Radley, Sam Walker and Luke Keary will gel, but with each passing week the pressure rises.
9) The Dolphins
A very impressive start to life in the NRL. Wayne Bennett has coached belief and resilience into this club – two important qualities in a winning team.
They don’t know when they’re beat and are doing all the little things right – kicks and kick chase, line speed, completions.
They’re undoubtedly exceeding expectations nine games in, but as the injuries add up and opposing teams figure them out, the question will be if they can maintain this form across 27 weeks?
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow has been a revelation as has Jeremy Marshall-King – two guys Wayne can build this club around.
10) Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
My main concerns for the Sea Eagles are straightforward: the health of Tom Trbojevic and an inconsistent defensive record.
The last two weeks sums up Manly perfectly – a statement win over Melbourne in Round 8 was backed up by a 16-point loss to the Gold Coast Titans in Round 9.
They’re as talented as any team in the comp but maintaining the rage from week-to-week is their biggest hurdle.
Josh Schuster’s form and fitness is another factor for Anthony Seibold to navigate along with his superstar fullback.
Manly can do anything come finals time, but will they put themselves in a position to do so?
11) Canberra Raiders
Whatever the Raiders lack in class or star quality, they make up for in effort.
Their 4-4 record is a fair return on a tough opening eight games without yet fielding their first-choice 17.
One constant for Canberra this season is their resilience.
They scrap and fight for the full 80 to almost always be in a position to win it late.
Consistently coming up with match winning plays – like Jamal Fogarty’s field-goal in Round 9 – is the challenge.
They’ve handled injuries to key players well enough and scraped a few wins despite not ever being close to their best.
Encouragingly, they should improve throughout the season and make up some ground during the Origin period.
12) Newcastle Knights
The Knights have shown plenty of improvement this season.
Jackson Hastings has to be a Buy of the Season candidate – he’s getting them to specific areas on the park and passing teammates into positive involvements.
Bradman Best can thank his new halfback for the career numbers he’s produced to start the year. Lachie Miller has been another standout while Kalyn Ponga has watched from the sidelines.
We need to give Newcastle time to adjust to new players in the spine, but their effort areas have impressed.
If they can keep competing like they have, the control of Hastings and the class of Ponga should win them a few of the closer games they’ve dropped so far.
13) Gold Coast Titans
It’s two steps forward, one step back for the Titans in 2023.
Kieran Foran has helped David Fifita to a career season so far and the Gold Coast’s left edge is flying as a result – only the Broncos and Storm have scored more tries down that channel this year.
They’re working up the field effectively and scoring points easily enough, but defence is the issue – highlighted by conceding a 26-point lead against The Dolphins in Round 8.
On top of that, here are still some unresolved questions in this line-up too, namely where and when to play Jayden Campbell.
There’s a classy footy side here but they make the easy things look hard.
14) St George-Illawarra Dragons
As expected, too much is falling on Ben Hunt to collect competition points for this side each week.
The Jacob Liddle, Hunt & Jack Bird combination through the middle of the field was a highlight to start the season, but their potency around the ruck has lessened with Bird on an edge.
There’s points in this side but their defence and resilience under pressure is the issue.
On a positive note, Tyrell Sloan is playing out the season we thought he would last year and looks a real player of the future.
15) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
An injury toll of catastrophic proportions has the Bulldogs ranked so low on this list.
There are plenty of promising signs around Reed Mahoney, Matt Burton, Jake Averillo and Max King, but Canterbury just can’t catch a trick with injuries, with Viliame Kikau a huge loss.
Much of their attack in the pre-season would have revolved around he and Burton on the left edge.
With Kikau gone for most of the year, the Bulldogs are adjusting on the run.
An NRL debut for Karl Oloapu this week is perhaps a sign Canterbury are already looking towards 2024?
It’s frustrating for Dogs fans, but they’re in a better position now than they have been for years.
16) North Queensland Cowboys
Horrible signs in North Queensland.
The ‘compete and complete’ game plan of 2022 is nowhere to be seen as the Cowboys have struggled in all major effort errors to begin the season.
Their line speed, tackle completion and kick chase are all shades off where they were last season, while Tom Dearden and Scott Drinkwater are struggling to impact games behind a beaten pack.
The concern is where to go from here?
There’s nothing majorly wrong with their playing style or roster, it’s just not working as well this time around.
This will be a big test of Todd Payten’s coaching credentials.
17) Wests Tigers
Started the season as poorly as possible but there have been signs of improvement over the last month.
They’re getting more out of Api Koroisau in attack around the ruck, namely with those wrap-around plays in good-ball.
Koroisau’s ability to engage the defence is allowing Luke Brooks and Brandon Wakeham to play wide at retreating defences.
Its looked good in patches, but those patches have been few and far between.
It will be interesting to see how they back up a big win in Round 9. The Tigers have impressed in yardage but are still awfully inefficient in good-ball.
The development of Jahream Bula is a highlight – he looks a real player of the future.
Let me know what I’ve got wrong and why in the comments below!
Oscar Pannifex | RugbyLeagueWriters.com