The Future League answers the important questions of each conference over the first four rounds of the season.

Q: Can the Newcastle Knights win the NRL North?

A: They certainly can. The Knights are now the sole undefeated team in the NRL, but it’s their perfect 2-0 record against their NRL North conferences rivals that has really impressed The Future League. Their wins against the North Queensland Cowboys in round one and Gold Coast Titans in round three were both hard-fought tussles won by only two points, as well as on the road. Their next conference clash is not until round 8, against the Cowboys at Hunter Stadium, and if the Knights can continue this run of early-season form they can position themselves comfortably ahead in the NRL North.

Q: Are Manly already out of the running for the NRL East?

A: Not at all. While playing far from their usual form and struggling with a serious injury toll, the fact of the matter is the Sea Eagles are yet to play any of their conference rivals. With both the South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Sydney Roosters starting the season well, and the Warriors displaying their usual inconsistency, the Sea Eagles have plenty of time to bounce back and climb the conference ladder before the Origin period.

Q: Who has started the season on top in the NRL West?

A: While they initially began 2015 with a stumble against the Penrith Panthers, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs have bounced back in a big way. They toppled the Parramatta Eels the following round, then beat the Wests Tigers in extra-time in round four, bringing their conference record to 2-1. On the other hand, the Panthers have lost two matches on the trot after a strong start, which has allowed the Bulldogs to jump to the top of the conference table.

Q: Will the NRL South continue to be the poorest-performing conference in the NRL?

A: While it’s still too early to tell, after four rounds of footy no team in the NRL South has a winning percentage greater than 50 per cent. Both the Melbourne Storm and the St George Illawarra Dragons lead the conference with 2-2 records – the only difference being the Storm’s two victories have been against their conference rivals. And with the poorly performing Canberra Raiders next on their menu in round six, it’s a great opportunity for Melbourne to continue laying the foundations for a conference clean sweep.

Related Posts: Conference Clashes & Close Calls