By CASEY O’CONNOR
Round 20 is done and dusted and the race to the finish line has moved into the home straight hurtling towards the 2015 minor premiership.
As is too often the case, the focus in the past few days has been on the off-field stories rather than the superb efforts of the teams leading the competition.
While the Broncos and Cowboys continued to dominate in their games, the Roosters and Bunnies have ramped up their performances.
Recent form indicates we will be talking more about them in the next few weeks while Sharks’ fans have been rewarded for their persistence and solidarity.
Their side now sits in sixth spot.
And so the challenge continues for tipsters in round 21 – the Superhero Round.
The Roosters and Bulldogs kick off on Friday night at Allianz while Melbourne hosts cellar dwellers the Tigers at AAMI Park.
The Roosters thrashed the Tigers in round 20 barely getting out of first gear while the Bulldogs let the big Belmore crowd down with a lukewarm performance against the Sharks.
Their complacent attitude gave fans plenty of reason to question their commitment and both coach and captain were clearly unimpressed post-match.
This is a danger game for the Roosters so expect the Dogs to come out snarling and if the Roosters are to remain in the top four this is a must-win game.
After an error riddled performance against the Bulldogs the Tigers have slumped to the bottom of the ladder and this week must regroup before facing the Storm at AAMI Park.
Melbourne is building momentum.
Its recent form has been a reminder that it is a team that can hang tough when things are not going its way and turn those experiences into winning form.
It will win here and will be there knocking on the door of the top four by the end of the season.
In recent weeks the Warriors’ form has been outstanding and plenty of people were willing to name them the 2015 Premiership Smokey’s.
It is fair to say that those dreams were shattered along with Shaun Johnson’s leg and ankle in last weekend’s game against Manly.
Any team, no matter where it sits in the competition, finds it difficult to replace its playmaker.
When it is last season’s Golden Boot winner the task is even more onerous.
Cronulla fans were smiling after their Belmore win but again its players are making the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
The Sharks have stood down Andrew and David Fifita pending further investigation of their behaviour at a game under the jurisdiction of the Penrith and District Junior Rugby League.
Cronulla will travel to NZ without the Fifita brothers but should still have enough bite to overcome the wounded Warriors.
One of the highlights of this round will be the clash between the Cowboys and Raiders at 1300 Smiles on Saturday night.
The second placed Cowboys are in a purple patch of form as the combination of JT and Jake Granville grows stronger.
Despite being in arguably their best ever form the Cowboys have a challenge on their hands this weekend.
The Raiders have a good head-to-head record against the Cowboys.
The Raiders prevailed against the Panthers in a high scoring game at Pepper Stadium and sit just outside the eight.
The young Raiders side is finding its feet under Ricky Stuart’s leadership and is capable of causing some headaches for the Cowboys.
Blake Austen is in superb form and Edrick Lee is showing why selectors called him into the Maroons camp.
A danger game for the NQlanders and tipsters. I am leaning slightly towards the Cowboys.
Manly notched up its best win this season when it defeated the Warriors 32-12 at Mt Smart Stadium.
The club has finally come clean and announced the worst kept secret in the NRL – club legend Geoff Toovey is to be replaced as coach in 2016.
There are reports that a razor gang is also about to let loose on current players which may be linked to some improved on-field performances.
This weekend their form will be tested when they host the competition front runners Brisbane at Bluetongue Stadium.
Brisbane is taking all before it at the moment and when there is talk of playmaking combinations the Ben Hunt Anthony Milford show gets top billing.
Manly has proven a bogey side for Brisbane from time to time however the Broncos continue to make it almost impossible to tip against them.
Their performance against the Titans last weekend was ruthless.
Much tougher here but another win for the Broncos.
Rick Stone has become a victim of the poor performance and attitude of the Knights players.
Newcastle was simply dreadful against the Bunnies.
Perhaps club legend Danny Buderus, Stone’s replacement, can lift the club’s stocks.
This week it travels to Jubilee to play the Dragons who have their own problems.
They have now lost seven on the trot – their worst losing streak since their merger.
It’s hard to know which way this will pan out – with an axe hanging over some players perhaps the Knights will lift here.
In recent weeks there have been glimpses of the form that won the Bunnies the 2015 premiership.
Greg Inglis looks fit and in form since returning from Origin Three and that spells trouble for the opposition.
This week they play Penrith at Pepper Stadium.
The Panthers traded tries with the Raiders in the early stages of their game last weekend but on recent form the Bunnies should hop away with the chocolates at ANZ.
On Monday night the Eels and Titans do battle at Cbus but it’s hard to see this game breaking crowd attendance records.
This is the Superheroes round and perhaps the Eels will channel their inner superhero to find a win.
