Round 25 live ladder, week one finals predicted, Storm, Eels, Rabbitohs, Roosters, Panthers, Cowboys, Sharks, Broncos, Raiders, Panthers vs Eels

Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!

NRL LIVE LADDER

1. Panthers (42 points)

2. Sharks (36)

3. Cowboys (34)

4. Eels (34)

5. Storm (32)

6. Roosters (32)

7. Rabbitohs (30)

8. Raiders (28)

9. Broncos (28)

10. Dragons (24)

11. Sea Eagles (20)

12. Bulldogs (16)

13. Knights (14)

14. Warriors (14)

15. Titans (12)

16. Tigers (10)

PREDICTED LADDER AFTER ROUND 25

1. Panthers (42 points)

2. Sharks (38)

3. Cowboys (36)

4. Eels (34)

5. Storm (32)

6. Roosters (32)

7. Rabbitohs (30)

8. Raiders (30)

9. Broncos (30)

10. Dragons (24)

11. Sea Eagles (22)

12. Warriors (16)

13. Bulldogs (14)

14. Knights (14)

15. Titans (12)

16. Tigers (10)

PREDICTED FIRST WEEK OF FINALS

First qualifying: (1) Panthers vs (4) Eels

Second qualifying: (2) Sharks vs (3) Cowboys

First elimination: (5) Storm vs (8) Raiders

Second elimination: (6) Roosters vs (7) Rabbitohs

PANTHERS

vs Cowboys

Finish 1st

Analysis: The Panthers are sitting six points clear having clinched the minor premiership with their win over the Rabbitohs in Round 22 and have rested nearly a full team against the Cowboys. Ivan Cleary has wrapped the likes of Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards, James Fisher-Harris, Api Koroisau, Brian To’o and Stephen Crichton and more in cotton wool. Cleary’s only worry will be if his side can hit the ground running come finals football after a week sitting on the sidelines. After the Eels big win over the Storm, the Panthers will take on the Eels — who are one of two teams to beat them this season.

Minor Premiers: Done deal

SHARKS

vs Knights

Win: Finish 2nd

Lose: Finish 2nd if Cowboys lose, 3rd if Cowboys win

Analysis: The Sharks are odds on to finish second for the first time since 1999 with only the lowly Knights standing between them and their best finish in over two decades. Craig Fitzgibbon’s biggest issue is that he has a number of backline stars out injured and he will want to give as many as possible some game time to get their match fitness up before the finals start. On the other hand he may want to wrap Nicho Hynes in cotton wool because the Sharks can’t win the premiership without their halfback — but they should beat the Knights in a canter and look set to take on the Cowboys in the first week of finals.

Prediction: 2nd

COWBOYS

vs Panthers

Win: Finish 2nd if Sharks lose, 3rd if Sharks win

Lose: Finish 3rd if Storm lose

Analysis: The Cowboys let a golden opportunity slip to finish top two and earn a home final in week one after losing to the Rabbitohs to see the Sharks overtake them heading into the final round. Given the Sharks are unlikely to lose to the Knights even if they rest some stars, the Cowboys look almost certain to finish in second or third after the Panthers rested almost their full starting team. A win in the final regular season game will give the Cowboys some confidence heading into September. Even if they lose, the Cowboys will now face the Sharks in the first week of finals. Todd Payten’s men will still want to win in Round 25, because carrying two losses into the finals is not ideal for their confidence, despite their stellar year. The club will be hoping Tom Dearden is back on deck after their attack struggled against the Rabbitohs, with Scott Drinkwater moving to five-eighth.

Prediction: 3rd

STORM

vs Eels

Finish 5th

Analysis: The Storm let a golden chance to cement their top four spot slip in their 18-14 loss to the Roosters at home. Melbourne always seem to bounce back after a loss, but were unable to overcome their bogey team the Eels in a 22-14 loss. Adding to Craig Bellamy’s finals dilemma is that he is battling a horror injury list and can’t afford to lose any more stars ahead of the finals with Jahrome Hughes now also out of the contest. But now having slipped down to fifth place and lost the opportunity to have a second chance, Bellamy will be desperate to field his best side in the first week of finals with the Storm likely to face the Raiders.

EELS

vs Storm

Finish 4th

Analysis: The Jekyll and Hyde Eels are starting to string some wins together and another victory over the Storm is a major psychological boost for Brad Arthur’s men. Parramatta have now booked a top four spot and will take on their arch rivals in the first week of finals, with the loser getting a second chance. Arthur’s side have been able to beat Ivan Cleary’s Panthers twice already this season and will be confident of coming away with victory and booking a preliminary finals spot.

ROOSTERS

vs Rabbitohs

Finish 6th

Analysis: The Roosters’ 26-16 win over the Rabbitohs on Friday locked in a home ground advantage when they take on their arch rivals once again in week one of the finals. But the important win came at a cost with Joey Manu suffering a concerning calf injury, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves taken from the field with a hamstring niggle and Sam Verrills suffering a hand injury. That’s on top of Daniel Tupou, Joseph Suaalii and Victor Radley, who missed Friday’s game, and Lindsay Collins, who is suspended for the rest of the season.

RABBITOHS

vs Roosters

Finish 7th

Analysis: The Rabbitohs will head over to Allianz Stadium to face the Roosters for the second week in a row. The Roosters’ win on Friday means they will host the elimination final, but the Rabbitohs will be out for revenge. They face a nervous wait though over the fitness of skipper Cameron Murray, who suffered a head knock in the opening minute of Friday’s clash. The Roosters turned up to that game with a plan to shut down Latrell Mitchell and it worked. It’ll give the Bunnies something to think about before they face off again — this time though in a do-or-die clash.

RAIDERS

vs Tigers

Win: Finish 8th if Broncos lose OR if they don’t win by 44 points more than Raiders do

Lose: Miss finals if Broncos win, 8th if Broncos lose

Analysis: The Raiders have had a bumper second half of the year albeit aided by a soft run home, which continues against the wooden spooners the Tigers in Round 25. Given they are in eighth spot already, a big win over the Tigers would ensure they lock up the final spot in the eight. The Raiders have a better points differential than the Broncos by 43 points even though they are both on 28 competition points. However, if both the Raiders and Broncos win and Brisbane win by 44 more points than Canberra do, they will leapfrog them into the finals. The Raiders just need to win first and foremost and then hope the Broncos don’t pull off the impossible to decide who takes on the Storm in week one.

Prediction: 8th

BRONCOS

vs Dragons

Win: Finish 8th if Raiders lose OR win by 44 points less than Broncos do, otherwise miss finals

Lose: Miss finals

Analysis: For a team that was in the top four after 19 rounds, the Broncos’ destiny is no longer in their hands and they have to hope the Raiders slip up against the worst team in the NRL in the Tigers. First thing is first for Kevin Walters’ side is to beat the Dragons and try put plenty of points on them to keep the pressure on the Raiders. Canberra play the last game of the regular season against the Tigers, so they have the advantage of knowing the mathematical equation if the Broncos beat the Dragons and improve their points differential to better than Canberra. It looks like too many ifs for the Broncos in a sad finish to their season, but there is still some hope however faint.

Prediction: 9th