Crikey’s NRL Hot Form Chart

Rugby league players are a competitive bunch. Take Roosters forward Nate Myles. The one-upmanship at his club saw the Queensland representative trump his coach’s boardshorts hotel shenanigans in the most spectacular style imaginable. Sure, it cost him a few weeks but what is that beside the undying respect of your teammates?

It’s just a shame the chickens are not playing in this abbreviated round so the corollary between public defecation and on-field form can finally be demonstrated. Ah well, a conundrum to be solved another time perhaps.

Manly has bucked Origin personnel issues and early season form to come roaring back to the top of the Hot Form Chart. Staying there, though, will be a challenge. The Sea Eagles face St George on Sunday light on some stars and may struggle to come up after a cracking match against the Bulldogs last week.

The Dogs themselves are across the ditch but must still be favoured to outclass a the Warriors — perhaps it’s time to grow back the beards? The Knights will end Canberra’s winning ways and the Rabbitohs will hop even further from finals contention with a loss to Penrith tonight.

And Parramatta travel to the Gold Coast; a place where competition points are hard to find but under-value land deals can still be spied out by the canny eye.

Form* Team Last week NRL ladder position Sequence
1 Manly 2 6 L-W-W-W-W
2 Dragons 4 1 W-L-W-W-W
3 Melbourne 7 4 W-W-W-L-W
4 Titans 1 3 W-W-W-W-L
5 Canberra 6 10 W-L-L-W-W
6 Cowboys 8 5 W-L-W-L-W
7 Bulldogs 3 2 L-W-W-W-L
8 Cronulla 5 15 W-W-W-L-L
9 Penrith 12 8 L-W-L-L-W
10 Tigers 14 14 L-W-L-L-W
11 Parramatta 9 13 L-W-L-W-L
12 Newcastle 10 7 W-L-L-W-L
13 Warriors 11 12 W-L-W-L-L
14 Brisbane 15 9 L-L-L-L-W
15 Roosters 13 16 L-L-L-W-L
16 Rabbitohs 16 11 L-L-L-L-L

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round 18 are:

  • Penrith
  • Newcastle
  • Dragons
  • Bulldogs
  • Gold Coast

Last week: 4 (Season total: 78)

Crikey’s AFL Hot Form Chart

We will still tip St Kilda and the Cats. You will too. So will everyone else. But if there was ever a chance for an upset it would be the week after last Sunday’s epic, bruising encounter. Both teams can talk all they like about maintaining the intensity but the edge is sure to be missing this week which gives home teams the Eagles, and particularly Brisbane, an outside chance against the competition’s best.

Tonight, two other hot form flyers go toe-to-toe. Neither Collingwood nor the Bulldogs have claimed a big scalp so far in 2009 but that is what each has become with winning runs in recent times. The Dogs have the edge in class and should prevail.

Adelaide’s impressive run will continue at Freo’s expense, and the Blues will consolidate their spot in the top eight with a win over Richmond.

Port Adelaide’s lesson this season has been to never tip it with any confidence — even against Melbourne. Nevertheless, the Power get the nod.

Furrows have turned to canyons on the foreheads of Hawthorn supporters and it’s little wonder with last year’s premiers now a rabble and wallowing at 14th in the Hot Form Chart. Everyone keeps waiting for the Hawks to bounce but their rubber has petrified. It’s North Melbourne to heap on more woe down in Launie.

And the Swans said goodbye to Barry Hall this week, a man who likes to belt people when they aren’t looking. That alone should preclude a future career in boxing but stranger things have happened, like the Hot Form Chart tipping Essendon to run through Sydney’s scrimmage on Saturday and nab the four points.

Form* Team Last week AFL ladder position Sequence
1 St Kilda 2 1 W-W-W-W-W
2 Adelaide 3 5 W-W-W-W-W
3 Collingwood 4 4 W-W-W-W-W
4 Bulldogs 5 3 W-W-W-W-W
5 Geelong 1 2 W-W-W-W-L
6 Carlton 8 7 W-W-L-L-W
7 Brisbane 6 6 W-L-W-W-L
8 Essendon 7 8 L-L-W-W-L
9 Port Adelaide 12 9 L-W-L-L-W
10 Richmond 9 14 W-L-W-L-L
11 Sydney 13 10 L-L-L-L-W
12 Melbourne 16 16 L-L-L-L-W
13 West Coast 11 12 L-L-L-W-L
14 Hawthorn 10 11 L-W-L-L-L
15 North Melbourne 14 13 L-L-L-L-L
16 Fremantle 15 15 L-L-L-L-L

*Form over the past five games

Crikey’s Hot Form Tips for round 15 are:

  • Bulldogs
  • Carlton
  • Essendon
  • Adelaide
  • Port Adelaide
  • Geelong
  • North Melbourne
  • St Kilda

Last week: 5 (Season total: 73)