NRL run home: The side with the roughest draw to finals

With State of Origin done and dusted for another year, attention returns to the race for finals.

There are just two months remaining of the home and away season and there’s still a huge amount to play for.

Just 10 points separates the top 10 with clubs left with seven to nine matches left to secure their finals berth - depending on byes.

Satts and Rat look at the run home for the top six sides and how their finals hope may be impacted by Origin.

Raiders 30 points 1st (17-14-3)

(Eels, Knights, Dragons, Manly, Panthers, Wests Tigers, Dolphins)

“They’re on 30 points - take them put to 34. The Panthers three weeks out from finals is a great test. If they don’t win them all I expect six out of seven. Based on the points differential, the Raiders should win the minor premiership by the length of the straight.

Storm 28 points 2nd (15-11-4)

(Knights, Manly, Roosters, Eels, Broncos, Panthers, Bulldogs, Roosters)

“I think they bounce out of Origin well. Knights you expect them to take care of. Manly, Roosters, Eels Bronx, Panthers, Dogs, Rooster and Broncos. That’s a tough run home but it will prepare them for finals like no others. It’s a perfect storm for them but out of them all it’s tough.”

Bulldogs 28 points 3rd (15-11-4)

(Cowboys, Dragons, Manly, Wests Tigers, Warriors, Roosters, Storm, Panthers, Sharks)

“Cowboy, Manly, Dragons, Titans, Warriors, Roosters and Storm to finish the season. Seven games, two byes and I think they’re sitting very pretty to finish top three maybe even higher.”

Warriors 26 points 4th (15-10-5)

(Wests Tigers, Knights, Titans, Dolphins, Bulldogs, Dragons, Titans, Eels, Manly)

“Given their injury woes they will struggle in this back end. Tigers knights Titans - you would expect them to beat those teams, but with injuries slipping in you’re just not sure.

“Titans twice in the run home but no byes so it’s flat out from here til the end but they don’t have too many Origin players in their squad, but they have injuries. They should finish top four. They have soft run home.”

Broncos 22 points 5th (16-9-7)

(Titans, Eels, Rabbitohs, Storm, Dolphins, Knights, Cowboys, Storm)

“They have a good run. Seven to play so a couple of byes. The Titans they should take care of this week. I expect them to finish top four. They will take over the Warriors.”

Panthers 21 points 6th (15-7-1-7)

(Eels, Rabbitohs, Wests Tigers, Titans, Knights, Storm, Raiders, Bulldogs, Dragons)

“They have work to do and I think they stay in the eight and I think they do so comfortably. They should win five straights Then it’s Storm, Raiders and Dogs. A great test for them heading into finals.

“If they need to rest Yeo or Martin for a week, they can but they can’t rest Nathan from here on in. The next five weeks is the time to rest. I think they win six from the last eight. Panthers are in the eight. I think they will take energy from Origin series.”