SEN's NRL Power Rankings after Round 15

Each week, the SEN League team rank each team from 1 to 17 based on their most recent performance, strength of their opponent, injuries and form.

A team's position on the NRL ladder has no bearing on the power rankings.

SEN League Rankings after Round 15:

1. Panthers (1st previous week)
2. Storm (2)
3. Roosters (3)
4. Sharks (4)
5. Bulldogs (6)
6. Broncos (5)
7. Dolphins (9)
8. Sea Eagles (10)
9. Warriors (8)
10. Raiders (7)
11. Cowboys (12)
12. Dragpms (10)
13. Eels (13)
14. Knights (14)
15. Rabbitohs (15)
16. Tigers (17)
17. Titans (16)

1. Penrith Panthers

Last Week: 1

The Panthers retain top spot on our power rankings after a strong win against a spirited Newcastle Knights side. The home side threatened the three-time reigning Premiers as they got within two points but Penrith's class shone through in the end. A bye in Round 16 comes at a welcome time with several stars unable due to State of Origin duty.

2. Melbourne Storm

Last Week: 2

The Melbourne Storm have extended their dominance over the Warriors to 16 consecutive wins. Melbourne ran in seven tries with exciting young fullback Sualauvi Faalogo providing plenty of fireworks. The Storm are first on the NRL ladder but given they have had two byes already, they stay in second position on the power rankings.

3. Sydney Roosters

Last Week: 3

The Roosters just keep banking important wins as they prepare to lose several Origin stars in both the NSW and Queensland camps. Barring another injury to Dylan Edwards, James Tedesco will be available for a tricky test against an in-form Bulldogs side in Gosford in Round 16.

4. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks

Last Week: 4

The Sharks are lucky to keep their spot in the power rankings top 4 after a poor display against the Dolphins. Wayne Bennett's men had never won in Sydney in their short history and couldn't believe thier luck when they raced out to a 22-0 lead inside 24 minutes. The Sharks managed to snatch the lead early in the second half but their poor start left them vulnerable to a Dolphins win and it ultimately proved costly. The Sharks have the bye in Round 16 but could slip down the rankings pending other results.

5. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Last Week: 6

The Bulldogs are the beneficiary of the Broncos' poor performance in Round 16 and move up the power rankings. They are currently firing on all cylinders and are guaranteed to rise up the power rankings if they claim a big scalp against and Origin-impacted Roosters outfit.

6. Brisbane Broncos

Last Week: 5

The Broncos had to slide down the rankings after succumbing to their third loss in a row in a dour 22-12 loss to the Rabbitohs on a rainy Friday night at Accor Stadium. Injuries have played their part but the Broncos now find themselves in ninth on the NRL ladder and look a shadow of the team that blitzed the competition in 2023 and made the Grand Final. The bye couldn't come at a better time for Kevin Walters' side.

7. Dolphins

Last Week: 9

The Dolphins continue to prove the doubters wrong after an impressive win over Cronulla at Shark Park. The most pleasing aspect to the Dolphins' rise are the lesser known players such as Max Plath and Jack Bostock who are having outstanding seasons. A massive test awaits as the Dolphins host the Melbourne Storm in a Friday night blockbuster at Suncorp Stadium; a ground that Melbourne has historically dominated.

8. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles

Last Week: 10

It's hard to get a read on Manly at the moment. They can go from looking like world beaters and then look completely out of sync and listless in attack. No one can deny their win over the Dragons after injuries forced the Sea Eagles to play without a bench and they were somehow able to outlast the Dragons in a scrappy contest. There's no respite for Manly this week as they face a Rabbitohs side bouyed on the back of three consecutive wins.

9. Warriors

Last Week: 8

It's been a season of one step forward, two steps back for the Warriors who can't seem to crack the formula to defeat the Melbourne Storm. The Warriors smashed the Cowboys the week earlier to get back into the power rankings top 8 but crash out the next week after leaking points at home. Time is running out for the Wahs to make their move.

10. Canberra Raiders Raiders

Last Week: 7

The biggest slider in Round 15 as they fell by three spots. The points differential is the greatest tell on how a team is travelling and p/d of -55 is indicative of a team who can win when their backs are against the wall but can never win comfortably. Their form at GIO Stadium has been apalling and a win in Round 16 against the Wests Tigers won't prove to anyone that their problems have been sorted.

11. North Queensland Cowboys

Last Week: 12

It'd be infuriating to be a Cowboys supporter as they can never string consecutive strong performances together. North Queensland dismantled the Raiders in what was a 50/50 game leading into it. The silver lining for the Cowboys is that they are only getting their first bye in Round 16 after some teams have already had two. A sunday afternoon clash against the Penrith Panthers away from home looks ominous.

12. St George Illawarra Dragons

Last Week: 14

Another incosistent side who slip down the rankings because they were unable to defeat a team that didn't have a bench rotation for a large chunk of the game. The Dragons are a rocks and diamonds team which can be frustrating but given where many had predicted the Dragons to be at the start of the year, I think St George Illawarra fans would be happy with how this season has gone so far.

13. Parramatta Eels

Last Week: 13

Parramatta certainly look like a better team with their stars back in the 17 but the game was there to win against the Roosters in Round 15 and Mitchell Moses, Clint Gutherson and co. let a good opportunity slip. They don't fall down the rankings due the teams below them failing to fire.

14. Newcastle Knights

Last Week: 14

Newcaslte tried their best which is why they don't fall down the rankings but they are still lacking any spark in attack with the exception of second-gamer Fletcher Sharpe. However, Penrith adapted early on and snuffed out his influence. Another team who are keen to have the bye this weekend.

15. South Sydney Rabbitohs

Last Week: 15

Three wins in a row for the Bunnies and may be asking why they haven't risen further up the power rankings. The fact of the matter is that the Bunnies were expected to win the whole competition and with just four wins to their name after Round 15, they remain in 1th spot on the rankings.

16. Wests Tigers

Last Week: 17

A much needed win for the Wests Tigers at their spiritual home at Leichhardt oval. Many detractors will point to the fact that the win came over the Titans who were without David Fifita and have their own struggles but you can only beat who is in front of you. Benji Marshall's team trailed at half time but never let the Titans get a sniff in the second stanza as the Tigers snapped their nine-game losing streak.

17. Gold Coast Titans

Last Week: 16

The Titans return to the bottom of the power rankings after losing to the other bottom ranked team. They face the Warriors in Round 16 and this could honestly be a blow out.