Mid Season Review: Part 2

At the halfway point of the competition, we're going to take moment to run the rule over each team and rate their performance thus far. The below gradings are based mainly on results vs expectation but other factors were considered. Please feel free to let us know if we got it right, or where we have it wrong. Check out the second eight teams here! Brisbane Broncos The fact the Broncos currently sit in 8th spot perfectly sums up their season. They've been better than some teams but nowhere near as good as others. They probably deserve to be in the eight, but only just. Their big name signing Jack Bird has hugely under delivered and looks to be struggling with injury yet again. Bennett's chopping and changing of his halves combination has certainly hurt, although the signs are that Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima are starting to gel. James Roberts has been an absolute superstar for the Broncos on his way to becoming an Origin regular. TPJ is a monster with a future to match. Grading: C [caption id="attachment_33175" align="alignnone" width="696"] BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 20: Alex Glenn of the Broncos is congratulated by team mates after scoring a try during the round seven NRL match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Melbourne Storm at Suncorp Stadium on April 20, 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)[/caption] Canberra Raiders The Raiders can consider themselves lucky to be only two wins outside of the top eight after a less than stellar first half to the season. Their attack has fired at times but their efforts in defence have meant that 20+ points sometimes just hasn't been enough. The Joey Leilua/Jordan Rapana partnership has failed to deliver as in past years but to be honest, it's the halves combination that has most been the cause for alarm. Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin seem to book end good games with games where they've gone missing. The huge Raiders pack have dominated early but have fallen away far too often. Josh Papalii played extremely well for QLD in Origin One but he was playing reserve grade earlier in the season. They're well in the hunt for a finals spot but they're going to need to find a level of consistency they're yet to discover to feature come September. Grading: C [caption id="attachment_33436" align="alignnone" width="696"] during the round five NRL match between the Canberra Raiders and the Canterbury Bulldogs at GIO Stadium on April 5, 2018 in Canberra, Australia.[/caption] Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs There was genuine excitement as two marquee signings were joined by a new coach in Dean Pay. Unfortunately, that excitement was misplaced as Kieran Foran has failed to fire and Aaron Woods has been so dire that a mid-season transfer is genuinely on the cards. Salary cap pressure has crippled this club and 2018 is gone. With Moses Mbye and possibly Woods moving on, Pay and co can start planning towards 2019 and beyond, but being that it's only June, that's a sad state of affairs. The departing Mbye has probably been their best player, while Reece Martin has been a find. Josh Jackson is always solid. Michael Lichaa is stuck in reserve grade while the man the Dogs moved on for him is a standout for NSW. Unfortunately, the Des era is still being felt. Grading: D [caption id="attachment_33667" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 16: Aaron Woods of the Bulldogs leaves the field during the round two NRL match between the Sydney Roosters and the Canterbury Bulldogs at Allianz Stadium on March 16, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)[/caption] Cronulla Sharks The Sharks are a hard team to grade. On one hand they've won six of their last seven and sit firmly inside the eight, but on the other hand, they're really yet to fire other than their big win over the Knights. New recruits Josh Dugan and Matt Moylan have found form of late after slow starts. Given the injuries, they suffered the Sharks can be very happy with their efforts to date. At one point they were sans their top four back rowers. Scott Sorenson, Kurt Capewell, Joseph Paulo and co have filled in extremely well and look to have the future first-grade spots wrapped up. Andrew Fifita has been enormous and sits second in the Dally M tally to date. Valentine Holmes has re-found form since moving back to the wing. Jesse Ramien is one of the best young players in the competition. They've set themselves up for a run at the finals. Grading: B [caption id="attachment_33614" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 30: Valentine Holmes of the Sharks runs the ball during the round four NRL match between the Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm at Southern Cross Group Stadium on March 30, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brendon Thorne/Getty Images)[/caption] Gold Coast Titans The Titans have shocked many while letting down some. 'Experts' had this side finishing anywhere from 8th to 16th in the pre-season, and to be honest I never know what to expect. One week the Titans can blow a side off the park yet just six or seven days later they look like a park football side. I am a huge fan of Ash Taylor. Jai Arrow has been one of the best signings of the season and deserves his Origin bench spot. Ryan James has been shifted front row to out wide and really needs to be in a settled spot as a matter of priority. Bryce Cartwright was recruited to help spark the attack but spends more times in the memes section of social media than he does the Dally M points tally. Overall the Titans probably wouldn't be thrilled with sitting 12th but when compared to pre-season expectations they may have overachieved thus far. Grading: C- [caption id="attachment_33379" align="alignnone" width="696"] GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 28: Bryce Cartwright of the Titans runs the ball during the round eight NRL match between the Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla Sharks at Cbus Super Stadium on April 28, 2018 in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)[/caption] Manly Sea Eagles The current Jekyll and Hyde side of the NRL, the Sea Eagles very rarely put two similar performances on week to week. This is a team that reduced the Eels to spectators only to be bent over a few weeks later by the same side. Currently, they sit in 13th position and are at long odds to play finals. The Turbo brothers are absolute megastars of the competition. Manly depend way too much on the two. DCE has been far too inconsistent for a player of his standing and pay packet. Trent Barrett has tried many halves combinations but is yet to find a number six. Trent Hodkinson was brought in from the Sharks but Tom Wright must be scratching his head at what he needs to do to play first grade. Marty Taupau has been immense, arguably one of the top two or three props in the competition. Curtis Sironen was breathing fire prior to his injury. Grading: D [caption id="attachment_32925" align="alignnone" width="696"] SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 22: Daly Cherry-Evans of Manly speaks to team mates during the round seven NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Manly Sea Eagles at ANZ Stadium on April 22, 2018 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Brett Hemmings/Getty Images)[/caption] Melbourne Storm No Cooper Cronk? No Worries! ... Kind of. After destroying the English champions in the World Club Challenge the Brodie Croft lead Storm looked destined for big things. Fast forward a few weeks and the Storm were starting to really miss their champion number seven. Ultimately I think the Storm have surpassed expectations given the amount of talent they lost in the off-season. Cameron Smith and Billy Slater simply don't age while Will Chambers and Jesse Bromwich round out the new big four. Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr are still the elite wing combination of the competition. Chambers, despite a below-par Origin game one, is probably the game's best centre. The biggest signing the Storm made this season is the re-signing of their coach despite huge interest from the Broncos. Despite losing Cronk the Storm are still a massive force. Grading: B+ [caption id="attachment_32847" align="alignnone" width="696"] MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - APRIL 25: Ryley Jacks of the Melbourne Storm is congratulated by his Billy Slater of the Melbourne Storm and his teammates after scoring the first try during the round eight NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and New Zealand Warriors at AAMI Park on April 25, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Scott Barbour/Getty Images)[/caption] New Zealand Warriors Hands up who had the Warriors sitting two points off the top of the competition at the half way points? No hands!? The Warriors have been nothing short of incredible in 2018. Tohu Harris and Blake Green have been two of the signings of the season while Isaac Luke has in career best form. RTS and Shaun Johnson have found plenty in their teammates this season that was not there in 2017. I can't remember the last time, prior to 2018, that the Warriors won sans their superstar halfback. I simply cannot understand the turnaround on the other side of the Tasman. Peta Hiku has refound a level of for we haven't seen for years. The Fus is one of the elite outside backs and is everybody's second favourite player. I had the Warriors finishing last this season but I'm happy to eat that humble pie. They're finals bound after a long time. A joy to watch. Grading: A [caption id="attachment_33202" align="alignnone" width="696"] AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MAY 05: Blake Green of the Warriors looks on during the round nine NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Wests Tigers at Mt Smart Stadium on May 5, 2018 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)[/caption]