Could history be being written in the Brisbane peninsula suburb of Redcliffe?
The class and style the Dolphins are producing is certainly arming their fans with a confidence that they are genuine NRL Premiership contenders.
They have all bases covered and are just quietly going about their business. Sitting in sixth position on the ladder with 7 wins and 7 losses, they don’t have the “media darlings” reputation the first-placed Bulldogs enjoy at this stage of the season, but on current form, they are looking the goods.
And what about the third-placed Warriors? They are a side that have always promised so much but never delivered.
Their coach Andrew Webster has been a godsend!
He has them playing consistently to their potential, and with the inclusion this year of Erin Clark who they signed from the Titans, the Warriors have a forward pack that is up there with the best of them.
I think Clark has been the NRL buy of the year – he has galvanised the Warriors forward pack into something few other packs can match.
Would it be a surprise to see the Telstra Cup spending Christmas at Mt Smart Stadium?
That’s how good the NRL is this year – it is very hard to pick the likely Premiership winner.
You certainly can’t disregard Ricky’s Raiders either – like the Dolphins and the Warriors, they are having a good dig in season 2025.
But what does that say about the rest of the media darlings like the Roosters, Manly, Broncos, Rabbitohs, Eels and Penrith?
That may sound disrespectful to the rest, but really, who else is putting their hands up at this critical part of the season?
This competition is just sitting there waiting to be won, and I can see a few reputations crashing on the way.
The passionate Bulldogs fans will have enjoyed their storm-affected first half demolition of the Rabbitohs on Sunday.
And to be fair, the Dogs are consistently underlining their credentials, certainly in the eyes of those fans, as genuine Premiership favourites.
