BY ROB

17 teams entered, 9 teams bowed out. The Thunderdome that is the regular NRL season has concluded, and we’re going to run a rough-toothed comb over those teams that didn’t make the cut this year.

17th – The Tigers endured another bruising campaign, culminating in a Spoon Bowl defeat to the Eels. Success came in two’s this year with wins in rounds 3 & 4,  15 & 16 and 24 & 25. There is light coming through the tunnel in the shape of Jarome Luai, so maybe 2025 might be a bit more dignified.

Lowlight: Ending the year with a 60-26 loss to fellow stragglers Parra.

Highlight: Downing the Raiders 48-24 in round 16.

16th – Souths endured a torrid start to the year, picking up just one win in the first eleven rounds. They conjured up a solid five run between rounds 12 to 18 (plus byes) but could only manage one more victory in round 20. Expect big overhauls when Bennett returns in 2025.

Lowlight: A 48-6 drubbing from arch-rivals the Roosters in round 3.

Highlight: Thumping the Titans 46-12 in round 12.

15th – Grand finalists just two years ago the Eels underwent a spectacular collapse in ’24, exacerbated by the loss of Mitch Moses for most of the season. Brad Arthur was shown the door after round 11, with Jason Ryles set to take the reins in 2025. Brace for changes.

Lowlight: Nearly copping the dreaded fifty from the Storm in Melbourne, the 48-16 loss marking the end of BA.

Highlight: Pumping fellow westerners the Tigers 60-26 in the Spoon Bowl.

14th – Set for a revival under new coach Des Hasler the Titans had to contend with losing Tino to an ACL injury in round 3, along with David Fifita flip-flopping over his future. Took eight rounds to secure a win.

Lowlight: Getting blitzed by the Sharks 44-0 in front of a home crowd.

Highlight: Either smashing the hapless Wahs 66-6 or winning the SEQLD derby against the Broncos 46-18.

13th – Perhaps the most disappointing campaign of the year. Preliminary challengers in ’23 the Wahs were unable to replicate the magic of last year, stumbling through 2024 with patchy form and injuries. Coach Webster will have his work cutout readying them for next year.

Lowlight: Receiving an absolute hiding 66-6 from the Titans in round 16.

Highlight: Shaun Johnson throwing the pass for the winning play in his final game in round 26.

12th – The curse of playing Penrith in a grand final struck again, with the Broncos dropping ten spots to miss the finals altogether. A merry-go-round of injuries saw their form oscillate all year, but it was the unexpected losses to other non-contenders that did them in.

Lowlight: Getting the dreaded fifty courtesy of the Storm in front of a home crowd in the final round.

Highlight: Beating the Cows twice for a combined score of 80-30.

11th – Despite Fox Sports raging hard-on for Flanno’s new gig the Dragons were never quite able to string together in 2024. They only managed back-to-back wins in rounds 6 & 7 and 13 & 14. The rest of the season was an interminable rollercoaster of win-loss, win-loss.

Lowlight: Getting stunned by the ‘Phins 38-0 in round 2 or the 60-18 shellacking courtesy of the Chooks in round 8.

Highlight: Romping it in 56-14 over Wests in round 14.

10th – While they improved on their inaugural season the Dolphins still didn’t quite have the oomph to drag them into finals contention. Bennett hands over coaching duties to Kristian Woolf for 2025.

Lowlight: Getting torn a new one by the Storm 48-6 in round 25.

Highlight: Either wrecking the Dragons 38-0 in round 2 or giving the Broncos a hiding 40-6 in round 26.

9th – The best of the rest. Despite pre-season predictions from MSM Sydney clowns the Raiders overcame key injuries to finish just outside Club September. Their mid-year mini-season slump was arguably where their finals aspirations started to falter.

Lowlight: Either losing at home 40-0 to the Sharks in round 8 or getting beat 48-24 by eventual triple spooners the Tigers.

Highlight: You can pick between their first 40+ point victory since 2022 (41-8 over the Eels in round 5) or their back-to-back wins against the Panthers and Roosters in rounds 25 & 26.

So it’s tata for now for these 9 teams – time to relax and recharge, refresh those rosters and then dig into a preseason that can lay the platform for a much better run in 2025.

Rob is the best human I know so you should follow him on Twitter here. Or you can do us a solid and like our page on Facebook, or share this on social media. Don’t hesitate to send us feedback (dan@sportress.org) or comment below if you think we are stupid. Or if we’re not.