SYDNEY - The NRL premiership race has been tossed on its head with major concerns over title favourites the Bulldogs and St George Illawarra as the likes of Parramatta, Gold Coast and Brisbane keep building ominously.
A 41-6 hammering from South Sydney stretched the Dragons' worrying losing streak
to three games but they still hold equal title favouritism with the Bulldogs who are the new ladder leaders but have a major injury worry over star halfback Brett Kimmorley.
Kimmorley suffered a facial fracture in the Dogs' 40-20 win over the Warriors on Sunday that could rule him out for up to five weeks.
The win may have put the Dogs on top of the table, and within reach of a minor premiership 12 months after winning the wooden spoon, but their title chances suffered a massive blow with the Kimmorley injury.
The JJ Giltinan Shield will be decided next Friday in Sydney, when the Bulldogs play the Wests Tigers at the SFS and the Dragons host the red-hot Eels at WIN Jubilee Oval.
"We've faced adversity on a number of occasions this season and we've always responded really well," said Bulldogs coach Kevin Moore.
"We can handle that type of adversity and we'll still go into every game with or without him very confident."
North Queensland and Wests Tigers are officially out of the hunt to make the finals with losses over the weekend, while Brisbane and Manly secured their places in the finals with wins.
The weekend results leave Parramatta, Newcastle and Penrith fighting over the two remaining positions in the top eight.
Newcastle can secure their finals berth tonight with a victory over the Raiders in Canberra.
Such a result would all but confirm the NRL top eight for 2009 and leave the Panthers only one option of making the finals - heavily belt Newcastle next Sunday and pray the Eels are belted by the Dragons.
Reigning premiers Manly showed they have plenty of work to do if they're to threaten in the finals, a late 18-16 win over a 12-man Cronulla side one of their ugliest wins in recent memory.
The Sea Eagles sit fifth and within reach of passing Melbourne for a top four position, but they could also fall as low as eighth if they don't perform better in next Saturday's clash with the Gold Coast.
"We were pretty disappointing today. We were all things that we have been working hard not to be," lamented coach Des Hasler.
Their clash with the Titans next week will seriously impact the finals configuration, as the Gold Coast could be in a position to snatch a top two spot from the Dragons.
The Eels are the hottest side in the NRL on a seven-game winning streak and Friday's clash with the Dragons at Kogarah is set to be another regular season belter.
Dragons coach Wayne Bennett insists his side's premiership chances hinge on getting a win before the finals and veteran winger Wendell Sailor agreed that they must find winning form before it's too late.
"It's not the sort of form you want leading into the playoffs," said Sailor.
"It's not over, but if we keep playing like that it's going to be over in two weeks for us."
- AAP
NRL: Title race turned on its head after wild weekend
The Dragons are in danger of finishing outside the top two after being thumped by Souths in the weekend. Photo / Getty Images
SYDNEY - The NRL premiership race has been tossed on its head with major concerns over title favourites the Bulldogs and St George Illawarra as the likes of Parramatta, Gold Coast and Brisbane keep building ominously.
A 41-6 hammering from South Sydney stretched the Dragons' worrying losing streak
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