Chris Garry's Game Day column is published each week in Rugby League News - the official programme of the Intrust Super Cup.
IN FUTURE years, coaches of the teams that miss this year's finals series will be able to justifiably claim: "Well, we only missed out because it was the 2014 season".
We are six weeks into the Intrust Super Cup season and it is obvious two excellent teams will miss this year's finals.
At the moment, the best teams in this competition are: Northern Pride, Norths Devils, Easts Tigers, Wynnum Manly, Souths Logan, Ipswich Jets and PNG Hunters.
Who misses out? In any other year all seven of these clubs would be premiership contenders.
The Pride and Devils at present are on another level than the chasing teams.
The remaining teams are near-impossible to split.
There will be some frustrated coaches come September.
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IT APPEARS inevitable that Tigers five-eighth Cody Walker will be playing for South Sydney within a month and while Easts lose a talent, Walker should be playing in the NRL anyway.
Walker is another success story for the Intrust Super Cup.
I am hearing he won't be the last player in the competition to be plucked for NRL duty before the round 13 deadline.
Stay tuned.
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RUGBY league fans are whinging and moaning about their NRL tips this year, frustrated at the lack of true form in first grade but what about the Intrust Super Cup!
No one would have predicted the Central Capras could draw with the Redcliffe Dolphins last Sunday.
It was a brilliant result for Capras coach Jason Hetherington who has had to rebuild the club from the ground up.
Yes they did have Broncos first grade regular Corey Oates in their team but still, the majority of Capras players have never walked past an NRL training session let alone be involved.
Same with the Ipswich Jets victory over PNG. Sure, it is not as much of a surprise but most would have thought the Hunters, following their draw with Easts, would overcome Ipswich.
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SPEAKING of the Jets, if they arrest their starts they will be a danger team come finals team.
Week in and week out, the Jets give away early tries but always rebound.
It is an odd habit the Walker brothers are sure to curtail.
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IF RICKY THORBY and Kyle Feldt spend the majority of this season with the Northern Pride, they will win the premiership.
Feldt has had an inconsistent year in the NRL and was subsequently dropped.
However, I remain convinced he is a special player who will one day play representative football.
With every demotion, there is promotion and it is great to see Matthew Wright get a chance at the Cowboys after performing well for the Pride in the opening month.
Wright is a great rugby league story. He was on his couch searching through Career One for a potential job just two months ago.
Rejected from the Sharks, no one wanted him until the Cowboys released Wayne Ulugia for disciplinary reasons.
Now through the Pride, Wright has made an improbable return to first grade.
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SOUTHS Logan fullback Ono So'oialo is fast becoming a cult-hero.
He has purple hair, an awesome name and is electric from fullback, always beating the first defender.
He is bound for an NRL call-up in the next 12 months.
