Hostplus Cup: Road to the finals

Norths Devils

Current ladder position: 2nd
Points: 30 (+245)
Final three opponents: Wynnum Manly Seagulls (home); Central Queensland Capras (away); Sunshine Coast Falcons (home)

The Devils have notched up 12 wins and five losses so far across the regular season to be a lock for this year's finals series. But for the remaining three weeks, they still have plenty to fight for, including securing a top two finish. They are the only team that could cause a minor premiership upset - but would need to rely on some heavy wins and some Northern Pride losses to do so. With the minor premiership almost wrapped up by their Cairns rivals, the Devils' focus will instead be on trying to guarantee themselves two home finals. They have the Sunshine Coast Falcons breathing down their necks at the moment, but if they can get at least two wins from their final three games and maintain their strong differential points lead over the Falcons, they should retain second place.

Sunshine Coast Falcons

Current ladder position: 3rd
Points: 28 (+165)
Final three opponents: Northern Pride (away); Souths Logan Magpies (away); Norths Devils (away)

The Falcons are steamrolling their way into this year's finals series, only dropping one game from their last seven matches - an upset loss to the Ipswich Jets in Round 17. Having battled their fair share of injuries this year, the Sunshine Coast are picking up plenty of momentum and if they stay healthy, will be a massive threat come September. They do face their last three weeks on the road, with their stadium currently being redeveloped. They will also come up against the Pride and the Devils in Rounds 21 and 23, which will no doubt be challenging. But it will also be a good measuring stick to see where they stand. The Falcons can push for a top two finish but their main focus will be on maintaining their place in the top four to secure two weeks of finals footy action.

Redcliffe Dolphins

Current ladder position: 4th
Points: 26 (+144)
Final three opponents: Ipswich Jets (home); BYE; Mackay Cutters (home)

With their Round 22 bye, the Dolphins are essentially a lock for finals footy. What they're still fighting for is to keep their place in the top four. Their last two opponents are teams below them on the ladder, so the odds favour them. But Ipswich are finishing season 2024 in red-hot form and those that are already out of finals love to cause an upset. With the return of Trai Fuller from the NRL, the Dolphins are nearly at full strength and shaping up for a strong run.

Burleigh Bears

Current ladder position: 5th
Points: 25 (+160)
Final three opponents: BYE; Ipswich Jets (home); Northern Pride (home)

There is no denying that the Bears would not be happy with their last three weeks. With a draw and two losses, Burleigh will enjoy a bye and a guaranteed two points this week before returning in Round 22 to save their finals campaign. It would still take a lot for the 2023 grand finalists to fall out of the eight, but they will want to sure up their standings and also pick up form heading into the finals. They have the experience to do so and will still have an eye on a top four finish to guarantee two weeks of finals footy action. Given this is where the Brisbane Tigers stood at this time last year, the Bears will want to make a statement over the final three weeks.

Central Queensland Capras

Current ladder position: 6th
Points: 24 (+28)
Final three opponents: BYE; Norths Devils (home); Tweed Seagulls (away)

The Capras have found form at the right time of the year. After an inconsistent run through the middle period of the season, Lionel Harbin's men have won two in a row, taking down fellow top eight contenders in the Redcliffe Dolphins and Wynnum Manly Seagulls. They enjoy a bye this week - taking their minimum points to 26 - before moving into two thrillers to end their regular season. They will face Norths in Round 22 in a good measurement of where they stand before meeting Tweed in Round 23 - a team which could be making a desperate, last-ditch attempt to make the eight.

PNG Hunters

Current ladder position: 7th
Points: 24 (-61)
Final three opponents: Tweed Seagulls (home); Brisbane Tigers (home); Western Clydesdales (home)

After stumbling over the past two rounds, the PNG Hunters could not have asked for a better run into the finals. They will need to put their two recent losses behind them and use their home ground advantage to the best of their ability over the final three weeks. With Port Moresby known as a fortress, it's going to be tough travelling for Tweed Seagulls, Brisbane Tigers and Western Clydesdales. As long as the Hunters don't get complacent and show the desperation they need, they could play finals for the first time since they won the 2017 premiership.

Wynnum Manly Seagulls

Current ladder position: 8th
Points: 23 (-54)
Final three opponents: Norths Devils (away); Townsville Blackhawks (home); Brisbane Tigers (home)

The Wynnum Manly Seagulls have faded away in the back half of this season and are a chance of falling out of the top eight altogether. But they are a team with the experience to save their season. One of the key match-ups for the Seagulls could be Round 22 at home, when they will take on the Blackhawks in what could ultimately be a battle for eighth place - pending what happens in Round 21. Coming up against second-placed Norths this week will be a challenge, but the Seagulls need to win all three of their final matches to lock in their place for finals.

Townsville Blackhawks

Current ladder position: 9th
Points: 23 (-58)
Final three opponents: BYE; Wynnum Manly Seagulls (away); BYE

The Blackhawks are guaranteed to finish with at least 27 points. They will enjoy two byes over the final three weeks, with their final game against Wynnum Manly in Round 21. If they win that, they will play finals. Under new coach Terry Campese, the key for them will be maintaining the rage and their momentum even with their disrupted run into September. One of the only Hostplus Cup teams without a consistent feeder system from the NRL, it's an impressive feat from the Blackhawks to be where they are.

Outside chances

The Tweed Seagulls (20 points), Souths Logan Magpies (20 points) and Brisbane Tigers (19 points) all stand as outside chances to make this year's finals series. While nothing is impossible for the three teams, at this stage they stand only as mathematical chances. Not only do all three need to win their final games (with Seagulls and Magpies getting one bye each) but they will need other results to go their way with the teams above them.