Looking at the cutoff for Top 4 over the last 3 years it went 15-9 last year, 16-8 (2024) and 16-8 (2023).
Last year was the tightest with us getting in on F/A... so it looks like 8 losses is basically a guaranteed spot... 9 losses is 50/50.
We're currently at 4-3... so we've got 5-6 losses to play over the next 17 games... so we'd need to go 12-5 or 11-6 for the rest of the schedule... that doesn't seem crazy, but health of the squad is important.
The 5 games through the origin period will be the deciding factor... as is usually the case with us.
Draw is below and we still have 10 games at Suncorp in the remaining 17 games
8. Bulldogs - Suncorp
9. Roosters - Sydney
10. Sea Eagles - Brookie
11. Warriors - Suncorp (Magic Round)
12. Bye (Origin 1)
13. Dragons - Suncorp (post-origin 1)
14. Titans - Suncorp
15. Rabbitohs - Sydney … Origin affected (Payne due back around this time)
16. Bye
17. Roosters - Suncorp
18. Sharks - Suncorp… Origin affected (****ing sharks during origin)
19. Bye
20. Panthers - Sydney
21. Cowboys - Townsville
22. Knights - Suncorp
23. Dolphins - Suncorp (away game)
24. Warriors - Suncorp
25. Raiders - Canberra
26. Storm - Suncorp
27. Bulldogs - Sydney
I’ve developed an ultra complex formula to predict the most likely outcome of these matches. I won’t bore everyone with the quantum algebraic mathematics of it all but here’s what it has come up with:
Draw is below and we still have 10 games at Suncorp in the remaining 17 games
8. Bulldogs - Suncorp: Win by 50
9. Roosters - Sydney: Win by 50
10. Sea Eagles - Brookie: Win by 50
11. Warriors - Suncorp (Magic Round): Win by 50
12. Bye (Origin 1): Win by 50
13. Dragons - Suncorp (post-origin 1): Win by 50
14. Titans - Suncorp: Win by 50
15. Rabbitohs - Sydney … Origin affected (Payne due back around this time): Win by 49
16. Bye: Win by 50
17. Roosters - Suncorp: Win by 50
18. Sharks - Suncorp… Origin affected (****ing sharks during origin): Win by 50
19. Bye: Win by 50
20. Panthers - Sydney: Win by 50
21. Cowboys - Townsville: Win by 50
22. Knights - Suncorp: Win by 50
23. Dolphins - Suncorp (away game): Win by 50
24. Warriors - Suncorp: Win by 50
25. Raiders - Canberra: Win by 50
26. Storm - Suncorp: Win by 50
27. Bulldogs - Sydney: Win by 50
A couple games predicted to be a bit tighter than we might like but overall the season looks optimistic