The method gives weight to those sides that have played the strongest clubs twice, and accounts for the sudden rise of teams like the Broncos and Warriors, and conversely, the slide of recent heavyweights Parramatta and the Roosters to mid-table positions.
To cover all bases, we’ve extended the analysis to include the last few weeks of the regular season – which will likely see the top eight in flux right up until the final whistle when Cronulla host Canberra on Sunday, September 3.
Of course, there are caveats everywhere you care to look or create them.
But with Penrith playing a host of top eight contenders twice this season – Broncos, Rabbitohs, Eels, Sea Eagles, Knights, Roosters, Cowboys and Storm – their ‘draw double-ups’ are equalled only by Brisbane and Canterbury.
And of these games, tenth-placed Parramatta are the lowest-placed side (as of the start of round 25).
With the greatest of respect, Penrith hasn’t cleaned up an extra win or two with an extra game against the…