Power Rankings - Round 3

1. South Sydney Rabbitohs (equal)
Deservedly sitting atop the Power Rankings for the third week in a row, after accounting for the Wests Tigers in round 3. It wasn't pretty, and it wasn't one-sided, but the Bunnies certainly do know how to win. It's been almost 200 days since the Rabbitohs have lost a game, and the streak may continue as they come up against the injury riddled Eels this Friday night.

2. Sydney Roosters (+1)
The Roosters knocked over the Penrith Panthers on Monday night in a gritty encounter, but it was a long way from a walk in the park. Blake Ferguson crossed for a double, but the halves proved the difference on the night, with the Panthers having no answers for Mitch Pearce and James Maloney. This week the Roosters take on Canberra at Allianz Stadium - and the Raiders shouldn't be more than a slight speed hump.

3. Newcastle Knights (+1)
Sitting 3-0, but doing it in the ugliest fashion. Knights fans will be checking in to see heart specialists all over the place after their performances over the last three weeks. Traditionally, the Knights have gotten themselves out to big leads in the first half, and then hung on to win. This season, however, they've been letting teams lead, before running them down in the last ten minutes. Their defence has been pretty good - they just need to keep out the early tries. Can they keep it up?

4. Penrith Panthers (-2)
Yep, they lost this week, but they went down swinging. Without Jamie Soward, scoring points was always going to be an issue - and the loss of James Segeyaro with a torn lip didn't help their cause. That said, the Panthers matched the Roosters right until the end, and certainly look like they'll be there at the pointy end of the season.

5. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (equal)
The Bulldogs finally look to be warming up this season, with their second win in a row against the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles on Friday night. Tim Lafai should be thanking his lucky stars - not just because he helped his team home with a first half double, but also because he managed to step and swerve around Steve Matai without ruining his knee on the pitiful surface. We've heard reports that Matai dislocated a shoulder from the breeze in the wake of Lafai running past him, but those are unconfirmed.

6. Melbourne Storm (+2)
We're not getting too ahead of ourselves, as it was only the Sharks, but the Storm seem to be back. Of course it was going to take a few weeks for Slater and Smith's rickety old knees and elbows to remember how to work, but now that they have they look in much better shape. They knocked up a bit at the end though, letting in two late tries to make the scoreline look a little closer than it should have.

7. Wests Tigers (-1)
The Tigers lost to the Rabbitohs on Sunday afternoon, and although a 13+ win is never a good thing, there were definitely some positive signs for the Tigers. Their spine looks to be beginning to click, and Keith Galloway and Aaron Woods more than held their own against a much higher profile Bunnies pack. Their bench seems to be a bit of a concern.

8. Brisbane Broncos (+1)
Finally - some footy from the Broncos! In the Queensland derby the Broncos finished on top, on the right end of a 44-22 scoreline. We're biting our tongue a little bit on their performance though, firstly because they still let in 22 points, and secondly because it's just one result, but perhaps Wayne Bennett isn't past it just yet.

9. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles (-2)
While the Sea Eagles lost on Friday night, they won't have lost too many friends in the encounter, if they had any left that is. Sitting at 1-2, their supporters will be a little worried, although the Sea Eagles taken on the Dragons this weekend, and should get themselves back on track. Steve Matai would have been hoping for a pothole on the field to swallow him up, after an uncharacteristically bad defensive performance.

10. Parramatta Eels (equal)
The Parramatta Eels narrowly keep their spot in the rankings above the Warriors, but a lot of that can be put down to circumstance. The Eels were far from their best against the Warriors, and their task doesn't get any easier this week against a hot Bunnies side.

11. Warriors (+1)
I don't think anyone really expected the Warriors to lose this week. Back at home, facing an understrength Eels side, and coming into the match on the back of an away win, the Warriors were out to play. Manu Vatuvei was great, running over the top of anyone in his way, and the Warriors' forwards were tidy in their execution. Injury to Sam Tomkins is a concern though.

12. Canberra Raiders (01)
Ouch! Leading the Dragons by 20 at half time, the Raiders would have thought they were a pretty comfortable chance of taking the two points. Maybe that was their downfall - underestimating the Dragons' attack. Then again, if you had told me last week the Dragons would score more than 10 points, I'd have laughed at you.

13. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks (+1)
Another thumping for the Sharks, and they thoroughly deserved it. There must be something wrong behind closed doors, because a team boasting a forward pack like the Sharks do should not be getting run over. Maybe they're just setting themselves up for a thrilling 14-0 tail end to the season, before they swoop on the premiership. Maybe.

14. St. George Illawarra Dragons (+2)
A week of miracles! The Dragons not only got a win, but also scored points! Despite doing their utmost to throw the game in the first half, the Dragons fought back strongly in the second half, and managed to just squeeze out a win in the final minutes. Realistically though, the win is nothing more than a bandaid over the top of the Dragons' problems, both on field and off.

15. Gold Coast Titans (equal)
The Titans finally got some troops back, and did almost everything right to win the game on Sunday afternoon, except one thing. Slowing down in the last ten. Against the Knights you can never take your foot off the accelerator, as they'll come back and bite you - be it in the 70th minute, or the 79th. Lift your heads fella, a win isn't far off.

16. North Queensland Cowboys (-3)
Boys, seriously. We're approaching round 4 and you guys still haven't realised we kicked off round 1 yet. The Cowboys look to be in big trouble, with even Johnathan Thurston not being able to save them. The North Queensland side are 0-3, and don't really look like winning - which is a major concern, considering they usually drop games during the representative season.