The run home

Captain Cowboy Travis Norton still rates Brisbane as favourites for this season?s title despite Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra staking major title claims in round 23.

The Dragons comprehensively defeated the Broncos 24-4 at Suncorp Stadium yesterday while North Queensland copped a 28-16 loss to the Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium. But Norton says ladder leaders Brisbane is still the team to beat.

Brisbane is just two points ahead of Parramatta on the NRL ladder with three regular season rounds left.

Run home for the teams still in contention for the NRL finals:

Brisbane (1st, 34pts) - Penrith (a), Sydney Roosters (h), Parramatta (a)

Parramatta (2nd, 32pts) - St George Illawarra (a), Canberra (h), Brisbane (h)

St George Illawarra (3rd, 30pts) - Parramatta (h), bye, Newcastle (h)

Wests Tigers (4th, 30pts) - Bulldogs (a), Melbourne (a), Penrith (h)

Melbourne (5th, 26pts) - bye, Wests Tigers (h), North Queensland (a)

North Queensland (6th, 26pts) - Canberra (h), South Sydney (a), Melbourne (h)

Manly (7th, 26pts) - Cronulla (a), Warriors (h), Canberra (a)

Cronulla (8th, 26pts) - Manly (h), Newcastle (a), South Sydney (h)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bulldogs (9th, 23pts) - Wests Tigers (h), Penrith (h), Sydney Roosters (a)

Sydney Roosters (10th, 22pts) - South Sydney (h), Brisbane (a), Bulldogs (h)

Canberra (11th, 22pts) - North Queensland (a), Parramatta (a), Manly (h)