Fox Sports Lab: Only three clubs sit in the ‘premiership zone’ at the mid-season point of the NRL

Historically, the premiership has been won by teams whose attack and defence sits within a certain parameter. This year, the mark is scoring more than 22.7 points per game and conceding fewer than 18.6.

With the help of Fox Sports Lab, we’ve given each team a mid-season ranking based on their proximity to the premiership zone and in comparison to their 2022 performances.

PENRITH PANTHERS – A-

Points per game: 24 | Points conceded per game: 11.4

The Panthers started the year slowly with some close losses, but their strong defensive acumen has them in good stead on the hunt for a three-peat. Conceding just 11.4 points per game makes them comfortably the best defence in the NRL, and is two points per game better than last season.

Penrith are starting to look more comfortable in attack without Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau. They are running for 60 metres more per game as a team and are throwing the ball around more, with 20 more passes a match on average.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS: A-

Points per game: 23.5 | Points conceded per game: 16.8

The Rabbitohs are building nicely in 2023 and have the second-best defence in the competition. They have pushed through a tough draw, and no byes through the first 13 rounds, to put themselves in a good position for another run at the finals.

However, their attack is slightly below their impressive standards from last season, scoring about two fewer points per game. While they’re conceding nearly 70 more metres per game than they did in 2022.

BRISBANE BRONCOS: A

Points per game: 24 | Points conceded per game: 17.8

Following their disappointment in missing the top eight last year, the Broncos have been the most impressive team so far in 2023. Their attack is firing largely thanks to the returning Reece Walsh, while their intensity in defence has also been improved.

Last year, the Broncos on average conceded 1.5 points per game more than they scored. They have flipped the script to be up six points a game in 2023. That has largely arrived from their defence, where they are missing six fewer tackles a game and conceding one try less a match.

CRONULLA SHARKS: B

Points per game: 27.2 | Points conceded per game: 19.2

It’s been far from a perfect start from Cronulla, but they’ve put themselves in a strong position to back up last year’s second-place finish. Their attack is the highlight, scoring 27.2 points per game, comfortably the most in the NRL. That’s up nearly four points a game from 2022.

However, their defence has been found wanting on numerous occasions, conceding 26+ points on four occasions and placing them just out of the premiership zone. They’re also yet to beat a top-eight side, which has proven to be a challenge come finals time in past seasons.

MELBOURNE STORM: B

Points per game: 20.9 | Points conceded per game: 18.7

Craig Bellamy’s resolute defensive work again means the Storm are competitive again in 2023. Despite a slew of off-season departures, they remain one of the best defensive structures in the competition.

Their attack however has taken a big dip. They’re scoring seven fewer points per game than in 2022 and are creating fewer opportunities with two fewer line breaks and 10 fewer passes a match. With a strong spine, it’s something that they can easily improve on ahead of finals.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS: A-

Points per game: 18.8 | Points conceded per game: 19.7

The Warriors’ resurgence has been built on the back of their strong defence, they currently concede the sixth-fewest points per game in the NRL. In comparison to 2022, the changes aren’t major. They’re averaging a few fewer missed tackles and line breaks conceded per game.

However, the obvious standout is conceding 10 fewer points per game. It meant they were often getting blown away last season, with the average points differential at -12. This year, it sits at just -0.83. If Shaun Johnson can continue to spark their attack, they will only continue to improve.

PARRAMATTA EELS: C+

Points per game: 24.9 | Points conceded per game: 20.9

It’s been a very tough start to the season for the Eels, but some key wins, particularly against the Rabbitohs, indicate they may have turned a corner.

They sit not too far outside of the premiership zone, it’s just their defence that has let them down in patches, conceding 26+ points on six occasions. The rest of their key statistics are not too far off their 2022 levels, where they conceded 20.4 points per game, and had similar levels in points scored, run metres and line breaks. A few key changes, and closing out more games, will see them right back in it.

THE DOLPHINS: B+

Points per game: 24.2 | Points conceded per game: 22.9

Wayne Bennett’s side is exceeding expectations in 2023. Their attack has been scintillating at times, while it has been matched with physicality in defence.

Points are far from the issue, as they score the third-most in the competition. It’s now about matching that with 80-minute defensive performances. At 30 missed tackles per game and on average conceding more than 1400 metres, they’re areas they can improve on to bring them closer to the best teams in the NRL.

CANBERRA RAIDERS: B-

Points per game: 21.7 | Points conceded per game: 25.8

On the back of a formidable winning streak, the Raiders surged into the top eight and finals contention despite a poor start to the year. Overall their attack has been quite strong on the back of a higher completion rate (81 per cent) and a slight increase in line breaks.

However, their defence has been shocking at times. They concede the second-most points in the NRL, which is frustrating for a side that has all the foundations to do the exact opposite. They’re conceding six points more per game this season, while their net run metres have dropped by 80.

GOLD COAST TITANS: C-

Points per game: 23.5 | Points conceded per game: 26.3

With a flowing attack, the Titans have been a joy to watch in 2023, for neutrals. At nearly six points more per game than in 2022, things have been clicking, particularly with the steady hand of Kieran Foran guiding them around.

However, they have the worst defence in the NRL. So far, it’s a one-point improvement per game from last year, but it still means they have lost countless matches they shouldn’t have.

MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES: C

Points per game: 20.9 | Points conceded per game: 22.4

It has been the definition of a hot and cold year for Manly. Despite some disappointing losses, their defence has improved year on year, conceding two fewer points per game.

Their forward pack, although decimated by injuries, has stepped up as well, with nearly 50 more metres per game and a big improvement on the net metres battle. If they can cut out the increased line breaks conceded and missed tackles, the structures are in place to turn things around.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS: D-

Points per game: 16.3 | Points conceded per game: 22.4

Easily the most disappointing team of 2023, the Roosters have fallen well short of expectations. Not only has their defence faltered, conceding four points more a game this season, but their attack has jumped off a cliff.

They have scored the fewest points a game in the NRL, and are scoring 10 points less per game than they did in 2022. A lot of that comes down to the lack of platform they’ve been able to set, going from +136 in net run metres per game to -90 in the space of a year.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS: B-

Points per game: 21.6 | Points conceded per game: 23.8

The Knights might be some way off the premiership zone, but the improvements are there for all to see in 2023.

Newcastle are scoring six more points per game, and conceding four points fewer than they did in 2022, a clear sign things are moving in the right direction. They’ve also progressed in terms of missed tackles (six fewer per game) and creating more in attack (more run metres and line breaks).

WESTS TIGERS: C

Points per game: 18.4 | Points conceded per game: 22.2

The year started badly but the Wests Tigers are slowly turning things around. A lot of their early losses were competitive but they just ended up on the wrong side of the result.

It’s been clear Tim Sheens has worked on trying to dominate the middle. They’ve turned their net metres around from -238 per game in 2022 to +136 per game this season, a turnaround of nearly 400 metres on average each match.

Combine that with scoring four more points and conceding six fewer per game than they did in 2023, and looking beyond the ladder shows that signs of promise are there for the Wests Tigers.

CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN BULLDOGS: C-

Points per game: 17.3 | Points conceded per game: 25

It was meant to be the new era for the Dogs in 2023, but it hasn’t quite arrived as of yet. Their defence has receded this season, registering four more missed tackles a game and conceding more points than in 2022. While they’re scoring the second-fewest points in the NRL.

As they welcome more key players returning from injury, Cameron Ciraldo will be hoping his side can build on encouraging signs in their attack that include a stronger completion rate, an increase in line breaks and slightly better output in terms of run metres and points per game.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS: D

Points per game: 20.3 | Points conceded per game: 25.3

On the bottom of the ladder at the halfway point of the season, the Dragons might be disappointed in their year so far but the numbers paint a slightly different picture.

They have improved in some key areas, including fewer missed tackles, improving by nearly 80 metres per game in net run metres and scoring about a point more per game on average. However, defensively they have regressed with the fourth-most points conceded in the competition.

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS: D-

Points per game: 18.5 | Points conceded per game: 25.5

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After an incredible 2022, the Cowboys are now the team furthest away from the premiership zone in 2023. They are the only team in the NRL in the bottom four for both points scored and points conceded.

In 2022, the Cowboys on average scored 11 points more per game than their opponents (26 to 15). IN 2023, that has flipped to conceding seven points more (18.5 to 25.5).

They’ve also registered the biggest dip in net run metres, going from a positive tally of 211 each match to -119 per game.