Fox Sports Lab: Stats you need to know for NRL Round 10, from expert statistician Aaron Wallace

One, two

The Sharks and Storm clash for outright first on the ladder, and an almost guaranteed trip to the finals at the end of the season. Both Cronulla and Melbourne have won seven games so far this year; no team in the NRL era has missed the finals having won eight through 10 rounds.

Storm have the upper hand in recent seasons, winning seven of the past nine encounters, including five straight wins at AAMI Park. Taking their streak in Melbourne to six would equal a record for the Storm, as their current 14-game win streak is just one short of their best at a home venue, having won 15 straight at Olympic Park twice previously.

This is just the Sharks’ second meeting against a team currently sitting in the top eight, having defeated the Bulldogs in Round 2. Cronulla have certainly had the luck of the draw in recent seasons, playing just 39 games in total in the regular season against teams that have finished the respective seasons in the top eight since 2020 (including the current top eight this season), easily the fewest of any team. Their record against these top sides has not made pleasant reading, winning just 10 of the previous 39.

Three

Brisbane have won three of their past four games against the Eels, including both games by double figures last season. They have not won three in a row against the Eels since 2015-16.

The Eels have to try (almost a three reference) and reverse this streak minus skipper Clint Gutherson and star half Mitchell Moses. Since Moses joined the Eels mid-way through 2017, Parramatta have played just two games without the pair, losing both by an average margin of 35 points. They are certainly hoping for a change of luck in game No.3.

Four

Newcastle have won four straight games against Wests Tigers, their best run in the fixture. They have not won five straight against an opponent in a decade since winning seven straight against the Eels in 2010-14. Wests have not had much luck in their four games in Tamworth, with just one win against the Titans in 2019.

The Cowboys have lost their past four games, with their most recent win coming against this week’s opponents Gold Coast in Round 5. The Titans would appear to be their ideal foe to break a losing run, as the Cowboys have lost just four of their past 18 games against them, and their overall 20 wins from 32 games against the Titans is their best record against any current opponent.

Five

Souths are looking to avoid a fifth-straight loss when they face the Dragons on Saturday; they have not lost five straight in the same season since 2016. Their record against the ‘Red V’ (yes, another five reference for the Roman readers) has been solid, losing just five of their previous 23 games against them.

The Dragons will see the struggling Rabbitohs as a perfect opportunity to chalk up their fifth win of the season. They won just five games in total last year but three of those came in their five games at Kogarah.

Six

Penrith have won six straight games against the Bulldogs since 2020, one of the seven teams they have a perfect record against over that period. Their six wins have been by an average margin of almost 26 points and the Panthers have scored the opening try for all six games inside eight minutes. They have not trailed once in the six games.

Seven

The Roosters have won seven straight games against the Warriors, easily their best streak in this match-up. The Warriors have not scored more than two tries in all seven of the meetings.

The Warriors have lost their past three games and have not lost four straight since late in 2022. Last season was their best in Australia in five years, with seven wins from their 14 games, but their run deteriorated at the back end of the season - they have now won just one of their past seven games on this side of the ‘ditch’ - a 34-4 thumping of the Rabbitohs in round 5.

Eight

The Dolphins play their eighth game in Queensland for the season this week, the only team yet to play south of the Tweed, with their four away games coming against their three Queensland rivals and the Eels in Darwin. North of the border the Dolphins have a winning record with 13 wins from their 24 games, but they have won just once from eight games heading South.

Manly is just their second opponent this season who are currently sitting in the top eight - the Dolphins lost 28-14 to the Broncos in round 6.