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Have a crack at trying to pick who makes up the final two positions in the top eight come September.

You’ve got the resurgent Manly Sea Eagles in seventh who’ve punched out of the seven-minute speed dating mid-season reviews with coach Anthony Seibold to win three games in a row including upstaging premiership favourites Melbourne Storm on Old Boys day.

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Next up it’s Up Up Cronulla who went the honesty session road a month ago, didn’t quite get the immediate desired response but are starting to play the type of gritty, tough football expected of a Craig Fitzgibbon-coached side.

The Sharks have had back-to-back wins over fellow top eight contenders the Dolphins and Roosters which is the equivalent of collecting four competition points given they’re all locked in a race for the final two spots in the top eight.

The Dolphins along with the Canberra Raiders are among the best attacking sides in the competition and given the injury toll the club’s manoeuvred they deserve to play finals football.

Then finally the Roosters – who up until the Wests Tigers loss a couple of weeks ago looked like they were building – write them off at your own peril — but even coach Trent Robinson admitted last week they’re still searching to find their soul.

They certainly didn’t find it against Cronulla.

Manly coach Seibold had plenty of heads on tilt with his “we’re all going to die one day” press conference but in fairness since then the Sea Eagles have flicked the switch with Tommy Trbojevic in the centres, lionheart brother Jake the pulse of the side and young gun fullback Lehi Hopoate lighting it up.

The Sea Eagles face a tough run home against the Bulldogs, Roosters, Raiders, Wests Tigers, Dolphins, Dragons and Warriors.

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Three top four opponents and two fellow top eight candidates.

If Manly make September, they’ve done it the hard way. The Sea Eagles will have earned credit where credit’s due.

What would make it even more of an achievement is the way Seibold has somehow held what’s clearly a fractured playing group together off the back of the DCE departure.

We’ll make the call here and say Cronulla are first past the post in terms of the final two positions in the top eight.

The big advantage Cronulla has is a bye. The rest of their games are also against sides now simply making up the numbers.

The only exception is their round 27 match against top four side Canterbury-Bankstown.

Otherwise the Sharks face the Rabbitohs, Cowboys, Dragons, Titans and Knights.

In all seriousness they should not only make the eight but could even challenge the Broncos and Penrith for fifth and sixth positions.

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If the Dolphins get there, they will have more than earned it.

With an injury toll including Tom Gilbert, Tom Flegler, Max Plath, Jack Bostock, Felise Kaufusi, Kulikefu Finefeuiaki, Daniel Saifiti and Kodi Nikorima it’s a miracle they’re even in the conversation.

But the challenge is a Mt Everest-style assignment with upcoming games games against the Wahs in New Zealand, the Roosters, the Broncos, Manly, the Titans and the Raiders.

With the exception of the Titans there’s no easy road there.

Then finally the Chooks who face an equally tough road against Melbourne, Manly, the Dolphins, the Bulldogs, Parramatta, Melbourne again and finally the Rabbitohs.

Good luck trying to figure it all out. We’re saying the Sharks are one out, one back under a firm hold.

Manly are three-wide without cover but look to be timing their run.

The Dolphins and the Roosters have got the persuaders out and are going to need plenty of luck.

What were your likes or dislikes from round 20?

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