The tenth week of the NRL season is on the horizon as Brisbane prepares itself for Magic Round.
With eight games to come at Suncorp Stadium, Fox Sports stats man Aaron Wallace has taken a closer look at the round to give the fans an idea of what to expect over the weekend.
Wallace joined SEN 1170 Breakfast where he revealed some incredible stats and records that could come to the fore over the next few days.
Magic Round set to sort out ladder positions
Stat: In five of Magic Round’s eight games, opposing teams are placed next to each other on the ladder.
“There are several games where the two teams head-to-head go in adjacent on the ladder.
“The Bulldogs (15th) and Knights (16th) are next to each other.
“The Sea Eagles (7th) and Broncos (8th) are next to each other.
“The Rabbitohs (9th) and Warriors (10th) are next to each other
“The Roosters (5th) and Eels (6th) are next to each other.
“Melbourne (1st) and Penrith (2nd) are next to each other.
“Five games adjacent, that doesn’t happen very often.”
Walters hoping to enter uncharted waters against bogey side
Stats: Kevin Walters hoping to win four straight for the first time as coach against Manly, who they’ve lost their last two games against.
“They’ve both won five games this season.
“The Broncos have beaten the Sharks and the Rabbitohs twice.
“For Manly, their five wins have come against the current bottom five teams.
“They’ve got a great record at Brisbane though, including a 50-6 Magic Round win last year.
“For Kevin Walters, he’s looking to go in uncharted waters, he’s never won four straight as an NRL coach.”
Souths hoping to continue head-to-head Warriors dominance
Stats: Souths have won 11 of their last 12 against the Warriors, they’ve also won 70 per cent of their rain-affected games in the last five years.
“Souths have dominated their recent matches, they’ve won 11 of the last 12 against the Warriors.
“It’s the second-best record against any team against any opponent over the last decade.
“Number one is the Roosters who have won 12 of 13 against the Wests Tigers.
“They did thump the Warriors 60-22 last year. Souths have won 70 per cent of the games of their last five seasons in the rain, the Warriors have won less than a quarter of theirs.”
Tigers hoping to keep unblemished Magic Round record against in-form Cowboys
Stats: Wests Tigers hoping to go 3-0 in Magic Round, Cowboys hoping to win five straight for the first time since 2016.
“Tigers have won both of their Magic Round games and the Cowboys haven’t won one, they’d love to keep that record going.
“Against the Cowboys, the Tigers have won seven of nine since 2016, it’s easily their best record against any team in that period.
“But, the Cowboys are a different team than in previous seasons, they’re chasing five straight wins for the first time since 2016.”