A 22-round NRL season, you say? Thought you’d never ask.

A shortened regular season to ease player workloads and potentially create a representative window for Origin and the international game is a key element of the code’s billion-dollar broadcast deals.

The 2025 run home might be as compelling a reason as any to trim the season by five weeks.

By this masthead’s infallible calculations and working from the typical top-eight cut-off of 32 competition points, we’ve already got our top eight sorted. Only minimal shuffling of the decks may be expected - start the finals next weekend and get an early start on Mad Monday for those not involved.

Don’t believe us? Have a look at your team’s run home.

Current position: First - 34 points, 15 wins, three losses, two byes, 132 points differential
Games against top 8: two.
Games against top 4: none.
Wins to make top eight: none.
Predicted finish: first.

The hard work is done for the Raiders, they could lose most of their final eight games and still play finals in 2025, but with the minor premiership theirs for the taking and a cruisy run home, that won’t be happening. Ricky Stuart’s biggest task now is keeping his young side healthy and focused as the surrounding hype continues to grow.

Current position: second – 32 points, 13 wins, five losses, three byes, 222 points differential
Games against top 8: four.
Games against top 4: one.
Wins to make top eight: none.
Predicted finish: third.

Like the Bulldogs, Melbourne’s last month of the season will be a true test of where they’re at come finals time. Ryan Papenhuyzen’s lingering calf injury has disrupted the Storm’s first-choice spine, but Craig Bellamy’s concern is an inconsistency all season that’s been very un-Melbourne.

Current position: third - 32 points, 13 wins, four losses, three byes, 98 points differential
Games against top 8: five.
Games against top 4: two.
Wins to make top eight: none.
Predicted finish: third.

The Bulldogs have hit the magic finals number with 32 competition points, but they’ve got a tough run home, which includes playing four top eight contenders in the final month of the season. How their attack progresses with Lachlan Galvin at halfback is the biggest focus at Belmore.

Current position: Fourth - 30 points, 12 wins, five losses, two byes, 36 points differential
Games against top 8: two.
Games against top 4: one.
Wins to make top eight: one win from seven games.
Predicted........

© The Sydney Morning Herald