Fox Sports Lab: Stats you need to know for NRL Round 7, from expert statistician Aaron Wallace

NOT RULING THE ROOST

Since 2020, the Roosters have won just one from 18 games against the only two teams to win the competition in that period, Penrith and Storm. They are none from nine against Penrith and have just one win from nine against Storm, an 18-14 win late in 2022. Only the Warriors (0 from 14) have a worse record in that period.

Storm have won the past five regular season games between the two sides in NSW, their last loss coming in 2015, but their recent form outside of Melbourne has been far from spectacular. In 2023-24 Melbourne has won 14 of 16 games played in Melbourne, but just seven from 16 leaving Victoria, including a 14-12 loss to the Knights in round 3 – their only away game so far this season.

DRAGON SLAYERS

The Dragons haven’t won games in consecutive weeks since their final three rounds in 2022 and their recent form against the Warriors suggests it will be a very difficult task this time around. The Warriors have won seven of the 10 games between the two sides since 2018, including both games last season – one of which was a 48-18 hammering in Wollongong.

STAY OUT OF THE WATER

The Sharks are on top of the table for the first time since 2016 and they have a great record against this week’s opponents, North Queensland. Overall Cronulla has won two thirds of its games against the Cowboys, its best record against any current side including 10 of the past 11 meetings. The Cowboys have not won a regular season game against the Sharks in Sydney in a decade.

TRAVEL SICK

The Dolphins head outside of the Sunshine State for the first time this season, and will be hoping for an improvement of fortunes from last years’ excursions. The Dolphins defeated Newcastle 36-20 in their first sojourn across the QLD border, but have since lost seven straight games.

The Eels have not fared any better getting on a plane in the past two seasons, winning just one from eight outside of NSW, but this was a 48-20 win over the Dolphins last season. In their past three interstate games, the Eels have lost by a combined margin of 107 points.

This is the 10th time the Eels have taken a home game to Darwin, a move which had proven fruitful with six wins from their first seven trips, but they have lost their past two. Since CommBank Stadium opened in 2019, the Eels have won over 72 per cent of their games there, but just 50 per cent of games not played there, including just five of 15 in 2023-24.

DEJA VU?

Since the beginning of 2020, Penrith has lost back-to-back matches just twice in their 110 games, but on both occasions one of the losses came against Wests Tigers. In 2021 the Panthers lost to Wests and Cronulla in rounds 13-14 while last season they lost to the Rabbitohs in round eight before falling to the Tigers 12-8 in Bathurst – one of just two times since late in 2022 they have been held to single figures.

DES-MAL START

Des Hasler being winless through five games is his worst ever start to a season as a coach, but his record against his former side gives some cause for optimism this week. At the Bulldogs, Hasler won over 70 per cent of his games against the Sea Eagles, his best record against any opponent including his past five against them away from Brookvale.

The Titans have won their past two matches against Manly, and six of 10 against them since 2018, one of just three teams in that period they have a winning record against (6-1 v Tigers, 5-4 v Bulldogs).

Manly has won both games at Brookvale this season, but just one from four (with last week’s draw) outside of the Peninsular. Their recent trips to Queensland have not been successful, with four straight losses going back to the 2021 finals series.

TRAMPLED

Canberra has a horrible road record against the Broncos, winning just seven of its 27 games against them, the Raiders worst away record against any opponent they have met on more than three occasions.

Last year they snapped a six-game losing streak against the Broncos at Suncorp stadium with a 20-14 win in round six – they have never won consecutive away games against Brisbane.

THREE FOR THE TAKING

The Bulldogs have a perfect record as the home team this season, winning two from two, while losing all four games as the away side. Getting off to a perfect three game start at home has proven very difficult for the Bulldogs in recent seasons, they last did so in 2011.

Newcastle whitewashed the Bulldogs last season by a combined scoreline of 108-6 with a club record 66-0 win in round 18 and a 42-6 win in round 24. Another big win here would create a small slice of Knights’ history, as they have never defeated an opponent in three straight games by 20 points or more.