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As we enter the final round of the Toyota Cup the top eight seems locked away but the finishing order is anyone's guess, writes Fox Sports commentator Matt Russell.
Sprint to the finish

One point separates the top three teams. One point separates teams four and five. One point separates seven and eight.

Manly should beat Gold Coast Titans on Saturday to seal the minor premiership, but St George Illawarra and Melbourne Storm are praying for the Titans to finish with a bang.

Wests Tigers should beat the Bulldogs on Friday night to wrap up a top four finish, but Brisbane Broncos are ready to pounce if there's an upset.

South Sydney can finish anywhere between sixth and eighth, depending on what happens to the Warriors and Canberra. Mathematically, the Raiders can still miss out but it would require them to be beaten by 40 and North Queensland Cowboys to win by 40.

Like the NRL, the National Youth Competition has six games in the final round that will have a direct bearing on the finals makeup.

Remember this name

Tigers fullback Jake Mullaney is having an unbelievable finish to the season. He's already won two Player of the Week mentions on Fox Sports and I reckon he's got another one coming after last week.

Mullaney scored three tries against the Titans and kicked six goals - his third haul of more than 20 points in four weeks. Mullaney has scored 14 tries in his last six games.

This form has taken him to the top of the league's point scoring list and has him second on the try scoring sheet - four behind Kane Morgan. His last try on the weekend - an 80-metre kick return - was breathtaking.

Looking back

Mullaney left his run a little late to make the 2009 Team of the Year. I've listed the players below, with a quick thought on each. But first, to give an indication of what we can expect from these players in the years to come, here is the 2008 team. A lot of these names are now familiar faces in the NRL:

Lachlan Coote, Jharal Yow Yeh, Justin Carney, Tony Williams, Kevin Gordon, Ben Barba, Chris Sandow, Russell Packer, Masada Iosefa, John Kite, Joel Thompson, Daniel Harrison, Shaun Fensom, Ben Hunt, Matt Mundine, Jordan Rapana, Ben Matulino.

2009 Team of the Year

1. Malcolm Webster (Rabbitohs). The Toyota Cup version of Preston Campbell. Plenty of disorganised defensive lines have been punished by this artful dodger. The diminutive, fleet-footed, jack-in-the-box is hard to handle and then nearly impossible to catch.

2. Joe Vickery (Dragons). A rugby league latecomer who is wasting no time making a name for himself at St George Illawarra. A strapping winger with speed to burn, Vickery scored five tries against Newcastle Knights at Kogarah early this season.

3. Junior Vaivai (Rabbitohs). The ball of muscle in South Sydney's centres leads the competition in line-breaks and has also crossed for 20 tries. Part of arguably the competition's most electric backline, Vaivai scored consecutive hat-tricks earlier this season, and was recently rewarded with an NRL debut.

4. Siutonga Likiliki (Warriors). A constant threat in the Warriors backline. Like his team, loves playing at Mt Smart Stadium and is learning to bring that form across the Tasman more regularly. Another to make his NRL debut late in the year.

5. Drury Low (Raiders). Part of Canberra's successful premiership push last season and has continued to develop in 2009. Low averages almost a try per game and scored four against Cronulla in round 14. Give him an inch and he'll take a try. Tipped to follow 2009 Toyota Cup teammates Josh Dugan, Jarrod Croker, Travis Waddell and Daniel Vidot into the NRL.

6. Robert Lui (Tigers). Part of a young and exciting Tigers backline. A robust five-eighth who used his second season in the Toyota Cup as a platform to make his NRL debut against Cronulla in round 23. Scored three second-half tries when the Tigers beat Melbourne at Olympic Park in round 13.

7. Beau Henry (Dragons). Talented halfback who has kept St George Illawarra in the top four this season. Henry provides his side with plenty of control and direction. A 40-20 specialist with eight this season - double his nearest challenger. He can score tries and set them up. A key to the St George Illawarra's hopes of a NRL-NYC premiership double.

8. Jesse Bromwich (Storm). Mr Consistent up front for Melbourne. Runs a fantastic line and is tough to bring down. Moved to Melbourne with brother Kenny and both have made their marks in the Storm’s junior ranks. A player who could carry Melbourne to the Toyota Cup premiership.

9. Travis Waddell (Raiders). Joined the procession of Canberra players to make the step from NYC to NRL this season. All have done well. Like all good hookers, has an uncanny knack of knowing when to pass or run. His metre-eating runs from dummy half have been a feature.

10. Trent Merrin (Dragons). Not missed by the astute eye of Wayne Bennett, who was impressed with this young front rower early on. The hard-working prop has worn down plenty of opponents his with size, strength and a skilful offload. Oh what an offload!

11. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves (Sea Eagles). One of the most exciting young forwards to emerge at Manly in NYC history. Is a Toyota Cup hit-man, repeatedly ironing out unsuspecting opponents. Great with ball in hand as well, creating plenty of breaks on Manly's left edge. Rewarded with NRL experience and selection in the New Zealand open age squad.

12. Jake Marketo (Dragons). The ultra-consistent St George Illawarra captain is one of the many Toyota Cup performers who play above their weight. Marketo is rugged enough to form part of the Dragons back row, but also skilful and fast enough to play like an extra centre when needed.

13. Jamie Buhrer (Sea Eagles). An ideal captain for Manly coach David Penna - talented, hard-working and consistent. The only Sea Eagle to play every Toyota Cup game this season. Led his side to the minor premiership with an amazing points differential.

14. Keiran Foran (Sea Eagles). A versatile player who specialises in defence, but still seems to always have enough petrol in attack. First-grade coach Des Hasler loves him. New Zealand might as well - he joins Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in the Kiwis open age squad. He could possibly play out the season in the NRL.

15. Joel Romelo (Panthers). Scott Sattler's favourite Toyota Cup player. Watching Romelo in action resembles a cattle dog pursuing a bone – he never stops running. Brings aggression and ability to Penrith. Beat Canberra almost single handedly earlier this season. Romelo has already tasted NRL and seems set for much more.

16. Gareth Widdop (Storm). The point-scoring Pom loved by Melbourne. The fullback moved to Australia with his family and is the Storm's leading point scorer. Started and finished the season with a stack of tries. Has also kicked the most goals in the competition at 73%.

17. Daly Cherry-Evans (Sea Eagles). When a team has scored more than 800 points in a season, with a differential of +442, the halfback has to be doing something right. Cherry-Evans has scored 16 tries this year and sparked many more. Brookvale Oval loves seeing a blond-headed half again - especially Geoff Toovey!

Numbers grow

Former centre/five-eighth Michael Buettner is delighted that well over 100 Toyota Cup products have stepped up to NRL since the NYC started last year. It was on show again on Monday night with two acts of brilliance from Daniel Vidot helping Canberra defeat Newcastle Knights. He's still eligible for the Toyota Cup finals - Ben Rogers isn't!

Tune in

You can see two of the finalists "go round" on Saturday when the Warriors host the Storm.
We'll be on air from 2.30pm (EST) to preview the NRL round and the Toyota Cup game to start Super Saturday. As it's our last Super Saturday of the season, get set for our top five Toyota Cup television moments. There are some great tries and big hits.

On Sunday, join us from 11.30am (EST) as we call the Roosters v Cowboys game from the Sydney Football Stadium. Technically it's a dead rubber, but the Cowboys will be aware of their mathematical chance to still make the finals, so expect their excitement machines to throw it around.

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