The time has come. Maybe it was too long in coming. But since we’ve been doing these rankings, there has been only one team on top. This week, the Seattle Seawolves drop from the throne. In their place, the NOLA Gold rise. They’ve earned it.

#1 NOLA GOLD (Record: 3-0; Last Week: #3)

Undefeated. Top of the table. What more can you ask from a team? NOLA has hosted and then dispatched three sides that were reasonable preseason choices for champion.

Now let’s keep things in perspective. Those teams are, as of today, 2-5. But they’d be 2-2 if you backed out the losses received in the bayou.

The truth is, NOLA’s attack looks unstoppable. When even the Seawall defense is surrendering 41 points, it is time to admit that something impressive is happening. They get the ball wide and their back three are just outplaying whatever defenses manage to throw at them. How do you stop it?

They’ve beaten all comers. Until that changes, who still has a legitimate claim to be better?

#2 – Tie SAN DIEGO LEGION (Record: 2-1; Last Week: #4)

The Legion rack up another win, but not by much. They trailed most of the match to visiting Houston SaberCats. Still, when it mattered, they flicked the switch and won. That is, perhaps, a better measure of their ability than their early deficit.

Last year, San Diego was exposed in the set piece; in the scrum, in particular. This year, their scrum has looked like the new league best. Aussie Paddy Ryan has been eating his opposing props for a light post-lunch snack.

Combined with the fact that they have found early season success while riddled with injuries and call-ups to the Americas Rugby Championship, the Legion are emerging as a strong title contender for 2019.

But, it’s worth noting that they’ve played three home games. Whether or not this success travels remains to be seen.

#2 – Tie SEATTLE SEAWOLVES (Record: 1-2; Last Week: #1)

The champs fall from the top of our rankings for the first time. It could have happened last week, but weather gave them a reprieve. With a loss to NOLA, they need to look internally and fix what has gone wrong.

It may not be so much a question of Seattle backtracking as it is the rest of the league upgrading. In 2018, the Seawolves won the set-piece. In 2019, they’re losing it. Against NOLA, the lineout, the maul, and the scrum all gave them headaches. Last year, the Seawolves would have controlled each of these.

It might have been expected that the other teams would have upgraded their set-piece in the offseason to battle the champs. What has not been expected is that Seattle seems to have not developed anything new. It has become clear that the overall level of play in MLR has improved. If Seattle can’t keep up, their elite status will soon fade away.

#4 RUGBY UNITED NEW YORK (Record: 1-0; Last Week: #2)

If you are not improving, you’re falling behind in this league. With RUNY’s absence from the playing field, they suffer a two-level drop in rankings.

What else is there to say? They’ve played once, they’ve won once. It was a good win, but not a dominant one. As they’ve sat idle, NOLA has barnstormed the league and San Diego has notched two more wins.

They have, at least, had some time to prepare for NOLA. Three weeks of training is as much as a team can hope before traveling into enemy territory. The Roosters will get their chance to show where they stand when they take their turn in the cage against the Gold this weekend.

#5 GLENDALE RAPTORS (Record: 0-2; Last Week: #5)

With so many moving pieces this week, the Glendale Raptors manage to sit tight at #5. One is tempted to look forward to the return of their Eagles call-ups. But the shredding received courtesy of Argentina XV this past weekend doesn’t exactly inspire.

One has to wonder if Glendale is going to face something of an identity crisis. Who are they? In what element of the game are they likely to dominate? It seems as though nothing is left in which the Glendale Raptors are the best in the league.

It’s hard to internalize, given how clearly Glendale was the class organization in so many ways last year. Both the Raptors and the Seawolves may be suffering from an underestimation of how much their opponents could catch up in the offseason. They need to find their 2019 identity fast.

#6 TORONTO ARROWS (Record: 1-1; Last Week: #6)

The boys from Toronto have officially won an MLR match. Given their losses to the ARC, that deserves praise. But, between you and me, it wasn’t the most convincing of wins. Was it?

It was a road win with a limited roster and maybe we should all be happy with that. But Canada’s continued struggles on the international level inevitably bleed over to their closet club relative.

This week they will travel to Seattle. According to Bryan Ray of Americas Rugby News, they are expecting almost all their ARC players back. If they can manage a win there, they will make their case for a bump in their ranking

#7 UTAH WARRIORS (Record: 1-0; Last Week: #6)

If you believe Reddit, the Warriors obliterated the 2020 expansion New England Free Jacks this weekend in an exhibition friendly. If true, as there has been no official score reported, that can only be a good sign. Regardless, questions remain.

Like New York, they’ve only played once this year. And like New York, it was a road win. Like New York, this week will help us pinpoint what it means to be a Warrior in MLR 2019. They face a tough test in San Diego this weekend. If they can pull out a win, expect a nice bump next week.

#8 HOUSTON SABERCATS (Record: 1-1; Last Week: #8)

They almost had it. They almost had it! A road win in San Diego would have made a real case for a higher spot. But the end of game collapse, in a way, justifies their current position. Surrendering that type of lead that late must be demoralizing. They’ll have to work hard to put that behind them.

The return of Josua Vici made an immediate impact. He was his usual attacking self. The return of Osea Kolinisau, whenever it happens, will help even more.

When at full strength (including currently suspended Santi Arata), they may be a force to be feared. Hopefully, it won’t be too late by then.

#9 AUSTIN ELITE RUGBY (Record: 0-3; Last Week: #9)

Things aren’t going well in Round Rock. The Elite are 0-3. They’ve lost three at home. They’ve lost to our current #8, #7, and #6 in the power rankings. It could be better.

What must frustrate Austin fans is that they could easily be 2-1. But frankly, 2-1 would be the record you’d expect if this team was going to be a playoff contender. Right now, they’re looking like a rebuild.