Post by weststigersbob on Mar 9, 2020 8:04:34 GMT
Welcome !
This thread will cover all things Australian Rugby League and Aussie Rules !
This is welcome to anyone, so if you have any questions regarding the National Rugby League (NRL) or Australian Football League (AFL) ask away.
Heres the offical websites of both competitions:
www.nrl.com.au
www.afl.com.au
First post, I’ll make a bold prediction and give my tips for the NRL and who will finish where after 25 rounds.
1st - Parramatta Eels. They went alright last year, but their away form wasn’t flash. Everyone is a year better and they have recruited extremely well, filling two spots with representative class players in Matterson and Campbell-Gillard. They have no real weakness, and have genuine game breakers all across the park.
2nd - Canberra Raiders. Unlucky in last years GF, the big question mark on the Raiders is how they will go with a new halfback in Williams, who comes with big wraps from Wigan, and without Leipana on that right edge. They have some outstanding young forwards coming on, and probably their class player, Hodgson, was quiet last year - improve those and they give it a real shake.
3rd - South Sydney Rabbitohs. Lost some class in 2 Burgess brothers and Sutton, but still look a class outfit and if Latrell Mitchell warms to FB the sky is the limit with the spine they have. A little light on in forwards now, but have a strong rotation and no glaring weaknesses and a premier coach. I just think last year was their year.
4th - Sydney Roosters. The defending champs. Have lost their strike centre and the bets halfback in the comp. Flanagan is a class young half, but it will take some time to get the combinations cherry ripe. To be honest, I don’t think they have the spine to win the trophy now. They will smash the weaker sides, but others look better in big games.
5th - North Queensland Cowboys. They will be back, and with a bang. They needed strike out wide, and recruited Holmes and Marsters. Clifford and Drinkwater allow Morgan to play his best game, and they have the best forward in the game in Taumalolo. I like the look of the Granville / Robson combo at 9.
6th - Melbourne Storm. They just can’t keep doing it year on year. I think it’s not so much the Storm sliding, but others simply will go past them. The problem they have is that they don’t have a halfback. Cam Smith is arguably the greatest player of all time, but he can’t do two players worth of work, least if all 9 and 7. They also lack a bit class on the edges now. Felise Kaufusi is a good player, but neither centre nor any of their other edge forwards are great.
7th - Penrith Panthers. Surely this is the season that Penrith string together some consistent performances. They have a squad dripping with talent and potential. All eyes though are on Nathan Cleary. A whole heap of praise and representative jerseys have come his way at a very young age. Whilst he’s been solid, he needs to take the next step up for the Panthers to really shine.
8th - Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. It what will likely be a logjam around that 6th-12th positions, Manly might just sneak into eighth on the back of the class of DCE and the Trbojevic brothers. What Manly has that a few sides lack is genuine strike power all across the park. What Manly doesn’t have is depth. Or a hooker, at the moment. A few injuries and they are in trouble.
9th - Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. Something is not quite right in the Shire. The Sharks have a good side on paper, but they have a lot of flukey inconsistent players too. And it’s never a good sign when players want out before a ball gets kicked. Goal-kicking killed them in 2019, and that hasn’t been fixed, and their depth looks shallow.
10th - Newcastle Knights. There are plenty of upsides to the Knights, but just how they get the best out of Ponga AND Pearce is the key to their season. Look short on the edges - and they haven’t fixed the issue of who plays 6. Finished 2019 very poorly. They just don’t have the overall class to make the 8 with a rookie coach.
11th - Brisbane Broncos. I could be wrong, very wrong, but I just don’t see the Broncos doing anything this year. They have so many ‘maybes’ across their backline, with a vastly overrated 6 and a player of disputable talent at 7. Jack Bird at fullback looks to me like a bad idea. Darius Boyd at centre a worse one. And some of their forwards are outstanding one week, mediocre for 3.
12th - Gold Coast Titans. There’s talent there. It’s just finding the right game plan and the right mindset. I think they will go better than many think, and if Brimson, Taylor and Peachey fire they will surprise a few.
13th - Wests Tigers. Across the board, simply not good enough - especially in the forwards. Unlike a few others down this end of the ladder, Tigers have genuine depth and competition for places though, a proven coach and a history of punching above their weight. It probably won’t be enough though.
14th - Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. Much like the Tigers, except without the depth or the coach. A few injuries, especially in the front row and halves, and the Dogs are really struggling.
15th - St George Illawarra Dragons. There is something not quite right about the Dragons. It’s difficult to pin down, but they just seem to be not quite there across the board, despite having some really good individual players. Last year there were plenty of games where they just never looked like winning. 2020 looks the same.
16th - New Zealand Warriors. They have 1 good player in RTS, and had a good back 3 with Maumalo and Fusitua joining him. For some reason, the Fus is playing in the centres. There forwards look very weak, and whilst Blake Green is a decent player, he’s not dynamic half NZ need when they have no decent 9 or 7. Legitimate wooden spoon favourites for mine.
This thread will cover all things Australian Rugby League and Aussie Rules !
This is welcome to anyone, so if you have any questions regarding the National Rugby League (NRL) or Australian Football League (AFL) ask away.
Heres the offical websites of both competitions:
www.nrl.com.au
www.afl.com.au
First post, I’ll make a bold prediction and give my tips for the NRL and who will finish where after 25 rounds.
1st - Parramatta Eels. They went alright last year, but their away form wasn’t flash. Everyone is a year better and they have recruited extremely well, filling two spots with representative class players in Matterson and Campbell-Gillard. They have no real weakness, and have genuine game breakers all across the park.
2nd - Canberra Raiders. Unlucky in last years GF, the big question mark on the Raiders is how they will go with a new halfback in Williams, who comes with big wraps from Wigan, and without Leipana on that right edge. They have some outstanding young forwards coming on, and probably their class player, Hodgson, was quiet last year - improve those and they give it a real shake.
3rd - South Sydney Rabbitohs. Lost some class in 2 Burgess brothers and Sutton, but still look a class outfit and if Latrell Mitchell warms to FB the sky is the limit with the spine they have. A little light on in forwards now, but have a strong rotation and no glaring weaknesses and a premier coach. I just think last year was their year.
4th - Sydney Roosters. The defending champs. Have lost their strike centre and the bets halfback in the comp. Flanagan is a class young half, but it will take some time to get the combinations cherry ripe. To be honest, I don’t think they have the spine to win the trophy now. They will smash the weaker sides, but others look better in big games.
5th - North Queensland Cowboys. They will be back, and with a bang. They needed strike out wide, and recruited Holmes and Marsters. Clifford and Drinkwater allow Morgan to play his best game, and they have the best forward in the game in Taumalolo. I like the look of the Granville / Robson combo at 9.
6th - Melbourne Storm. They just can’t keep doing it year on year. I think it’s not so much the Storm sliding, but others simply will go past them. The problem they have is that they don’t have a halfback. Cam Smith is arguably the greatest player of all time, but he can’t do two players worth of work, least if all 9 and 7. They also lack a bit class on the edges now. Felise Kaufusi is a good player, but neither centre nor any of their other edge forwards are great.
7th - Penrith Panthers. Surely this is the season that Penrith string together some consistent performances. They have a squad dripping with talent and potential. All eyes though are on Nathan Cleary. A whole heap of praise and representative jerseys have come his way at a very young age. Whilst he’s been solid, he needs to take the next step up for the Panthers to really shine.
8th - Manly Warringah Sea Eagles. It what will likely be a logjam around that 6th-12th positions, Manly might just sneak into eighth on the back of the class of DCE and the Trbojevic brothers. What Manly has that a few sides lack is genuine strike power all across the park. What Manly doesn’t have is depth. Or a hooker, at the moment. A few injuries and they are in trouble.
9th - Cronulla Sutherland Sharks. Something is not quite right in the Shire. The Sharks have a good side on paper, but they have a lot of flukey inconsistent players too. And it’s never a good sign when players want out before a ball gets kicked. Goal-kicking killed them in 2019, and that hasn’t been fixed, and their depth looks shallow.
10th - Newcastle Knights. There are plenty of upsides to the Knights, but just how they get the best out of Ponga AND Pearce is the key to their season. Look short on the edges - and they haven’t fixed the issue of who plays 6. Finished 2019 very poorly. They just don’t have the overall class to make the 8 with a rookie coach.
11th - Brisbane Broncos. I could be wrong, very wrong, but I just don’t see the Broncos doing anything this year. They have so many ‘maybes’ across their backline, with a vastly overrated 6 and a player of disputable talent at 7. Jack Bird at fullback looks to me like a bad idea. Darius Boyd at centre a worse one. And some of their forwards are outstanding one week, mediocre for 3.
12th - Gold Coast Titans. There’s talent there. It’s just finding the right game plan and the right mindset. I think they will go better than many think, and if Brimson, Taylor and Peachey fire they will surprise a few.
13th - Wests Tigers. Across the board, simply not good enough - especially in the forwards. Unlike a few others down this end of the ladder, Tigers have genuine depth and competition for places though, a proven coach and a history of punching above their weight. It probably won’t be enough though.
14th - Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs. Much like the Tigers, except without the depth or the coach. A few injuries, especially in the front row and halves, and the Dogs are really struggling.
15th - St George Illawarra Dragons. There is something not quite right about the Dragons. It’s difficult to pin down, but they just seem to be not quite there across the board, despite having some really good individual players. Last year there were plenty of games where they just never looked like winning. 2020 looks the same.
16th - New Zealand Warriors. They have 1 good player in RTS, and had a good back 3 with Maumalo and Fusitua joining him. For some reason, the Fus is playing in the centres. There forwards look very weak, and whilst Blake Green is a decent player, he’s not dynamic half NZ need when they have no decent 9 or 7. Legitimate wooden spoon favourites for mine.