2017 Predictions

[Harry Sack]

Premiership Ladder:
Storm
Bunnies
Cowboys
Warriors
Panthers
Raiders
Broncos
Chooks
Sharks
Dogs
Titans
Eels
Tigers
Sea Eagles
Knights
Dragons

Premiers: Warriors

Grand Finalists: Bunnies V Warriors

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Shaun Johnson

Dally M Medal Winner: I literally have no idea on this one. It's such a lottery

Most Improved Side: Knights

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: QLD 2-1

First Coach Sacked: Jason Taylor or Barrett at a stretch but I don't see any coach being sacked during the season

Best Buy of the Year: Wobbie Farah

Let's see them.....
Re: Premiership list, I think the top 4 is roughly right as is the bottom 4. The middle, as usual, is a clusterfuck.

Couldn't find a predictions thread but if there is one already, feel free to merge.

 

[mitch222]

Premiership Ladder:
Panthers
Storm
Broncos
Raiders
Roosters
Eels
Rabbitohs
Cowboys
Sharks
Titans
Bulldogs
Warriors
Knights
Dragons
Tigers
Eagles


Premiers: Broncos

Grand Finalists: Broncos v Penrith

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Darius Boyd

Dally M Medal Winner: Matt Moylan

Most Improved Side: Knights

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: QLD 2-1

First Coach Sacked: Trent Barrett

Best Buy of the Year: James Tamou

Worst Buy of the Year: Kieran Foran

 

[Kimlo]

Premiership Ladder:
Cowboys
Rabbits
Storm
Broncos
Raiders
Panthers
Warriors
Chooks
Sharks
Dogs
Titans
Eels
Tigers
Sea Eagles
Knights
Dragons

Premiers: Broncos

Grand Finalists: Broncos V Raiders

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Anthony Milford

Dally M Medal Winner: Jonathan Thurston

Most Improved Side: Roosters

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: QLD 3-0

First Coach Sacked: Jason Taylor

Best Buy of the Year: Robbie Farah

 

[Big Pete]

Sydney Roosters
Penrith Panthers
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Melbourne Storm
North Queensland Cowboys
Canberra Raiders
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Brisbane Broncos

Premiers - Panthers
Grand Finalists - Panthers v Cowboys
Clive Churchill Medal - Merrin
Most Improved: Roosters
Worst Sliders: Cronulla
Origin: NSW 2-1
First Coach Sacked: McGregor
Best Buy: Tamou

Or in other words, I have no clue. By rights, the Warriors should be right up there but their forward pack leaves a lot to be desired and I'm not sold on Kearney.

I feel like the minor premiers are going to come from nowhere. The way the Roosters finished last season was fairly ominous. Even in defeat, they gave Cronulla and Brisbane plenty to think about and with just about everybody on board they'll be hard to stop. With Penrith, I feel like I'm fighting every impulse and throwing them in the Top 4 just because they're too talented and at that age where they could bluff their way into a premiership. Souths were my original pick for minor premiers, but they still have too many ordinary players to get there, I think they'll still be there abouts though, like Sydney the way they ended last season was ominous.

I swapped North Queensland and Melbourne around because you just know the Cowboys are going to face off against Brisbane in the finals and most likely win as well. Although I think the Cowboys have the better squad, Bellamy's insistence on consistent football will be enough to jag that extra win they need to make the four only to bow out quietly.

I expect the Raiders to fall to earth somewhat, but I think they've turned too much of a corner to fall right on their faces and they'll survive a horror stretch based on the rep season alone. Canterbury just always find a way to make the finals, even if they rarely do anything in the post-season. I can't see this year being any different and once again, they'll capitilise on a very kind rep period.

Brisbane will probably have a shitty season, filled with injury and a lot of miss-steps but will rally and fight their way into the 8. Predictably they'll lose to the Cowboys and calls will be made for Bennett to step down.

NSW will win Origin and we'll hear from all and sundry that the pendulum has finally turned. It will also be one of the most boring series imaginable since Daley is still involved.

So basically this year is going to suck and the more I accept that, the easier it will be to watch.

 

[Unbreakable]

Premiership Ladder:
Panthers
Raiders
Cowboys
Storm
Rabbitohs
Roosters
Broncos
Sharks
Titans
Warriors
Bulldogs
Sea Eagles
Eels
Tigers
Dragons
Knights

Premiers: Raiders

Grand Finalists: Raiders vs Storm

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Josh Hodgson

Dally M Medal Winner: Matt Moylan

Most Improved Side: Panthers

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: QLD 2-1

First Coach Sacked: Paul McGregor

Best Buy of the Year: James Tamou

Worst Buy of the Year: Tony Williams

 

[Harry Sack]

Completely forgot about Paul McGregor. Lock him in!!!!

 

[Broncoman]

Have a feeling that Melbourne will have a very good shot at winning again.

 

[CaptainHook]

The Warriors must be nearly due for a premiership. I have a funny feeling the Titans will give the competition a good shake as well.

Not sold on the Panthers - they do have a good squad on paper but they struggle with being consistent.

 

[ZTop]

Why does everyone rate the bunnies

 

[Battler]

Why does everyone rate the bunnies

Agreed, they have a pretty horrendous backline, and their pack isn't even that good. They look like a 9-12 side to me.

EDIT: My ladder:

1. Storm - their side looks even better this year.
2. Warriors - if they don't make the top four with their current side they never will.
3. Broncos - Settled spine, and hopefully the wrestle is finally sorted so we get quicker games which will benefit our pack immensely (I'm not hopeful though)
4. Raiders
5. Cows
6. Titans
7. Penrith
8. Rorters

Premiers: Broncos

Grand Finalists: Broncos vs Warriors

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Boyd

Dally M Medal Winner: RTS

Most Improved Side: Warriors

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: QLD 2-1

First Coach Sacked: Mary

Best Buy of the Year: Taylor

 

[ZTop]

Premiership Ladder:
1. Penrith
2. Warriors
3. Broncos
4. Storm
5. Cowboys
6. Titans
7. Raiders
8. Roosters
9. Manly
10. Eels
11. Rabbitohs
12. Bulldogs
13. Sharks
14. Knights
15. Tigers
16. Dragons

Premiers: Warriors
Grand Finalists: Warriors vs Penrith
Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Kieran Foran
Dally M Medal Winner: Milford
Most Improved Side: Warriors
Worst Sliders: Sharks
State Of Origin: QLD 2-1
First Coach Sacked: Paul McGregor
Best Buy of the Year: Kieran Foran
Worst Buy of the Year: Robbie Farah

 

[Cult]

Premiership Ladder:
Storm
Warriors
Cowboys
Broncos
Titans
Raiders
Panthers
Sharks
Roosters
Eels
Rabbitohs
Bulldogs
Tigers
Dragons
Sea Eagles
Knights

Premiers: Broncos of course. Or the Warriors due to shenanigans
Grand Finalists: Broncos VS Warriors
Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Darius Boyd
Dally M Medal Winner: Cooper Cronk
Most Improved Side: Knights will win a few more this year
Worst Sliders: Sharks
State Of Origin: QLD 3-0
First Coach Sacked: Hasler. Bulldogs will start the season woefully. He will have a job next year though
Best Buy of the Year: Benji Marshall or Kieran Foran

 

[Super Freak]

1. Raiders
2. Storm
3. Broncos
4. Cowboys
5. Titans
6. Panthers
7. Sharks
8. Bulldogs

Premiers: Broncos

Grand Finalists: Broncos vs Raiders

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Darius Boyd

Dally M Medal Winner: Johnathan Thurston.

Most Improved Side: Knights

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: QLD 2-1

First Coach Sacked: Paul McGregor

Best Buy of the Year: I'll go for an outsider. Dave Taylor.

I don't get people tipping the Warriors to be in the top 4. Foran is only going to solve their halves issue.. They still have a lot more.

 

[Big Pete]

Rabbitohs - Farah goes a long way to solving a lot of their problems and they have plenty of exciting young emerging talent to ease other concerns. Very few teams have had to endure the injuries they've had to and with GI and Burgess seemingly entering the season with a full bill of health, Madge getting rid of a few bad eggs, they'll be as good a chance as any to be right up there.

 

[Cult]

I don't get people tipping the Warriors to be in the top 4. Foran is only going to solve their halves issue.. They still have a lot more.

Easy draw and NRL shenanigans obviously. I just did mine quickly on the NRL ladder predictor

 

[Broncs_Fan]

Premiership Ladder:

1. Raiders
2. Panthers
3. Storm
4. Cowboys
5. Warriors
6. Tigers
7. Titans
8. Broncos

--

9. Bulldogs
10. Roosters
11. Sharks
12. Souths
13. Sea Eagles
14. Eels
15. Knights
16. Dragons


Premiers: Raiders

Grand Finalists: Raiders vs. Panthers

Clive Churchill Medal Winner: Josh Hodgson

Dally M Medal Winner: Josh Hodgson

Most Improved Side: Panthers

Worst Sliders: Sharks

State Of Origin: NSW 2-1

First Coach Sacked: Paul McGregor

Best Buy of the Year: Kevin Proctor


Really like the Panthers and Raiders lists. Feel both teams are going to improve a lot and put in great seasons.

Sharks will slip back majorly. Ennis and Barba were such important players in their success last season.

 

[Broncs_Fan]

Best Buy of the Year: Benji Marshall or Kieran Foran

You are more confident than me about Benji. I watched a number of Dragons games last year and Benji was the worst player on the field in virtually every game. No pace, poor lateral movement. Looked a shadow of his best. Just didn't look like a first grader anymore.

We will see though ...

 

[Unbreakable]

1. Storm - their side looks even better this year.

What makes you say that? They lost Blake Green, Kevin Proctor, Marika Koroibete & Ben Hampton and didn't add anyone of note, and now they'll face the issue of trying to incorporate the corpse of Billy Slater in to the spine, assuming he plays. Not to mention an extra year on the bodies of Smith & Cronk.

I think they'll be considerably worse than last year, especially during the regular season. I'm still predicting them making it deep in to the finals, but it won't be from a top 2 seed.