Yay, let's look for who can be the fairytale team in 2022. Note: extra saltiness involved in these comments as well as the normal amount of conspiracy thrown in:
Broncos:
Showed improvement towards the end of the year, and the roster looks o be much improved next year. But were we just "allowed to play" at the end of the year because we were already guaranteed to miss the finals? It'll go one of two ways - we'll improve so that when the Plastics are introduced (and predictably beat us) there will be a "wow these guys are the real deal" feeling. Or of course we'll be over-penalised, neutered by heavy-handed suspensions, and mysteriously have terrible calls go against us all year. 3/10
Raiders:
Sticky had his chance, he's not developing from the area, and is once again showing he has no idea how to develop a half (and will keep cycling through them). Strategically irrelevant. 2/10
Bulldogs:
If anything I don't see them improving at all, because they are paying massive overs for their recruits, and their chequebook mentality will be the big no-no over the next few years. 1/10
Sharks:
Buzz bought his premiership in that one year they weren't cheating, I think their "luck" has run out for at least the next half decade. Kick them out. 1/10
Titans:
Oh they'll be gifted plenty of games and they will likely be the "best" Queensland (cough) team again, but that's only because of politics. The NRL can't have a Gold Coast franchise fail for the seventh? time. Even with Brisbane II coming in, the Titans' players will all somehow want to be Titans 4 Lyfe despite only being there because they followed the money. 6/10
Sea Eagles:
Tommy Turbo (and to a lesser extent his brother) is everything the NRL want to showcase in the "development pays off" marketing plan. DCE and Foran also fall in to the same category, but surely Foran is due to have his arm just completely fall off at the shoulder next time he is tackled. 4/10.
Storm:
Just **** off. 9/10
Knights:
Chequebook mentality has ended up with a bought roster, but interestingly the media are already claiming Gagai is going "home" so maybe the NRL has plans for them to not be shit and keep the two Johns lunatics happy. 7/10
Cowboys:
Wow, the media will keep calling them brave and they'll live off 2015 and 2017 for at least the next decade, but I can't see them doing anything with that roster and that "coach", even if the NRL wanted to. 3/10
Eels:
Hard to gauge. In my opinion they have over-achieved as it is, and with some of their key players (Gutherson, Moses) looking for a big payday it's possible they'll be due for a rebuild. But don't underestimate the influence Sterlo will have behind the scenes now that he doesn't have to appear impartial. 6/10
Panthers:
Now that they've been gifted their premiership they won't be carried quite as much. Cleary will still be allowed to play in a dinner suit but they won't be as dominant, and the NRL will claim how unfortunate it is to see such a successful, tight-knit team start to fall apart because of all those mean clubs who are poaching their talent. 6/10
Rabbitohs:
I strongly suspect that they were this years patsies, given a first-class ticket to the Grand Final but were only ever there to lose. Their defensive fortitude would have surprised even the NRL considering some of the efforts they came up with during the year though. Will lose a lot without Reynolds and Wayne. 4/10
Dragons:
Might be given a bit of a helping hand in order to claim that Brisbane were so stupid to let all these good players go, but apart from that I can't see a reason for the NRL to want them to succeed, especially after JDB kind of gave their "no fault stand down" policy the big middle finger. 2/10
Roosters:
They were sooo brave to make it as far as they did without all those great players and what talent they are able to bring through to support their superstar veterans. And they only poach unproven young players and develop them so well with their Culture and Standards and Systems and nothing shady going on here at all! My early premiership favourites for 2022. 10/10
Warriors:
Smokies actually. With Johnson returning there, and all the efforts they have put in during Covid, I think the NRL know they owe them one. And they would be a good team to prop up with the narrative that The Prodigal Son should never have left the Warriors and the NRL should do more to ensure developed stars stay with their team. 8/10
Tigers:
9th. I really feel sorry for Maguire. 3/10
