M
mick
NRL Captain
- Mar 4, 2008
- 3,254
- 0
Do it however you want to do it - whether it's a full-on ladder list or just in groups. Me, I'm a pansy, so I'll do it in bunches.
Should be there or thereabouts:
Storm - Simply can't have them out of the equation, but as you'll see below I don't think they're going to have a year like the past two again.
Broncos - Goes without saying, I always believe our boys can be right in the mix.
Parramatta - As long as Tim Smith gets his act together on and off the field, these guys will be right in contention. They've got the cattle, all they have to do is learn how to really perform on the biggest stage. My early pick for the biggest threat to the premiership.
Others to challenge:
Roosters - God knows what could happen with this team this year. So many unknowns, but their forward pack is extremely strong and Anasta has been firing in the halves. So much will depend on the form of Minichiello and the other outside backs and their ability to score points.
Warriors - Would have had them higher and am still hesitant about placing them here, but the loss of McKinnon will severely hurt their attack. They MUST alter their plans to deal without him, or else it could be a loooong year.
Souths - Can't write them off, they showed a lot of grit throughout most of 2007. Am still not convinced of the team's depth should a couple of injuries strike (Wing and Asotasi in particular HAVE to stay injury free). Can't wait to see how hooker Isaac Luke's form continues - he's a great player to watch.
Sharks - This might surprise many, but the Sharkies are a real dark horse for a top 6 finish imo. Perennial underachievers, but the amount of games they have lost by 4 points or less in the past 2 seasons is just incredible. If they can learn to grind out the close games, they could really give the comp a shake.
Cowboys - Class all over the paddock. In saying that, though, it's likely Thurston will be out for the first 6-7 weeks of the comp. How they perform without him and his form in the competition when he returns will be the telling factors IMO.
Manly - Have lost a couple of quality players, but in saying that everyone was expecting them to fall after the loss of BK... and then they made the decider without him there! Big threats again, sadly.
About the Storm: I honestly don't regard them as the runaway premiership favourite. For the past four or so years, it's seemed so likely that a team will go back to back. They were saying it about the Tigers, Panthers, Bulldogs, Broncos etc. It all starts with the loss of a couple of big players after the GF. Followed up by a loss in the WCC in fairly poor conditions. Followed by teams lifting to beat you week in, week out. Followed by, in this case, a likely MAJOR representation around Origin time. If Melbourne happen to get struck down with a long-term injury or two, or even if a certain few young blokes have an indifferent year after the juggernaught of '07, things could get messy.
Well, that's my two cents. Without even thinking hard about it, that's nine teams who I think could win the comp this year, and in saying that it wouldn't surprise me one iota if any other side won it. I'm not as confident about the rest, but a clean bill of health for key players thrown in with winning 70% of the close matches could see any side finish in the top four.
Should be there or thereabouts:
Storm - Simply can't have them out of the equation, but as you'll see below I don't think they're going to have a year like the past two again.
Broncos - Goes without saying, I always believe our boys can be right in the mix.
Parramatta - As long as Tim Smith gets his act together on and off the field, these guys will be right in contention. They've got the cattle, all they have to do is learn how to really perform on the biggest stage. My early pick for the biggest threat to the premiership.
Others to challenge:
Roosters - God knows what could happen with this team this year. So many unknowns, but their forward pack is extremely strong and Anasta has been firing in the halves. So much will depend on the form of Minichiello and the other outside backs and their ability to score points.
Warriors - Would have had them higher and am still hesitant about placing them here, but the loss of McKinnon will severely hurt their attack. They MUST alter their plans to deal without him, or else it could be a loooong year.
Souths - Can't write them off, they showed a lot of grit throughout most of 2007. Am still not convinced of the team's depth should a couple of injuries strike (Wing and Asotasi in particular HAVE to stay injury free). Can't wait to see how hooker Isaac Luke's form continues - he's a great player to watch.
Sharks - This might surprise many, but the Sharkies are a real dark horse for a top 6 finish imo. Perennial underachievers, but the amount of games they have lost by 4 points or less in the past 2 seasons is just incredible. If they can learn to grind out the close games, they could really give the comp a shake.
Cowboys - Class all over the paddock. In saying that, though, it's likely Thurston will be out for the first 6-7 weeks of the comp. How they perform without him and his form in the competition when he returns will be the telling factors IMO.
Manly - Have lost a couple of quality players, but in saying that everyone was expecting them to fall after the loss of BK... and then they made the decider without him there! Big threats again, sadly.
About the Storm: I honestly don't regard them as the runaway premiership favourite. For the past four or so years, it's seemed so likely that a team will go back to back. They were saying it about the Tigers, Panthers, Bulldogs, Broncos etc. It all starts with the loss of a couple of big players after the GF. Followed up by a loss in the WCC in fairly poor conditions. Followed by teams lifting to beat you week in, week out. Followed by, in this case, a likely MAJOR representation around Origin time. If Melbourne happen to get struck down with a long-term injury or two, or even if a certain few young blokes have an indifferent year after the juggernaught of '07, things could get messy.
Well, that's my two cents. Without even thinking hard about it, that's nine teams who I think could win the comp this year, and in saying that it wouldn't surprise me one iota if any other side won it. I'm not as confident about the rest, but a clean bill of health for key players thrown in with winning 70% of the close matches could see any side finish in the top four.
