Your 2013 Ladder Predictions

Rather than make my own thread I thought I'd just make a general one.


Here's my take on it, things would change if anything comes out of this big drug bullshit though. Feel free to give your thoughts on my list

1. Melbourne Storm
Signing of Finch is a great one, especially near origin time. Having Smith and Cronk out and being able to bring in Hinchcliffe and Finch in is awesome. Winning culture, proven coach, double sets of books etc etc

2. Manly Sea Eagles
Provided they keep Foran Cherry Evans on the park they'll do well, IIRC they got a bit fucked around with injuries last year and still finished high. Their pack is starting to show a few cracks but there's just too much class in the Stewarts, DCE, Foran, Lyon and Ballin at NRL level


3. Cronulla Sharks
I like the look of the Sharks, the signs were there last year of a side that could really do something in this competition and they've only improved on that. A lot of their signings are quality players that will have something to prove which is always dangerous. I actually quite like Flannagan as a coach thus far. Some question marks over there backs, I think that Rocky Leutele could be worth giving a bit more time in the centres though, seems miles ahead of Pomeroy and co. Also will be interesting to see how Wade Graham progresses, was really coming in to his own last year and could be lethal off the bench.

4. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
I still get shocked when I look back and see the side Hasler took to last years GF. He could get them anywhere, however I think the addition of Tony Williams is one they didn't need. Pritchard, Kasiano and Williams will be devastating with the ball in hand but very lazy in defence. If anyone else was coaching this side I'd probably have them about 12th. Think the origin period will have a lower impact on them than other top sides, which may well see them get to the top, but I don't see them being there on GF day.


5. North Queensland Cowboys
The Cowboys are a side I really like the look of. A good pack with some classy backs behind it. If they unearth a genuine number 9 they'll take some stopping, the fact that they let Segeyaro go makes me think they must have an ace up their sleeve (You'd hope so anyway).


6. Wests Tigers
Probably my boldest prediction, but I think the Tigers will do well. It's arguably their weakest roster in some time, but they've been top 8 before on the back of weak rosters and I think a change of coach is just what they needed.

Marshall and Farah are pretty lethal at NRL level and I really think Sheens fucking off will see improvements from Blair and Ayshford. I think Anasta is an excellent addition, even in the back row, it should give the side a bit more order amidst the chaos that can be Benji Marshall.


7. Newcastle Knights
Surely they'll improve but I just don't see them as world beaters. There's a lot of old heads that have won premierships under Bennett before heading there, but just because it's worked before doesn't mean it'll work again. I do think think that perhaps subconsciously last year they just thought it would all just happen, they had the money, had the coach and had the hype, it's something I'm sure Bennetts addressed and the playing group will be hungrier than ever. Gidley getting injured was pretty massive last season, they need him fit and firing.

8. Brisbane Broncos
Prince is a good pick up, but I'm not sure it's enough to take them to the top. Origin will hit them hard (as it always does) and I think they'll struggle after it. Think Stagg is a good pick up and Griffin is a pretty good coach, if Prince fires and Thaiday pulls his finger out they'll be higher.

9. South Sydney Rabbitohs
Will definitely be around the 8, everyone talks about the pressure Reynolds will be under and that his game will be under the microscope, he's limited etc etc. But he really doesn't have to be a world beater to do a job for the rabbits. Inglis is destructive from the back and the pack will go all day, Sutton is the key imo and I can't see him turning up every week. Champion is a good pick up.

I think there's question marks over Asotasi's general fitness and how Lima will return from ESL, if they fire I think they'll sneak in the 8 but I can't help but think back prior to 2012 they had a pretty bad track record with injuries in the pigs.


10. Sydney Roosters
There's points in this side, but there's also a few too many unknowns for me to back them into the 8. I know little of Robinson, but it's doubtful Minichello is getting moved out of fullback which needs to happen.

There's talk of a lack of creativity from the halves but I think they'll actually go alright. There's points outwide in SKD and Jennings and Maloney should do well backing up SBW, Maubs etc on the fringes.

Attitude has always been a concern for me with Roosters sides of late and I don't think Luke O'Donnell, SBW and Jennings are the cure for that, however Robinson might be able to get them firing though and if he does, watch out.


11. New Zealand Warriors
Elliott at the Warriors will be very interesting. One major thing I picked up at Penrith was that he didn't hold the players accountable enough for results, which I think is dangerous at the Warriors given that some of the playing group can come across as disinterested at times.

He'll be a fuckload better for them than McClennan and I think they'll probably finish a win or two outside the 8 with a couple of flashes of brilliance at times. If the Elliott experiment is going to reap rewards it'll be in 2014

12. Canberra Raiders
This is probably my other bold prediction. I think there's a toxic culture down at the Raiders, there's talent everywhere but I don't see them fulfilling it. They came home with a wet sale at the back end of 2012 and ended up 6th, but 6 weeks prior to that the coach was going to quit, they weren't turning up, were bottom 4 (iirc) etc etc. I've been told before that a few of the players think Furners a bit of a hopeless cunt.

All in all I think there's a bad mix of dickheads, a hopeless coach and a lazy attitude down at the raiders. I really reckon it'd be worth their while fucking off guys like Dugan, Ferguson and even Earl and backing their next crop of young guys in.


13. Gold Coast Titans
If this team had Hasler as coach I'd probably back them to be top 4. Ridiculous amount of talent in the pack but there seems to be an almost accepted culture of under achieving. Losing Prince will hurt, Kelly should be able to come up with something with that pack in front of him, but there's always a risk that he'll glass someone at Melbas or be stuck behind Jordan 'Burns.0' Rankin in which case they're doomed. There will be some hilarious moments coming from a centre pairing of Michaels and Idris. I hope Sezer does well though, he looks a pretty good player and I think had he have been in the halves from the get go in 2012 they would've made the 8.


14. St George Illawarra
There's talent in the young guys they're unearthing, but Steve Price is a fuckwit. I think they'll be a force in 3 seasons time if they stick with their young blokes and have fucked off dead wood like the Stanleys and blokes like Soward, Fien etc have retired/headed off to England.

For now though they're a combination of too green, too ineffective and too injury prone.

15. Penrith Panthers
Should come last but won't, I actually don't mind the line up as a base to build on, but it lacks stars. Cleary doesn't have the tools to get them threatening anything or anyone. Tipping Lewis Brown to have a stellar year though.

16. Parramatta Eels
If they spooned with Hindy there's no hope without him

 

Yeah I've taken a bit of a punt on the Tigers, I think Sheens being goneskis was a season or two overdue. As much as Farah is their key player and will be gone at origin, there aren't any other definites, which could see them sneak up on a couple of weakened sides around that period.

 

Yeah when I look at it now I've probably gone just a bit too low with them considering the talent and also the depth on their books. I just wasn't sold on them at the back end of last year, they were dreadful for a large chunk of 2012.

 

WAG!


Kooked it on the bunnies and Roosters though, got bullied by the analysts about the wabbitohs.