*Official* NRL 2010 Thread

[luckyshades]

The Roosters could very well suck, I'll concede that, but as much as I dislike him personally I think Smith could do a decent job.

Carney will be the buy of the season if he doesn't end up in jail.

The Warriors will win enough home games to just avoid the wooden spoon, although I think it's a CLEAR 2 horse race between them and the Knights.

The Sharks should improve enough to not worry about running last imo.

As for NSW .. you are probably right, but if they stay healthy NSW can field a very, very good side.

[lucai]

tips for this weekend grunter??
how do the raiders fare up against panthers???

they have won something like 4/7 at penrith in the last 10 years or something...


however leoroy lahs and monahan are both out

[grunter]

FWIW my summation of each team's chances this year:

Brisbane: The loss of Hunt, Taylor, Hodges and Carroll and the lack of depth will hurt them severely this year. Expected finish well outside the eight

Dogs: Have bought a good one in Blake Green. Four years ago this kid could have been anything, but moronic coaches with archaic views on the gane have stood in his way. Expect him to be in the 17 by mid season and playing well. Similar side to last year (although Eastwood a big loss), thankfully for them no Holdsworth. As long as Luke Patten doesn't fuck up too much I expect them to be battling for a GF spot.

Canberra: Have bought noone. Danny Galea is washed up and won't make d ifference to this struggling lot. Loss of their best attacking weapon in phil Graham and the guy voted in 2009 as the most underrated defender in Nigel Plum. Don't have a halfback. Only saving grace is other teams hate playing at Canberra Stadium in winter so thy will get a few 'gift' games. Despite this, I dn't expect them to be higher than 12th. Will lose by plenty in Round 1.

Sharks: Massive personnel changes. Albert Kelly is a freakish attacking talent, but Ricky Stuart's track record in developing quality halfbacks is abysmal (as with most quality former #7's they focus too much on defensive structure in their coaching styles). Nathan Gardiner from parra is a good buy, although still a little green. Adam Cuthbertson is a real good bye and they are starting to have a good looking back row. Look for the Sharks to improve a lot this year but finish no higher than 10th.

Titans: Another year of experience under their belt in fianls footy, the buy of the season in Greg Bird and an almost invincible aura at Skilled. I expect them to challenge heavily for Minor Premiership but perhaps doubt their ability to win big SF's in Sydney.

Manly: Could their administration be any worse? Letting go Jared Warea Hargreaves is ridiculous, as well as Cuthbertson. And despite the fact that Matt Orfors sucks, h would still have been a better option than what they have left. Big fall from grace this year. won't make the eight. Look for William Hopoate to star though. Could be an early candidate for rookie of the year.

Storm: Johnson a big loss, Stanley a big gain. Will make another GF and probably win again.

Knights: Not much change personnel wise. Will react to the scandal as Knights teams always do by banding together and winning games. Don't expect them to be any chance of wooden spoon as some ppl believe. Should finish a few spts out of the eight.

Cowboys: Will struggle all season and finish in the bottom five.

Parramatta: Excellent buys of Poore, Shackleton, Tahu. As long as Nathan Cayless plays minimal football they are a chance of top four. Probably have them a round fifth or sixth though, realistically.

Penrith: Have probably bought better than any other team for 2010. Kevin Kingston at hooker, two big men in Nigel Plum and Daine Laurie to throw in their forward rotation of Civoniceva, Pritchard, Waterhouse, Lewis and young kids Grant and McKendry have them as one of the most feared packs in the competiotion. With the acquisition of Simmons and Purtell now boast one of the quickest three quarter lines and with Burns in the halves rotation I see huge improvement in 2010. Expect them to finish no lower than sixth.

Dragons: No real personnell changes aside from the loss of Poore, but have picked up a couple of big grinders in place of. Will get better in second year under Bennett. Top 4 certainties and wouldn't surprise to see them lose to the Storm again in the GF

Souths: Biggest improvers, but lack of a good half means that they won't win finals. Should finish around sixth or seventh and lose their first final.

Roosters: Will be horrible again. Only saving grace is acquisition of one of the best young players in the game in Jared Warea Hargraves. Carney will struggle only due to the fact that his forward pack will be crushed week after week and halfbacks influence becomes moot when this occurs. I expect them to finish in the bottom three.

Warriors: Have lost four of their best players from 08/09 in Lauaki, Kemp, Tuimavave and Jones. Buying Brett Seymour is just LOL. The guy sucks. Will finish last by a long way.

Tigers: Should finish in ninth or tenth. Bought a bunch of players who all suck (aside from Tuquiri - who i dont see as having as much influence as ppl believe he may). Despite the fact that he is the national coach, Tim Sheens just simply cannot coach. I've seen his systems and they are outdated and mostly ineffective. have a few young guys that should step up and play well in 2010, such as Ayshford and a young guy who I have had a bit to do with back in my coaching days, Aaron Woods.

[grunter]

Grant, I'm a fairly realistic Tigers fan ... last season I expected nothing, and to be honest was pleasantly surprised with what they showed.

I would be reaching into your pocket and helping myself, but if you want to bet on the Panthers to finish higher than the Tigers, well I'm happy to put your money towards a good cause assuming we can keep it friendly
(say $100 ?)

I'm being completely honest with you when I say that out of the 2 respective starting 13s this week, the only Penrith players I'd currently sub into the Tigers team would be:

Gordon for Ryan
Jennings for Ayshford
Civonoceiva for Gibbs
Lewis for Liam Fulton

On his best form I'd have Waterhouse for Heighington aswell, but not with the form he showed last year.

Well comparing line-ups one for one is ridiculous at best, due to so many other factors like stylistic matchups between teams, as well as coaching methods and home/away advantages etc.

Secondly, I havent seen either side for this weekend but I'm pretty sure I'd happily have a couple of extras, such as Pritchard for 'x' and are you serious on Waterhouse's form last year? The guy played out of his skin for most of the season and broke back into the Australian and NSW team for the first time in four years. With Watmough and Lewis, he'll be one of the first picked in the state side this year when discussing back rowers.

[grunter]

but if you want to bet on the Panthers to finish higher than the Tigers, well I'm happy to put your money towards a good cause assuming we can keep it friendly
(say $100 ?)

OMG please book this...

[grunter]

Cliff note predictions on my long post:

Top 8:

Storm
Dragons
Titans
Dogs
Panthers
Parramatta
Souths
one from Manly or Tigers with Knights the only other hope.

Dally M: Prince

Tryscorer: Jennings

Wooden Spoon: Warriors

[luckyshades]

Ok, $100usd booked on Tigers finishing higher than Panthers.

And mate, please ... Daine Laurie ...

lol

Maybe we are hearing different things out of the Penrith camp, but what I'm hearing is pretty much the same as what happened at the Tigers.

The guy lacks commitment at training and doesn't have the fitness to be anything more than a fringe first grader who can make a big impact for 3 or 4 mins then go missing for 10 until he finds his way to the bench.

Who was that guy the Warriors used to bring on just for kick off and line drop out returns ... Paleiseina (sp) ... the guy looked awesome in full flight charging at the defence, but that was about it.

I think you are pretty spot on with most of your team analysis though.

On Sheens, I am torn. The guy can't pick a team to save his life, and continues to give chance after chance after chance to guys who just can't cut it. Evidenced at North Qld and even more clearly at the Tigers.

That said, I think he is one of the best there is at opponent specific game plans.

Look at Bennett for instance .. arguably the best strategic coach in the last 10 years, but he has had such hi quality teams, he doesn't need to alter his gameplan. Basically the Dragons just go out there and attempt to do everything 10% better than the opposition.

The Tigers don't always have that luxury, and I think Sheens is very good in mixing things up and targetting certain players / deficiencies etc and finding ways to compete in games where they aren't as skillful.

[grunter]

And mate, please ... Daine Laurie ...

lol

Well tbh I didnt really say much about him other than the fact that he is another big bloke to throw in their rotation. Even if he plays 12 games, it is keeping a few of the other guys fresher for the more important games down the track.

[clintsmydad]

LOL... Grunter....

Tell you one thing, would be interesting to see how you fare against fatty (Paul Vautin) with your pre-season tips vs end of season results...

At least its all here in black and white to compare to...

FTR, are you logging in your tips into the NINEMSN/WWOS footy tipping comp??

Won't argue there with you, There's a reason why Vossy is on the Footy Show. Fatty' just there for the celeb, laugh & goof factors...

Ok so we have Khalil's predictions and Shades... with yours to follow in due course Grunter??

lol

[clintsmydad]

dally M j thurston
try scorer b stewart
minor premiers titans
origin QLD
premiers storm
wooden spoon warriors

top 8
titans
st george
eels
bulldogs
storm
souths
penrith
brisbane