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Is it too early for 2015 predictions?

8th October, 2014
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How good would Sam Burgess charging into the Maroons in a Blue jersey look? (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
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8th October, 2014
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So the final siren has sounded and brought an end to season 2014, heralding the start of the Rabbitohs first premiership celebrations for 43 years.

But what it also heralded is the horrible realisation that the footy is over until next March. That’s five months of trying to act like cricket and the English Premier League are exciting enough to have us not yearn for our footy.

That’s more than 150 days in which we will continually hear how the A-League is growing ever more popular and we truly wish that we cared as much as they say we should.

For many of us, we will be willing the 2015 season to come early and hypothesising what it will bring.

There is no time like the present to start predicting what next year will bring, although I should be gun shy after some pretty poor predictions during the finals – including explaining all the reasons why the Rabbitohs would beat the Bulldogs and then tipping the Doggies anyway. I’m going to have another slash outside off and have a go at predicting what is going to happen next year.

Here is what I reckon will happen to the sides that made this year’s top eight.

South Sydney Rabbitohs

Last season: fourth           This Season: Premiers

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What they did well this year
In short: everything. Their ‘roadkill’ defence was almost unbreakable. They conceded the least tries, metres and line breaks in the comp. They also missed the fewest tackles.

In attack, the only significant stat they came less than first in was average metres made per game. They were second best there.

What they did poorly
Not retaining Sam Burgess was probably the biggest failure at the Rabbitohs this year. Although not the captain, there is no doubt that he played the role of talismanic leader throughout the year and definitely in the grand final.

Their best player
There were a lot to choose between but statistically Greg Inglis stands out. His 12 line break assists, 11 try assists, 19 line breaks, 116 tackle breaks, 13 tries and average of 153.1 metres a game are stats of a superstar.

The next big thing
Alex Johnston 21 tries were just a taste of things to come. At just 20 years of age, he has the size, speed and talent of Blake Ferguson but looks to be a level-headed kid. With the right mentoring this guy could become a legend.

Needs to lift
It’s hard to really point the finger at anyone here as Madge Maguire had them all firing.

Recruits of note
The ageing Glenn Stewart arrives from the Sea Eagles and big Tim Grant comes across from the Panthers. Both are very solid and dependable team men.

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Losses
Lots of big hits here, none more so than Sam Burgess. It is hard to see the Rabbitohs being as fearsome without him. Ben Te’o and hooker Apisai Koroisau are also big losses.

My Prediction
It was a huge effort winning this year’s title. Along with the loss of such key talent there will also be a loss of hunger. I think they’ll finish somewhere between fifth and eighth spot in 2015.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs

Last season: seventh           This Season: Runners up

What they did well this year
The Bulldogs won a heap of close matches in 2014 in spite of having a whole lot of middling stats. With the exception of the last game of the season, Des Hasler’s boys were able to get the results when they mattered.

What they did poorly
The Bulldogs had real trouble scoring tries. With Josh Morris clearly down on form, they struggled to get across the stripe. Of all the sides that made the eight they were clearly the worst at crossing the line.

Their best player
James Graham was the best at the Bulldogs this season. His 70+ minutes a game, along with his average of 125 metres and 35 tackles, was the rock that the Dogs built their season on.

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The next big thing
Tim Lafai may have had a quiet grand final but his nine line break assists, ten try assists, 95 tackle breaks and 14 triess speak of a star on the rise.

Needs to lift
Tony Williams has the size, speed and talent to be a superstar but T-Rex often goes missing. While his 106 metres a game and 70 tackle breaks for the year are ok for a man of his talent, his four trys and five line breaks were poor.

Recruits of note
Getting Michael Lichaa from the Sharks was a bit of a coup as the young rake showed some real promise this year. So too did Curtis Rona at the Cowboys who may add some badly needed attacking strike power. So too would Brett Morris if he is able to unite with his twin at Belmore, as has been reported.

Losses
While Michael Ennis was great for the Bulldogs his best years are probably behind him.

My Prediction
Any side coached by Des Hasler will fight for every inch. The Dogs were on top of the ladder for a good part of the season before their form fell away. Expect them to challenge again in 2015. top-four finish.

Penrith Panthers

Last season: 10th         This Season: fourth

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What they did well this year
The Panthers moulded and bonded as a team in 2014 under coach Ivan Cleary. They stuck to their game plan so well that even with injuries to crucial players they managed to pull off some stirring wins. Their line breaks and trys conceded were only bettered by the Roosters and the Rabbits.

What they did poorly
The Panthers, for all their defensive prowess, made things hard for themselves by missing the third most tackles and giving away the third most penalties. Furthermore, at the end of the day their 95 tries for the year was just too far off the pace for them to genuinely challenge.

Their best player
Jamie Soward went from strength to strength in 2014. His leadership of the Panthers, especially at the end of the season, was superb. His kicking game is up there with Cooper Cronk and Johnathan Thurston. A superb buy.

The next big thing
There’s a few to choose from here with Adam Docker and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak in the side. However, Matt Moylan built upon a great rookie season in 2013 with a consistently classy 2014. On top of his great defence, his ability to set up line breaks and trys is outstanding. Add to that his three match winning field goals and you’ve got a star in the making.

Needs to lift
While he was thrown into the deep end when Peter Wallace did his knee, Will Smith simply has to improve his tackling. His three misses on average a match were often costly and made him a constant target.

Recruits of note
Picking up Apisai Koroisau from the Rabbitohs was an excellent get. He will lend great support to Segeyaro.

Losses
Losing Tim Grant wasn’t ideal but he clearly was back in Ivan Cleary’s pecking order.

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My Prediction
It’s no secret that I’m a bit of a fan of the Panthers. However, that’s for good reason. The culture that Cleary and Gould are building out west should be ominous for all the other clubs. I’m expecting a top six finish.

Sydney Roosters

Last season: Premiers                        This Season: third

What they did well this year
The Roosters attack was fantastic in 2014. They led the way for line breaks, tackle breaks and trys scored. They could and did attack from anywhere.

What they did poorly
Their missed tackles and metres conceded were way up on 2013, and once again they conceded the most penalties of any side in 2014. However, what really cost them was their handling. The Roosters made more errors than any other side in 2014 and those mistakes often cost them games.

Their best player
One of the big issues for the Roosters this year is that no one had an outstanding year. While Friend, Pearce, Cordner and Minichello all looked very good, none excelled.

The next big thing
Now Minichello has sadly gone we finally get to see Roger Tuivasa-Scheck at fullback. His 144 metres on average per game and his 97 tackle breaks are just a taste of things to come.

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Needs to lift
James Maloney is unquestionably talented. However, his average of 3.3 missed tackles a game, along with his 38 errors and 23 penalties conceded this season aren’t sustainable.

Recruits of note
Nil

Losses
Anthony Minichello retiring and Sonny Bill Williams returning to rugby has the potential to seriously disrupt the Roosters.

My Prediction
The Roosters have too much talent to not be serious contenders in 2015. Top six finish.

Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Last season: Runners Up        This Season: fifth

What they did well this year
Manly did most things well until they were cruelled by injury late in the season. In particular, their defence was often superb.

What they did poorly
For a side that has been feted for their attacking prowess in the past, they failed to fire in attack this season as well as they needed to. They only ranked eighth for trys scored in 2014, having been second in 2013.

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Their best player
While all the fuss was around keeping Daly Cherry-Evans, Steve Matai was allowed to depart. His last season for the Sea Eagles was arguably his best, scoring 13 tries, averaging 100 metres a game and breaking 60 tackles.

The next big thing
Clint Gutherson didn’t have many opportunities in 2014 but when he got them he made them count. From his three outings he averaged 121 metres, set up three trys and scored three himself.

Needs to lift
For a player who is being prized above all others at Brookvale, Cherry-Evans needs to fire. His 15 try assists and three tries in 2014 need to rise significantly in 2015.

Recruits of note
Nil

Losses
There are a fair few losses for the Sea Eagles but the worst are probably Watmough and Glen Stewart. It is hard to see the Manly defence being as well drilled without those two stalwarts.

My Prediction
Manly have been contenders for the best part of a decade but their star may now be on the wane. An eighth or ninth-placed finish.

North Queensland Cowboys

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Last season: eighth           This Season: sixth

What they did well this year
The Cowboys attacked and defended well in 2014. Led by Thurston and Matt Scott they were capable of big wins. Scott and his forwards led their team to the most metres in the NRL.

What they did poorly
The Cowboys were appalling away from home, winning only three games on the road. It cost them a better ladder finish and a good shot at the title.

Their best player
Johnathan Thurston is arguably the best player in the game right now and certainly the best general going around. His 19 line break assists and 31 try assists are the best for a playmaker in the NRL.

The next big thing
Michael Morgan certainly covered well for the injured Lachlan Coote. His 10 trys, 102 metres a game, 76 tackle breaks and 18 try assists were superb.

Needs to lift
Jason Taumalolo needs to find consistency. One moment he’s busting tackles, making huge metres and scoring tries, the next he’s dropping balls and going missing. Oh, and James Tamou needs to take a walk through the room of mirrors.

Recruits of note
Ben Hannant from the Broncos will be a great replacement for Ashton Sims, and Jake Granville may well be the answer at hooker that the Cows have been looking for since Payne left.

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Losses
Tariq and Ashton Sims could be quite big losses. However, the retirement of Brent Tate is likely to hurt the most.

My Prediction
I can’t get these guys right. I thought they’d challenge for the title this year but they fell short again. They’ll make the top eight once more in 2015 but who knows where.

Melbourne Storm

Last season: sixth           This Season: seventh

What they did well this year
By the high standards of the Storm, they didn’t do much that well this season. However, their attack and defence were good enough to get them into the top eight. They made very few errors and their missed tackles were fairly low.

What they did poorly
Their tackle breaks were the fourth lowest in the NRL and their run metres per game plummeted from being the best in 2013 to being the eighth this season.

Their best player
It is too hard to split Cooper Cronk with his 25 try assists, Jesse Bromwich with his 144 metres per match, Billy Slater with his 131 metres per match, 14 line breaks, 12 tries and nine try assists and the brilliance of Cam Smith – so I won’t.

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The next big thing
Craig Bellamy has a reputation for turning meat and potatoes players into stars. With the arrival of Tom Learoyd-Lahrs he has gotten himself an out of favour star. Big Tom, the former NSW Origin rep, could well explode in 2015.

Needs to lift
Tohu Harris had a break out first season. However, 2014 saw him average under 100 metres a game and his Mad Monday would have featured him doing the nudie run – he didn’t score once in 2014.

Recruits of note
Tom Learoyd-Lahrs could be a brilliant recruit.

Losses
Losing their ever reliable Ryan Hoffman will surely hurt, as will their leading try scorer in 2014, Sisa Waqa, who is going to the Raiders.

My Prediction
While there is Smith, Cronk and Slater you can expect this side to win more than they lose. However, age is wearying them and opposition sides are increasingly exploiting their weaker defence out wide. They will finish from eighth to eleventh.

Brisbane Broncos

Last season: 12th         This Season: eighth

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What they did well this year
The Broncos stats in attack and defence weren’t too bad this year, and were a vast improvement on 2013. They scored the fifth most tries and conceded the sixth least. They were also the fourth best line breakers.

What they did poorly
The Broncos broke the second least tackles in 2014, only the Titans were worse.

Their best player
It is hard to go past Corey Parker and Justin Hodges for the Broncos’ best player. However, Ben Hunt had a spectacular year. His 13 tries, 64 tackle breaks, 19 line breaks and 19 try assists were superb. How he didn’t get the Dally M for best halfback is a mystery.

The next big thing
The poaching of Anthony Milford was a major coup for Brisbane. Under the tutelage of Wayne Bennett the kid could become a superstar.

Needs to lift
Ben Barba is between a rock and a hard place. He had a poor season in 2014 to follow his mediocre 2013. Now, with the arrival of Bennett, Milford and probably Boyd, he needs to make a case for his spot in the starting side.

Recruits of note
Anthony Milford.

Losses
Hannant, Granville and Yow Yeh are all great players who will be missed.

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My Prediction
Supercoach Wayne Bennett is back and you can expect the Broncos juggernaut to start rolling again. With a little bit of luck they might even make the top four. I reckon around a fifth or sixth-placed finish.

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