St George Illawarra Dragons – Bennett’s men have been the yardstick for two seasons now and they have certainly shown that calm consistency will take you places. The only problem for the Dragons however, is that being calm and controlled isn’t all that’s required to win the big games in September.
Last year they were slain with ease by their opponents in the finals regardless of being the minor premiers, and thus they disappeared from the comp as meekly as Harold Holt taking a quick dip. If the saints are to take the next step, they will have to go up a few levels in attack and try to be more creative than using the one play to score.
A lot of the burden will rest on the shoulders of Jamie Soward and Darius Boyd, they are the attacking weapons that can enable the likes of Brett Morris to score. Ultimately, the Dragons appear more likely to be the first team in years to become part of a nil-all draw than a premiership.
Prediction: Knocked out 2nd week of the finals.
Penrith Panthers
The Panthers are the metaphorical equivalent of watching a Porsche crash into a tree. They have produced the most surprising performances of the season and despite being a team that very few of the “experts” believed would make the finals, they find themselves second on the ladder. The last month has been horrific for the men from the mountains though, at the business end of the season the Panthers have lost all formation and look a bit like a turtle stuck on its back, their legs are moving around a lot, but ultimately it’s ineffective.
Luke Lewis being out with injury hasn’t helped them, but it’s their collective form dip that has me thinking they will probably struggle for potency in the finals series. One factor that might help is their easy run home, if they find some confidence, they might be able to recapture some of that golden form.
Prediction: Knocked out in the Preliminary Final.
Sydney Roosters
The most hated team in the NRL have shown that just because one of your key forwards defecated in a corridor last year, it doesn’t mean you can’t find redemption. The chooks have surged forward to typify what it means to pull off a complete 180-degree turn. The best facet of their resurrection has been the unleashing of a brilliant and entertaining brand of rugby league that has been sadly lacking in recent years.
Love them or hate them, I can guarantee people will turn out to watch this team run around with Pearce and Carney calling the shots. There is a question mark over their defence, but to me this team is reminiscent of what the Panthers did in 2003, they didn’t mind leaking points because they were confident they could simply outscore you. I will be surprised if any team has the arsenal to out gun this side.
Prediction: Winners.
Wests Tigers
Is it just me, or are the Tigers earning four points for each of their wins? How on earth are they in fourth position! To me the Tigers are like that asthmatic kid in school who under normal circumstances would struggle to breathe but still blitz you in the 5km run in gym class. To their credit, they are more often than not taking home the cookies so that must say something about their character.
Wests have had to pull out every trick in the book to earn their wins though, including Robbie Farrah resorting to faking a seizure in a scrum two weeks ago to earn a penalty. I fear the book of tricks may be running out of pages however. The good news is that Ellis is back, along with Ryan and Lui, so this will help bolster the ranks. The team’s fortunes will rest on whether or not Benji Marshall, who is the most enigmatic player in the league, decides he wants to play footy or basketball, because from the looks of it he is playing the latter at the moment.
Prediction: Knocked out 1st week of the finals.
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans suffer from a severe case of middle child syndrome, people know that they are there but nobody stops to look at them. The forgotten team of the top eight continue to make their critics eat their words with a splattering of big wins this season. Sitting nicely in 5th, perhaps out of the spotlight is the way John Cartwright likes it. They certainly have some talent when they are all on deck with Bird, Rogers, Campbell and Prince attacking on all fronts.
The two problems people have with the Titans are (a) their lack of depth and (b) their inability to be ruthless with their wins. The Titans lack a killer instinct and despite the fact they are a very talented team, that is an attribute that will come back to bite them in the finals series.
Prediction: Knocked out 2nd week of the finals.
Manly Sea Eagles
The Eagles have all the hallmarks of a great team but they fail to deliver the punch they promise on most occasions. Their tendency to wane towards the end of matches is beginning to make them look a bit unstable and frayed at the edges; this is why they are affectionately referred to as Mel Gibson in some League sectors.
A lot will depend on their young halves combination, there can be no dispute that Kieran Foran and Trent Hodkinson are a very talented pairing but they definitely lack a considerable amount of leadership influence. I believe this is why they find closing out matches tougher than getting Phil Gould to shut his mouth.
Prediction: Knocked out in Preliminary Final.
Brisbane Broncos
I wonder if the monotony of making the finals is becoming just out and out boring for the Brisbane fans? Nah, there is nothing else to do in Brisbane, so of course they love it. Yet again the Broncos are looming as the dark horse to take home some prized scalps. Darren Lockyer is now 76, so he can only set up seven tries a game these days but he’s still doing his bit.
They have the best 2nd rower in the game in ‘slammin’ Sam Thaiday, and the young back three are electric. Justin Hodges is due back any minute, a man who is certain to add even more weight to their campaign as well as their number of trips to the judiciary. Heading off to the finals for the Broncos is like Tiger Woods sinking a 40ft putt, we all know it’s a freakish effort but we would be shocked if they missed.
Prediction: Grand Final Runners Up.
New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors are another team that are flying well below the radar, unnoticed and unappreciated – much like the country of New Zealand itself actually. Make no mistake with this team though, they aren’t pretenders. They play a tough, rugged brand of footy that ensures any team who wants to beat them have to bring their ‘A game’.
If Lance Hohaia can spark their big Maori pack then who knows what damage they can do in the finals? I’m sure Manu Vatuvei won’t die wondering, if Ivan Cleary reminds him that tries must be scored with the football in his hands then he will bag plenty of tries (he may also eat a goal post, it’s hard to say).
Prediction: Knocked out 1st week of the finals.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
I haven’t been convinced about the halves combination for Souths all year, and frankly in the last six weeks it’s starting to show. They have a brilliant forward pack that have to take most of the credit for most of the games won this year. Now the Bunnies find themselves limping towards the end of the season decimated with injury.
The best I can offer is my deepest condolences for a season that could’ve been, because with the run home Souths have to endure, their chances of making the finals look to be much the same as Russell Crowe’s film Proof of Life, absolutely hopeless!
Prediction: 10th
Parramatta Eels
Well now that everybody has parachuted to safety after abandoning the Hayne plane, Parramatta find themselves in the unenviable position of not having the crowd on their side. The Roosters really dented their confidence with that 48-12 spanking last round.
The problem I have with the Eels is that they haven’t yet managed to beat a team who is in good form. We all saw what they could do last season but realistically, there is a greater chance of Quentin Pongia making a comeback for the resurrected Adelaide Rams than Parra taking out the Premiership. Sorry Hindy but it’s true.
Prediction: 9th
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