Six fearless predictions for the 2013 season

By shane / Roar Guru

With the 2013 NRL Season just around the corner, I take a look into the crystal ball and outline my predictions for the coming year.

Want the good news or bad news first?

6. Wooden Spoon

Sorry Titans fans, I think you’re in for a long season ahead.

Your 2012 finals hopes were cruelled by an error rate (11.1 per match) that was the second worst in the league and your team also found it difficult to ‘stick’ to the opposition in tackles with an average missed tackle rate of 34.7 per match (fifth worst in the league).

I simply don’t think a year is long enough to learn how to catch and tackle.

But my biggest concern for the Titans though is their halves.

While he didn’t play some of his best football in the Titans’ jersey, losing Scott Prince to rivals Brisbane Broncos is a bitter blow, although Aidan Sezer did prove to be a competent five-eighth in his first year in the NRL.

In saying that Sezer was the perfect foil for halfback Scott Prince 2012, and he is going to have to raise his game to whole new level in 2013 for Titans to compete week in week out. A tough ask for a young half still learning his trade.

Individually, several of the Titans squad performed well, in particular Luke Douglas and Nate Myles.

Douglas, a former Cronulla Shark, toiled admirably, playing all 24 matches and averaging 105 metres per match.

Nate Myles showed why Queensland selectors have valued him so highly for so long, with a great effort in his first year on the Gold Coast. In 2012, the burly prop ran for a career-best 2642 metres, cracking the line five times and scoring three times in the process.

Despite all of these potential positives, John Cartwright has his work cut out if the Titans are going to be competitive in 2013.

5. Buys of the year – South Sydney

South Sydney’s pack will become even stronger with the addition of premiership-winning prop Jeff Lima and former Bronco Ben Te’o.

With just 26 players used in 2012, South Sydney enjoyed a pretty decent run when it came to injuries, although it wasn’t always smooth sailing for the Rabbitohs in 2013.

Suffering up front for a large chunk of the season, both Roy Asotasi (missed 15 games) and Scott Geddes (played only 12 games – now retired) left the Rabbitohs short of troops.

Add a lack of finals experience and the Rabbitohs season came to a disappointing end.

The Rabbitohs have taken some big strides forward in recent years and these two signings will only enhance that.

Lima will return to the NRL following a successful stint with English Super League giants Wigan where he won the 2011 Challenge Cup under the guidance of now Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire.

Te’o, previously from Wests Tigers and Brisbane will replace departing second-rower David Taylor.

Although Taylor left his mark, Te’o is the disciplined type of player coach Maguire is looking for.

I expect both Lima and Te’o to make a serious impact on the competition this season.

4. The Blues to finally beat the Cane toads

This is the year. It simply has to be. No Lockyer, no Civoniceva; the Maroons have nothing or no one to play for, or so hope long-suffering Blues fans like myself.

NSW made giant strides under outgoing coach Ricky Stuart over the last two years and will be hoping to continue the momentum with new boss Laurie Daley.

With inspirational skipper Paul Gallen leading the way and dummy-half Robbie Farah finally finding his feet at Origin level, the Blues will be aiming to stop a gut-wrenching run of seven straight series defeats when the highly anticipated series gets underway in Sydney in May.

3. John Cartwright to be first coach sacked

It will come as no great surprise that I nominate John Cartwright as the first coach to get the punt in 2013.

Losing Scott Prince to the Broncos causes massive headaches for Cartwright considering the Titans have a distinct lack of depth in their halves.

Although Sezer went well last season, you simply can’t expect him to carry a team that has underperformed for several seasons now.

Watch for Greg Bird to be shifted to 5/8. Once this occurs, Cartwright is as good as gone.

A lack of experience and overall quality in their spine will be cripple Cartwright and his push for success in 2013.

2. Young guns to look out for in 2013

Michael Lichaa (Cronulla Sharks) – Keep an eye out for the name Michael Lichaa. One of the most creative and skilful hookers coming through the ranks at the Sharks.

Having been compared to Tigers and Blues rake, Robbie Farah, Lichaa is a strong defender, and his left-foot kicking game is developing nicely too.

He is unlikely to see any first grade action early on in the season, with a pair of useful players in De Gois and John Morris in front of him.

But Lichaa is highly rated in the Shire and will see some first grade action in 2013.

Jack Stockwell (St George Illawarra Dragons) – Continuing his development in the under-20s and NSW Cup, Stockwell towers over many at six foot and 100+ kilograms.

He got a taste of first-grade in 2012 having come off the bench on three occasions; Stockwell can secure a regular position on the pine with a consistent, injury-free start to 2013.

Stockwell who selected in Junior Kangaroos squad last season has real potential and should make his mark at some point this season.

Caleb Timu (Brisbane Broncos) – He has been dubbed as the Maroons’ next superstar.

Timu was one of the most destructive forwards in Queensland, which saw him earn selection in last year’s under-20s team of the year.

Scoring a match winning double to secure victory for the Maroons in the under-20s Origin match, Timu is 190cm tall and weighs 108 kilograms.

Following the retirement of Petero Civoniceva and the departure of Ben Te’o, the Broncos forward pack is crying out for new talent to stand up. Look for Timu to feature for the Broncos during the Origin period.

1. North Queensland to win the premiership

The Cowboys are due. They have the most settled line-up heading into 2013.

The loss of Aaron Payne (retirement) and James Segeyaro (Panthers) was offset with the addition of talented rake Scott Moore (Huddersfield) who many think could have the same devastating impact as other Englishmen who have and continue to make their mark in the NRL.

Their forward pack is quality, led by Matt Scott and James Tamou, and with Tariq Sims, Jason Taumalolo and the underrated Gavin Cooper in the backrow, the Cowboys have a nice blend of attack and defence.

Clint Greenshields, acquired from Catalans, is another talented addition that could make an impact in 2013.

As always, how they navigate the Origin period without Thurston will go a long way to deciding where the Cowboys are placed heading into the all-important back-end of the season.

In saying that, they have plenty of depth in the halves with Robert Lui, Ray Thompson and Michael Morgan.

The Cowboys have the best squad on paper, and although this doesn’t always prove to be the catalyst for a successful season, I’m convinced this is the year of the North Queensland Cowboys.

The Crowd Says:

2013-02-19T02:09:06+00:00

qlder

Guest


Stating qld will lose because they have no "greats" to play for is just wishful thinking from Nsw's fans it will not affect them at all. Qld still have the better team and a pride and determination that nsw can't seem to find that will get them through, the only thing that will hurt us is Thurston not being there in game one. Saying that what better hands to leave Qld in besides Smith, Cronk, and Slater who play brilliantly together week in week out with Melbourne I'm tipping a Nsw devastating 8 in a row.

2013-02-09T23:27:24+00:00

nopuritan

Guest


gidley maybe he is a great competitor and has the skills but soward has been inthe doldrums for too long

2013-02-08T05:11:01+00:00

Brett the Manly fan

Guest


NO we need gidley or soward at HB

2013-02-08T00:07:48+00:00

nopuritan

Guest


nsw can't win origin with pearce at half back. peter wallace at number 7 for nsw would scare many a queenslander. i'm not sure if coaches are tested for controlled substances but if they are, that angry wee chap with the permanently bulging eyes and sweaty brow from the northern beaches might get the 'first coach sacked' award. wooden spoon - the worriers cowboys deserve the premiership and have the talent. it all comes down to whether the fixers, err sorry, incorruptable officials can play with a straight bat this year.

2013-02-07T04:51:31+00:00

Mango Jack

Guest


So are you saying they should have got away with it? If Gallop had done less he would have been panned for being soft, and quite rightly so. They cheated and got what they deserved.

2013-02-07T03:59:41+00:00

apaway

Roar Guru


Ronald I disagree. The Storm got what they deserved and it needed to be done publicly. It took a brave administrator to do that, not an incompetent one.

2013-02-07T03:20:28+00:00

Terry Kidd

Guest


Very good point, I agree

2013-02-06T05:11:17+00:00

Brett

Guest


Just don't choose the Reynolds boys and we will win

2013-02-06T03:17:42+00:00

Pikelet

Guest


Oh Yeah!! It's the year of the Cowboys alright!! Depth that goes almost four deep in every position. Best Props in the world. Best player in the world! Nuff said.

2013-02-05T22:31:15+00:00

Ken

Guest


You're kidding yourself 'dishing out punishments to an affiliate (club) for breaking internal rules' Breaking those internal rules removed the integrity of the entire competition, and when you are selling sport that's a very big deal. The Storm got off easy, as the Dogs did before them, if it weren't for financial realities their licences would have been stripped and given to one of the multitude of eager expansion bids waiting in the wings. The NRL (Gallop if you must), gave the bare minimum penalties they could without appearing weak.

2013-02-05T12:52:23+00:00

Cameron

Roar Guru


Bold and fearless predictions, I like nothing more than when someone backs what they truly think. Won't share mine just yet though! ;)

2013-02-05T12:23:32+00:00

maximus182

Roar Guru


I tend to agree with everything there, Souths have bought well, maybe Newcastle have done allright aswell?... Cartwright is an interesting case given they are in a rebuilding phase. They've lost the core group of foundation players now and have had mild success, but whether he deserves more time is questionable. The one I can't see happening is the Blues winning Origin. I'm a NSW fan, but queensland is so dominate, and there will be more NSW selection debate with the Reynolds boys firing which will cause uncertanity and show no faith in the current players. My tip is for NSW to lose 2 series under Daley and the 'Massiah' of NSW, Phil Gould to return to coaching in 2015 and guide NSW to a 3-0 whitewash to stop QLD winning 10 in a row.

2013-02-05T11:46:16+00:00

AndyMack

Guest


Why keep the press out of it?? Surely we all have a right to know. Thought the whole Storm thing was treated well. I have zero tolerance for cheats and liars (both in sport and in life) and have no sympathy for them, like you seem to.

2013-02-05T06:24:41+00:00

Nathan Beuman

Roar Guru


Yeah, I read that after I posted it. He is contracted for this year and the next three (through 2016), making him the longest contracted coach which astounds me. Steve Price's contract ends at the end of the year so depending on how the season goes, they may just choose to hold onto him and ditch him at seasons end. Very interesting that Bellamy's deal also runs out at the end of the year. I think you will get a bit of an idea as to what Bellamy will be doing (staying in Melbourne, Going to St George or across to NZ) as to what St George do. If they decide to resign Price to a 2-3 year deal a couple of rounds into the season (which I would doubt), that's them ruling themselves out of getting Bellamy.

2013-02-05T06:24:11+00:00

peeeko

Roar Guru


I thought the punishment was deserved and fully entitled to be transparent to the paying public

2013-02-05T06:20:59+00:00

peeeko

Roar Guru


Why is Michael lichaa in the wrong place?

2013-02-05T05:31:07+00:00

B.A Sports

Guest


Going to be hard to punt Cartwright as well. One year into a five year deal (i think) and the Titans won't have much spare bullien to play with if they have to pay him out even part of his contract.

2013-02-05T05:29:05+00:00

B.A Sports

Guest


You're not comparing what Lui did to what Hoppa and Monaghan did are you?! And Lui had already had two chances, for the same thing. He should be long gone.

2013-02-05T05:18:11+00:00

Ronald M

Guest


I think Gallop's handling of the Storm affair showed just how incompetent this muppet really was, He loved getting involved in minutia and doling out punishments. I think he regretted not pursuing his legal career and compensated by punishing players and clubs. He also liked being in the media spot light and his hatred of the storm resulted in the debacle we all witnessed I think that if a similar thing happened today 1) The press would be kept out of it 2) Punishments would be undisclosed as in the case of the Warriors a few years back 3) Punishments would be mainly financial although you might see key players benched for no apparent reason Remember that the NRL is a big entertainment business and it is a business that is constantly in the public eye. The NRL is like a company that consists of 16 independent affiliates and it is in the interest of the business as a whole to ensure that every affiliate thrives (though in one particular case one wonders why). For that reason dishing out punishments to an affiliate (club) for breaking internal rules that drives away customers, sponsors and nearly sends that affiliate to the wall is just plain stupid. Do it in public so that the media can have a field day is just plain suicide. Gallop was incompetent but thankfully he has gone and I cannot see Smith or the commission making the same amateurish mistakes that he did and hence my comment that this will never happen again.

2013-02-05T04:21:24+00:00

Maroon Blood

Guest


If there was a Dessie Hasler-sponsored "Flying under the radar" category I would be nominating the Broncos. Noone is talking about them being in the top eight, let alone challenging for the comp which will suit them fine. Scott Prince may not end up being the buy of the season, however I'm tipping him to be the missing piece in the puzzle from last year, i.e. a half to steer the team around, taking the pressure off Wallace to do so (which is not his game) and ensuring the Broncs will be around come the business end of the season. Heard it here first!

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