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This year of NRL just keeps on impressing me. Big hits, tries of the year and many, many more. So let’s go through each team’s report card and see where they sit.
First: St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons are showing glimpses of their 2010 premiership year. Benji Marshall is showing his very best since 2005 and Josh Dugan is in the form of his career. Although their attack needs fixing, their defence is outstanding.
They showed that they can handle pressure against teams like the the Roosters and Broncos. But will the Dragons go back to their ways of showing their ‘chocker’ status. Let’s hope not. They have an outstanding draw for the next 13 games but I see them finishing fifth behind the Cowboys, Broncos, Storm and Roosters.
Rating: 9/10
Second: Brisbane Broncos
We knew this was going to happen. The Broncos have been the team of year for me. With Anthony Milford showing that he can play outstanding football in the number six, the Brisbane team don’t look like losing. With their dominant win against the Sea Eagles, the Broncos are going places. Their attack is outstanding and when they play at home, they are literally unbeatable. I see them finishing with the minor premiership in first position.
Rating: 9.5/10
Third: North Queensland Cowboys
Everyone is saying that the Cowboys are going to win the premiership. To me, I can’t jump on the bandwagon just yet. Yes, they’ve won nine straight, but with their draw coming up, I see the Cowboys struggling to win more games. Furthermore, they have the Dragons in Wollongong with key players missing.
Every game a team loses, it has an affect on where they will finish. Apart from that, I still am confident that they will find ways to win and finish fourth on the ladder. The only thing is, will they be able to beat the referees in the finals?
Rating: 9/10
Fourth: Melbourne Storm
The Storm have been terrific. But again, like the Cowboys without their stars, they won’t be able to win the tight ones. But like the Broncos, they have been the team of the year and will be very hard to beat. They are attacking beautifully and have the second best defence in the league behind the Dragons. I see them finishing third on the table and going on to be there in the grand final to win it.
Rating: 9.5/10
Fifth: Sydney Roosters
The Roosters are slowing becoming the team they were in 2013. With Blake Ferguson still to come back, the Roosters will be extremely hard to beat. They showed that their attack is on point and there defence is also well. If James Maloney secures his deal to stay at the Roosters, the Roosters will finish in second place and will be there with the Storm in the biggest game of the season.
Rating: 9/10
Sixth- South Sydney Rabbitohs
At the beginning of the season, I bravely said that the Rabbitohs would be there at the end of the year. But with Greg Inglis out of form and too many injuries, I can’t even see them making the top four. They have been good with a full team, but with State of Origin, the Rabbitohs just can’t buy a trick. They will play a part in the finals but that’s as far as they will go. I see them finishing in seventh position with Inglis finding form in the finals.
Rating: 8/10
Seventh: New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors, like every year, are hot and cold. But finals is a challenge for the boys in New Zealand. Travelling will also take a toll as well. I just cannot see them going any further. They are playing very similar to the team that the Newcastle Knights were in first four rounds. Good but will struggle at the back end of the season. I see the boys across the Tansman finishing 11th with good signs for 2016.
Rating: 7.5/10
Eighth: Penrith Panthers
We all could have said that the Panthers would finish first, with a premiership. But like the back end of 2014, Penrith have the worst luck with injuries. Jamal Idris is a major loss and Matt Moylan is the biggest injury of the year. Jamie Soward won’t play well until his shoulder is 100 per cent.
They are still playing good football, but the injuries will take a toll on them when they have to play against teams like the Broncos, Storm, Dragons and Cowboys. If they can fight the injuries expect the boys to finish high but I see them finishing just short in ninth position.
Rating: 8/10
Ninth: Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs are playing very similar to the Panthers along with their injuries. But when Brett Morris and James Graham return to their best, the Dogs are going to be extremely difficult to beat. The problem I find in the Belmore side is their consistency. They gave away 34 points against the Raiders when taking a 26-point lead in the first quarter of the game.
Their defence needs a lot of work if they want to make the eight and that’s where I see them finishing. The Dogs to finish sixth and lose their first game of the finals against the Rabbitohs.
Rating: 7.5/10
10th: Gold Coast Titans
I thought the Titans would finish last, but they are showing determination against great teams like the Rabbitohs. I still am not sure that they can make the eight but with Greg Bird still to return, the Titans can make a play for the eight. They will finish strongly in their remaining games but expect them to finish 12th.
Rating: 6.5/10
11th: Canberra Raiders
The Raiders are showing glimpses of what they can deliver. Blake Austin, Jack Wighton and Iosia Soliola are in great form but their not consistently delivering. The attack is brillant, but they’ve lost against the Dragons, Bulldogs and Broncos which were games that they should have won, especially against the Bulldogs. I can’t see them finishing that form again so I expect them to finish 10th with some great news of the Adam Sezer and Austin combination for 2016.
Rating: 7.5/10
12th: Wests Tigers
The Tigers have to be the worst team in the NRL at the moment. You could say they are as soft as butter. Luke Brooks and James Tedesco should be showing the rest of the NRL that they are the two best players, but they aren’t. Adam Woods is in the best form of his career with Martin Taupau but with their halves playing very poorly, I can’t see the Tigers making the eight Expect them finishing 13th.
Rating: 6/10
13th: Newcastle Knights
Wow! That’s all I can say. They started the season like nobody would expect but now they are just flat out embarrassing. The injuries do play a part but I can’t see them going anywhere. To add salt to their wound, their best player Beau Scott won’t be there in 2016. They will finish 14th.
Rating: 4.5/10
14th: Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks are like the Warriors, hot one week, freezing the next. They showed this against the Roosters and then the Dragons. If they played like they did against the Roosters every game, they would finish in the top four no doubt. But I can’t see them finding their feet until 2016. They have been disappointing and with be fighting with the Eels to retain the wooden spoon, but should avoid it in 15th place.
Rating: 5/10
15th: Parramatta Eels
Well it was well documented that without Jarryd Hayne the Eels would struggle. That’s an understatement. The Eels can buy a trick and can’t do a thing to win. Will Hopoate should not be fullback and Anthony Watmough needs some discipline. Brad Arthur should be dropping him to the bench to think about what he needs to do.
I can’t see them improving. They showed a bit of fight against the Panthers, but let’s be honest, no Moylan, no Soward and no Idris. Congrats, Eels, you’ve earned the wooden spoon.
Rating: 4/10
16th: Manly Sea Eagles
Where did this come from? Manly haven’t been flat out bad and I still have hope for them. They are only two wins out of the eight. Now let’s keep the comments box clean, but I see the Eagles making the eight. Only because Daly Cherry-Evans and Kieran Foran are still to find their feet and play with confidence. I’m not fully convinced they will make it, but Geoff Toovey will make sure of it. Eighth position for me to lose to the Dragons in week one of the finals.
Rating: 5.5/10
Final table
1. Broncos
2. Roosters
3. Storm
4. Cowboys
5. Dragons
6. Bulldogs
7. Rabbitohs
8. Sea Eagles
9. Panthers
10. Raiders
11. Warriors
12. Titans
13. Tigers
14. Knights
15. Sharks
16. Eels
Grand final: Storm versus Roosters
Wooden spoon: Parramatta Eels
Dally M: Benji Marshall
Most improved: Dragons
Best buy: Blake Austin
Let’s be honest, it’s only halfway through the year and predictions have no influence on where your team will come. So get behind your team because there’s not long left.
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