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SMITHY: Broncos looking red hot for the title but watch out for the Chooks

22nd July, 2015
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The Roosters wouldn't mind still having Roger Tuivasa-Sheck running out in 2016. (AAP Image/Action Photographics, Grant Trouville)
Expert
22nd July, 2015
24
1619 Reads

If ever a team has made it to the top of the comp at this time of the season as easily as the Broncos have, I can’t remember when.

After a dodgy season opener at home, they have been a model of consistency. Consistency is what sticks out for the Broncs (consistently playing Friday night footy must get boring for Queensland viewers if they aren’t Broncs fans, but I digress).

Consistently they have had the core of their squad fit and available for selection.

And consistently winning with a strong defence spiced up by Ben Hunt at 7 and Andrew McCullough at 9. Star imports for season 2015, Adam Blair, Anthony Milford and fullback Darius Boyd just top things off.

Even the refs seem to have been consistent when reading their matches. Have the Broncs had any controversial game-deciding issue this season? Seems like the Sharks have had one every week!

Brisbane have got to be a shot at winning it all. Only a really class outfit in premium form will stop them, because they won’t beat themselves.

North Queensland are looking next best – in the consistency stakes at least. Breaking the hoodoo of away wins is now a regular occurrence – not that they will need to worry about that. Even when the playoffs come round, if they can maintain their spot on the ladder they will play all but the grand final at home.

They have been near this position before, so they will be wary. But have they ever looked this confident and complete? I don’t think so. I reckon they are specials for a grand final position.

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Warriors are closer to the mark than recent seasons. But are they capable of meeting and beating the really top teams? At home maybe but can they win enough matches to finish in the top four

They would need to improve and develop under the pressure of these coming weeks. One team almost always does get a roll on at this time of year. Last weekend’s loss to the Roosters might have killed the momentum for the Kiwi outfit.

South Sydney have been there and done that, so this season is not untrodden turf. Can they find that awesome power and competitiveness again without Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o?

The injury toll has robbed them of rhythm and balance for too long this season. Remember their stellar start when Channel Nine commentators were telling us the Rabbits had forgotten how to lose? A season undefeated might have been mentioned.

But that all seems a very long time ago. They are a team with a limp at present. It’s tough to shake it at this time of year, but having Greg Inglis and Isaac Luke means it’s still a chance of happening.

The Storm fall in the same sort of category as the Rabbits this time round. With Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith they can’t be written off, and with Jesse Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi really firing they have some serious grunt up front with quick play the balls to project from.

The hair twins in the second row make Melbourne more of a team threat than the past couple of seasons. But could they really go that far without Billy Slater?

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The Bulldogs have been very patchy this season and it still appears that coach Des Hasler is trying to find the best combos and style to create something like the powerful unit of the past season or two.

Those halves will be difficult to sort as Moses Mbye is now a real contender after some tremendous performances. It’s a good thing but sorting out that driving force up front might be more of an issue.

If James Graham gets back in the groove they are the best chance of a damaging run from the middle of the pack.

They need some coaching help and have the man to do that, so they can’t be written off at all.

The Sharks? How are they even in this spot? They have been bowled over and gotten up so many times this season, surely they can’t keep doing it.

Andrew Fifita is the key man for them, with those marauding runs for a few minutes of mayhem. If he gets the ball when he wants it and the Sharks need it they could shock some more before the season is over, but a grand final win would be too much for them.

Those outside backs they signed this season have offered some more attacking threat, but they also have some defensive issues not likely to be coached out of them this season at least. They are under extreme pressure of the top end opponents I think they will fall short.

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The rest are not up to it in 2015, but might offer nuisance value. They may cost a couple of the top eight a better position in those playoffs with a shock result or two.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot the red-hot favourites: Sydney Roosters.

Not the model of consistency of the Broncs or Cows, nor of themselves from season 2013, the Roosters still have the best roster and if they are prepared well then they are also best equipped to win it all again.

With very few injuries to key players again this season, they are building their momentum well. Those rookie forwards have rekindled the fireworks up front, which lays a great platform for the sparkling backs.

If they reach their peak in those playoffs and on grand final day I reckon they are specials.

It’s a long way from the winning post and there are many surprises in store ahead of us in the 2015 NRL season, but that’s how I see things through the plastic ball so far.

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