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.
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?
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.
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.
Mark
Guest
People seem to forget the little thing called Third Party Payments, Semi if your club can't secure them for their players then complain to them as it's a sure sign of a failing club that's badly run and managed as Parramatta currently and has been for a number of years.The successful clubs don't have problems finding them as success brings sponsorship, if Parramatta is to reclaim past glories it needs to start in the boardroom first this is why Parramatta have to pay overs for players.
Semi Radrunrun
Guest
Ok. The crowds are down compared to last year but its like this accross the NRL. Comparing the Roosters and Eels up until rd 18 thanks to http://www.footyindustry.com The crowd & TV numbers for the Eels are: Total Home Crowd: 127 441 Avg Home Crowd (8 games):15 930 Total Away Crowd: 150 181 Avg Away Crowd (8 games): 18772 Total TV: 8 334 000 Avg TV (15 games) : 555 600 The crowd & TV numbers for the Roosters are: Total Home Crowd: 102 631 Avg Home Crowd (7 games): 14 661 Total Away Crowd: 163 051 Avg Away Crowd: 18 116 Total TV: 7 763 000 Avg TV (15 games): 517 500
Muzz
Guest
How are the Eels crowd figures tracking this season, Semi?
Semi Radrunrun
Guest
This well written article was 10 years ago. Some things never change. Im sick of all the lies. http://www.smh.com.au/news/league/somethings-offkey-in-the-nrl-choir/2005/07/23/1121539191002.html
Semi Radrunrun
Guest
I also did some research. Last year, as premiers, they finished 9th in crowd figures with a total just over 169000. Brisbane came in first with over 400,000. What you need to realise is the true fans of Rugby League at the moment are the Eels. Even with all the dramas and wooden spoons they were ranked 3rd last year with the 2014 premiers The Rabbitohs coming in 2 nd.
Birdy
Guest
I really don't know what drugs everyone are on? I'd love to see a broncos v cowboys GF this year, I can't wait for the warriors to take the next step and win the GF , Canberra stepping onto the podium again would be great , long overdue , they used to be everyone's 2nd favourite team. I hope that Perth get a side and take the trophy inside 5 years . Why because that makes RL successful through expansion. If you love the game then who cares who playes the GF, it's a celebration of the 2 most successful teams of the year.
Casper
Guest
Nerval mate, that's like saying all the Queenslanders should play for the broncs or cowboys. Recruiting doesn't work like that unfortunately for our teams north of the border. There's supposed to be a salary cap in place and the Warriors just paid a motza for RTS and Isaac Luke for next season. I thought the warriors became impatient when it was 0-0 after 23 minutes and went away from what I assume was the plan. Then they never recovered because they have a few inexperienced guys in the team. Take Sean Johnson out of that backline and you'd have to say it lacks skill and experience. Their biggest problem seems to be the forwards fitness and discipline in getting back in the line and at marker. Don't think the Roosters have that imposing a pack, a couple of big units with 4 or 5 really hard workers. Halves still have a question mark over them but they should be in the mix but can they win a premiership without Friend?
matth
Guest
Yes that's right, have to keep the QLD'ers in their rightful place as second class league citizens. We will take their TV revenue but heaven help us if they take the premiership!
ChrisinMonaco
Guest
Can Robinson coach ???......... errrrrrrrrrrrrr....
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Tom K is proof that cousins shouldn't marry
farqueue
Guest
I hope its not an all qld grand final, the smugness in Qld would be unbearable. Gee they are good winners up here. I hope the cowboys win though, its great that the premierships have been spread around so well in the last 15 years. My two best mates are tigers and rabbitohs supporters,I'm a dragon. If you had told me 10 years ago that all 3 of those teams would win a comp in the coming decade, I would have thought you had gone insane.
GD
Guest
It's the best time of the season, I reckon! The pressure on the teams at the top keeps going up as they look to hold or improve their position, while on the other hand the pressure comes off the teams towards the bottom as they drop out of the running for the eight, or launch an all-or-nothing dash for the finals. There's a lot of games coming up that look like they might be very one-sided on paper, but I reckon there might be a few scares and maybe an upset or two.
Bomb78
Guest
The sound it makes while it burns is "St George can''t play, St George can't play... "
Scottyvee1986
Roar Rookie
Actually we average over 15,000, 7th in the league. A little bit of research helps ;)
Jay C
Roar Guru
He is just parotting Dean Ritchie If you legitimately believe for 1 second that RL is rigged and you still watch it then you are as dumb as a coatrack
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
It won't make the NRL look less sydney centric. Gyngell won't be happy his beloved roosters aren't in the GF. The NSW economy doesn't directly pay the NRL 50 million (and 50 mil really isn't that much), an all QLD GF would probably result in huge QLD ratings while possibly suffering a fairly hefty decrease in viewers from nsw. I can't see Melbourne increasing in viewers for any reason except a possible growth in interest due to the SOO. The NRL may have lost 20 mil from brisbane not being in the finals because brisbane are a huge RL market... That didn't have a team in the finals. You're posting facts about how big it may be but you aren't actually telling anyone how it's rigged for an all QLD final...
Brian
Guest
Of course the Roosters' squad is mentioned as their key strength, but you'd have to be a "fool" to question the length of their cap. It's not a good thing for RL in this country if a team that averages 10k in attendences after winning a premiership is allowed to dominate on the back of strong corporate 'support'.
Tom K
Guest
Maybe not directly to the NRL, but indirectly. Lets simplify things for you. What ratings figures would be posted in QLD? What would Ch 9 charge for advertising during this g/f? Would Gyngell be happy? Of course he would be dancing. The NSW economy as you mention would receive a massive boost. The NRL would be viewed as not so Sydney centric, with massive exposure Aust wide with this g/f. The NRL LOST @ $20mill when the Broncos missed the 8, so what's a Cows vs Broncs g/f worth? The mind boggles. William, sometimes the best teams on paper,or during the year, heck even on the day/night itself, don't actually win the grand final. There are always ways to make things happen...believe me..
Jay C
Roar Guru
I would least like to play the Roosters do i think that makes them faves. They definitely have the best roster. Can Robinson coach.? We will have to see
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The NRL don't get the 50 mil? It goes to the NSW (more accurately the sydney) economy. Unless maybe the NRL have recently purchased all the hotels, taxis, and bars around town. Maybe try taking off that tin foil cap.