It’s just three more sleeps until the 2018 NRL season begins.
This is my favourite part of the season because at this particular point my team (and every other one) can win the premiership. The mistakes and disappointments of last year have (almost) been forgotten and it really is a fresh start for each of the 16 sides.
It’s also a fun time of the year because I get the chance to make some fearless predictions which will largely be forgotten by the end of the year (unless I’m right and then this article should be shared again!).
The question I’ve been asking people is ‘who makes your top eight this season?’ and the responses have been fascinating because, in my view, this is going to be one of the most competitive seasons we have ever seen.
It speaks to the evenness of our league (one that has seen five different premiers in the last five years) that I truly believe that every single team is capable of making the finals in 2018.
So after much thought, I give you my top eight:
1. Melbourne Storm
2. North Queensland Cowboys
3. Sydney Roosters
4. Cronulla Sharks
5. Parramatta Eels
6. Brisbane Broncos
7. St George Illawarra Dragons
8. Newcastle Knights
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
I am pretty confident that teams one to six will make the eight. But I’m less so about the last two spots, which are up for grabs.
I can’t recall a season where so many teams are heading into Round 1 as unknown quantities.
Rather than being remembered for drama, this off-season will be remembered for transfers and the number of changes we have seen at the clubs both in player and coaching personnel. So many teams head into this season looking dramatically different to 2017.
Ben Hunt and James Graham have joined the Dragons.
Aiden Guerra, Connor Watson, Kayln Ponga and Mitchell Pearce have joined the Knights.
For the Dragons, James Graham will be key in bolstering a forward pack in need of some aggression and mongrel.
For the Knights, part of me predicting that they will make the eight may be hope for the ever loyal Newcastle fans. But their squad is strong and if they don’t make the eight this year, they will go close.
But what about teams that have missed my eight? There are several there that may surprise all of us.
You have the Gold Coast Titans and their new coach Garth Brennan, recently bolstered by the addition of Bryce Cartwright. Brennan has some talent at his disposal including Ryan James, Ash Taylor, Leilani Latu and Michael Gordon.
It was good to hear Brennan admitting that he wants his team to play exciting, attacking football this year, so what the Titans look like this season will be anyone’s guess.
What about the Canterbury Bulldogs, who head into this season with a new captain (Josh Jackson), a new CEO (Andrew Hill) and a new Chairperson (Lynne Anderson)? The squad will also look very different this year with the losses of Josh Reynolds and James Graham and the inclusions of Keiran Foran and Aaron Woods.
It is a foolish fan that writes off the Bulldogs, so while they don’t make my eight, I wouldn’t be surprised if they snuck in.
The South Sydney Rabbitohs also intrigue me. For fans of the red and green, 2017 can only be described as a disappointment. The Bunnies finished the season with 22 points after compiling just nine wins and 15 losses.
But there have been plenty of changes this season. Greg Inglis will return fit and healthy and they have a new coach in Anthony Seibold. There is also plenty of potential in the squad including Alex Johnstone, Cody Walker and Angus Crichton.
For Souths, 2018 could be either a success or completely written off as a rebuilding year.
So who doesn’t make it?
One team that plenty of people have making their top eight is the Penrith Panthers. Truth be told, I just don’t see it.
Yes, the Panthers have talent – Dylan Edwards, Nathan Cleary, Josh Mansour, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and James Maloney.
(Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
But something just doesn’t feel right for me.
We’ve seen the likes of Matt Moylan and Bryce Cartwright depart the club this year. It seems bizarre to me that the club would be willing to part ways with two such talented players who looked to be a key part of the nucleus that the Panthers were looking to take into the next five years.
Josh Mansour has also indicated that 2018 may be his last at the club.
If there’s drama off the field, then talent on it isn’t going to be enough to save the Panthers.
Then there’s the Warriors – my wooden spooners for the year.
When I predicted my top eight last year, I included the Warriors and said that if they didn’t make the finals in 2017 I would never pick them in my eight again.
I have stayed true to my word and despite a squad that features the likes of Shaun Johnson, Issac Luke, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Adam Blair and Tohu Harris, I cannot recall a player that has gone to the Warriors and become a better footballer.
The Warriors are serial underachievers and will underachieve again in 2018.
Because I’m feeling generous, I have one more prediction.
The Sydney Roosters and the North Queensland Cowboys will play in the grand final this year and the Cowboys will win.
Bring on Round 1 – if there’s one thing I’m sure about it it’s that it will be an exceptionally entertaining season.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Glad to see there are a couple of people that still have faith in the Warriors! :)
steveng
Roar Rookie
Yeah, Warriors twice, that's how much you know??? You're dreaming!!! Rabbitohs second last???
steveng
Roar Rookie
Me too 'Billy' and prove all these 'so called egg spurts' wrong lol Go the Bunnies!!!
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
The Eels and Panthers also have quite good draws.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Will Cooper Cronk be able to help change that?
Renegade
Roar Guru
I still can’t go past the cowboys at the moment for the big one but you’d think with the draw Roosters would probably be minor premiers... and then go out in straight sets come September ?
Oto shark
Guest
Love the sharks ,but can you imagine a full strength storm vs cowboys Gf. If sharks don't make it , I would love to see that match up and bet a lot of people would love that too if their teams didn't make it, but in saying that I think if Moylan gels than the sharks are going to have a good year . even though gal and lewis are aging they still have good depth.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Think I put the Warriors twice damn it - should be the Knights in the bottom 8 there somewhere
3_Hats SSTID 2014
Roar Rookie
It intrigues me when fans can only see their side of the ledger. The Mergers had their reserves on in the second half. So what. It is called rotation as Graham and their Lock came back on. Adam Reynolds, Kyle Turner and Cam Murray didn't even play Inglis had 19 minutes, AJ had about 31 minutes. We also had plenty of young blokes come on in the second half. The bottom line is in the first half the Dragons had about 76% of the ball and all the field position they had about 10 opportunities yet only scored 2 trys. Souths had 4 opportunities and scored 3 trys and all of them were slick with precision. Souths defence and attacking ball movement was 10 times better than the Drags.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Guest
Can't see the Knights making it this season. Here's my 8 for what it's worth Storm (surprise, surprise) Cowboys Sharks Raiders Broncos Eels Roosters Dragons And the bottom 8 Bulldogs Titans Manly Warriors Panthers Warriors Rabbitohs Tigers
Chilli
Roar Rookie
Dream bigger.. we will finish ahead of sharks and eels. We got some weapons on the edges for first time since Walker left. GI and Gagai are going to own many a popular team! Cant wait for this!!
steveng
Roar Rookie
Come on now, where are the Rabbitohs? Mark my words, they will be in 6th place and don't say 'I told you so'! My 8 are: 1. Roosters (trying to buy another premiership) 2. Storm 3. Cowboys 4. Eels 5. Sharks 6. Rabbitohs 7. Broncos 8. Dragons Go the Bunnies!!!
Fats1996
Roar Rookie
1. Melbourne Storm 2. North Queensland Cowboys 3. Sydney Roosters 4. Cronulla Sharks 5. Parramatta Eels 6. Brisbane Broncos 7. St George Illawarra Dragons 8. Newcastle Knights Roosters, Melbourne, Cowboys and Eels will be Top 4, probably in that order. Each team is stacked in their own individual way and they all have great coaches at the helm. Broncos, Dragons and Sharks will be in 5-7 somewhere in any order, all are too good to miss out but do have some deficiencies which will keep them from the Top 4. The 8th spot is a tough one but its most likely going to be the Panthers. Could possibly be the Titans, they have a decent squad for mid table but will struggle with depth should injuries come to play and then they are bottom 4 material. Knights, Bulldogs, Rabbitohs, Tigers, Warriors, Sea Eagles or Raiders are locks for the bottom 8 in any order. My pick for the spoon is probably the Dogs or Rabbitohs. Warriors will do better than people expect but it wont be enough.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks Bearfax for your comment... but to be fair I don't think I've ever really written anything about Manly...
Fats1996
Roar Rookie
Roosters have this nice ability to forget how to play footy for about 10-20 mins in big games. Its kinda funny.
Bearfax
Roar Guru
Mary, I take notice of anything you have to say unless it involves Parramatta or Manly Warringah. Your partiality in respect of those team shines through like a beacon. Stick to issues away from those two teams and you are worth reading
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Thanks so much, BigJ! It was actually on Saturday. :)
Ron Swanson
Roar Guru
Kearney is possibly a dud coach, this year will make or break him but I predict they will buck the trend and go well in 2018. When they are talked up as top 4 potential they bomb, expect them to be consistent and go well after being written off. The signing of Alex Corvo as fitness coach could make a huge difference to their achilles heel, ticker and fitness. The back row looks a lot stronger with Tohu Harris, Pulu, youngsters like Bunty Afoa and Isiah Papali'i to support one man band Simon Mannering, which is a huge upgrade on the underwhelming duo of Hoffman and Thompson who were woeful in 2017. Ditto losing Lillyman who was pretty average and solid at best. Manly for the spoon IMO, with the Titans not far behind. Both clubs lack depth in the forwards and a some injuries could really derail both clubs seasons. Team to slide, the Sharks. Every club James Maloney goes to enjoys great success, in Townsend and Moylan Sharks fans will find out the hard way how much they really miss the man known as Jimmy. Add the loss of Jack Bird and the under rate duo of Tagatese and Heighnington and the Sharks lose a quarter of their GF squad from 2016 if you also the soild Gerard Beale. That's a lot of experience gooooone.
BigJ
Roar Guru
The Sydney Roosters will play Cowboys in the grand final this year ????? The Roosters will crash burn probably about half way though the season and the Cowboys (if JT can stay uninjured) will possibly make the GF but will have to compete with the Storm for the premiership. A proper rematch for the title would be epic and probably the best game the NRL could produce. Love reading your articles as always Mary, not sure when it is but Happy Birthday for this month.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
How awesome would this be!