With 2020 upon us, every NRL club has something they’d love to eventuate this season.
Each club dreams of winning the premiership, however there are smaller aspects for each that may just make that dream come true.
So what are they?
Sydney Roosters
Super coach Trent Robinson and Uncle Nick Politis want nothing more than for Luke Keary and Kyle Flanagan to fill the void left by Cooper Cronk.
Further, they’d just love it if Sam Verrills turns out to be the star he is starting to look like.
Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images
Canberra Raiders
In 1988, a young rugby player named Richard John Stuart took the Canberra Raiders’ No.7 jersey off Ivan Henjak, despite the latter being the playmaker in the club’s 1987 grand final loss to the Sea Eagles.
Englishman George Williams will replace Aidan Sezer as halfback in 2020 and now-coach Stuart is hoping that he proves to be the final piece in the puzzle that is necessary to take the Raiders back to premiership glory.
Melbourne Storm
The hope is that Craig Bellamy can weave his magic and turn yet more meat-and-potatoes players into filet mignon with gratin de pomme de terre to cover the losses of Will Chambers, Joe Stimson, Curtis Scott, Brodie Croft and possibly Josh Addo-Carr.
And who would bet against Bellamy being able to do just that? Not me, that’s for sure.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The Redfern team would love both Jai Arrow and Latrell Mitchell to take their places around Damien Cook, Cam Murray and Cody Walker. That would surely lessen the blow of losing Sam and George Burgess, and give Wayne Bennett some massive firepower.
Manly Sea Eagles
When Graham Annesley announced before the start of season 2019 that he had instructed the referees to blow fewer penalties in order to prioritise game flow, no one was more delighted than Des Hasler.
Apart from Trent Robinson, no coach prioritises defending the try line by any means necessary more than Hasler. Having just arrived back at Brookvale to a threadbare and demoralised squad that had only just avoided the 2018 wooden spoon, the news that his defensive line could cheat their arse off with little risk of incurring sin bins was music to his ears.
Had Tom Trbojevic not been injured in the finals, the Sea Eagles may just have won the whole thing.
You can bet your last dollar that what Des wants in 2020 is for Annesley to maintain that policy. Oh, and a hooker would also be nice…
Photo by Matt King/Getty Images
Parramatta Eels
Long-suffering Eels fans are dearly hoping that their 2019 resurgence was not yet another false dawn, and that the addition of Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard will allow the dysfunctional club to break the NRL’s longest premiership drought.
If things go badly, Brad Arthur won’t last the season.
Cronulla Sharks
The Sharks will be playing away from the Shire in 2020 while the toxic swamp experiences a long-overdue redevelopment. While they’d love to see Jesse Ramien take to the light blue like he’d never left – and they’d love for captain Wade Graham not to get injured – what they really want is for Matt Moylan and Shaun Johnson to provide some return on investment.
Brisbane Broncos
There is a mass of pressure on young Brodie Croft to take the reins of this rudderless side and turn them into a real premiership threat. He could just do it, too.
Wests Tigers
While sides really want to win the premiership, the Wests Tigers just want to make the finals. In three of the last four seasons, they have come ninth. They haven’t even made the finals since 2011.
In 2016 and 2019 they had to win their final games of the season to make the finals and in both cases they got thumped 13-plus.
The losses of Ryan Matterson and Esan Marsters will hurt, but the pick-ups of Luciano Leilua and Billy Walters may prove shrewd.
Who knows? Maybe they’ll play finals in 2020.
Penrith Panthers
If Ivan Cleary got nothing else in 2020, he would settle for no scandals and no distractions. Every time you turned around in 2019, something was going pear-shaped.
Phil Gould was leaving. Tyrone May was in strife. Viliame Kikau and Isaah Yeo were getting injured. Waqa Blake and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak wanted out.
If the Panthers can just get rid of the distractions and the misfortune in 2020 they’d really appreciate it.
Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images
Newcastle Knights
Adam O’Brien has done a fine coaching apprenticeship under Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson. Now he takes on a side that has not made the finals since 2013. And haven’t they been through the grinder since then?
Like the Wests Tigers, the Novocastrians just want to make the finals. With cattle like Kalyn Ponga, David Klemmer and Mitchell Pearce, they should have a good swing at it, too.
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs showed their true grit in 2019 by winning seven of their last ten games to turn what looked like a certain wooden spoon in Round 14 into a 12th-place finish. They did it all under a weight of injuries and with an inexperienced squad.
They are a proud club and will be hoping for further improvement to bring more pride back to the jumper, as they inevitably rebuild towards another era of domination.
The arrival of tough players like Joe Stimson, Dean Britt and Sione Katoa see them well placed to do just that.
New Zealand Warriors
The Warriors faithful would settle for some consistency.
Outside of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Ken Maumalo, the 2019 Warriors were awful. If the fans could have anything, it would be a forward pack that provided real mongrel on a regular basis.
North Queensland Cowboys
Please, no more injuries – only three Cowboys played all 24 games in 2019. This squad has talent and if they were ever all on the field at the same time, it might show.
The pick-ups of Esan Marsters and Valentine Holmes bode well and will help counter the losses of Scott Bolton and Matt Scott. If they can just avoid injuries, they might have a chance.
Photo by Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images
St George Illawarra Dragons
All the Red V want in 2020 is a fair suck of the sav. Don’t stand down their star players who have yet to be convicted of anything and have pleaded not guilty. Don’t subject them to continual injuries – especially to key players – while a plethora of others get taken away for representative duty.
And please just give them some luck in those tight games so that they can get some momentum and good vibes going, leading to a season where the faithful aren’t calling for someone’s head.
Gold Coast Titans
The 2019 season was only the Titans’ second wooden spoon. However, they’ve only featured in three finals series since their inception in 2007.
The worst thing is that everyone expects failure from them. Everyone expects them to struggle. But that’s not a fair assessment.
Last season, Garth Brennan had a squad featuring Jai Arrow, Jarrod Wallace, Nathan Peats, Ryan James, Ash Taylor, Ryley Jacks, and Michael Gordon. Add to that the signings of Shannon Boyd and Tyrone Peachy, and it looked pretty good.
However, Taylor, James and Arrow missed 14, 18 and six games respectively. Further, Peats missed 11 games and veteran Gordon missed eight.
Any team that loses that many of their key players for considerable periods will struggle. Brennan never had a chance.
The Titans would just like new coach Justin Holbrook to have a fighting shot in 2020. Just some luck.
Anthony Anlezark
Roar Rookie
Yeah I bet he has nightmares about his 3 Premierships, number 6 would probably though.
MORDAC
Guest
He will personally sue Beattie and the NRL and the club will also sue. Not sure about Beattie but the NRL will settle both, issue an apology and JDB will only need to keep playing for himself and love of the game, not money.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
They are saying it is a one year deal worth $400K and AJ may be forced out to create room under the salary cap. I can't see HOW Souths could have any issues with cap room having just lost 8 players (10 with Sam Burgess) and have only signed Bryson Goodwin, Troy Dargan and Edene Gebbie for peanuts and Jai Arrow on $800K for 2021. If Sam was on $1.2 mill and Arrow has signed for $800K that still leaves Souths with $400K on the positive side of the salary cap. Now Gagai is reportedly shopping himself around and looks likely to move on. As Gagai is on $600K - $700K and Mitchell is reportedly signing for $400K that still leaves Souths $200K - $300K better off. Souths shouldn't need to free up salary cap room at all. Souths should have more than enough left over to sign Josh Addo-Carr and a string of lesser players as to well.
The Phantom Bantam
Guest
Ricky Stuart doesn't really have a good history switching his half backs. Recall how in 2002 the Roosters won the comp...coach Ricky,with Craig Wing @ half Then for some weird reason ,Stuart switched Wing to hooker and brought in Brett Finch the Roosters lost the 2003 and 2004 Grand Finals with Finch,the new half that means that for the last 3 teams Ricky has coached to a grand final .. 3 losses Trent Robinson has Stuart's measure...Roosters beat Canberra 3 times last year the number 3 must give Stuart nightmares
DNZ
Guest
Don't waste your time trying to rationalise the decision making processes of Blackfoot, there's no rational thought here.
simsim66_t@westnet.com.au
Guest
As long as the fools at the helm are still there on Saturday and beyond , we have no hope Tim.
3 bags empty
Guest
Yeah , nah , I’m all good for retro caravans.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Where is your house Tim?
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
I think you may be right there PS but I live in hope mate. Our roster is almost identical to that of 2019 but the experience gleaned last year should pay dividends (...though I would have liked to have seen a little more action in procuring a back or two). Still it is what it is. Just remember that 2021 is the start of our domination! ;) (....came across a rumour yesterday (from a mate's friend's cousin) that Mitchell HAS now signed a three year deal with your Bunnies. IF true that's one helluva team South's are putting together big fella. This will make beating you this year even MORE fun!). :laughing:
Nick
Roar Guru
I'll put my house on it.
Nick
Roar Guru
Greenburg would get his consistent refereeing wish if he a) told referees to bring out the whistle for any and every infraction until the players behave. b) backed them in on the Monday morning presser instead of throwing them under the bus and then changing the weekly diktat.
Clanger McClunk
Guest
Big statement Blackfoot, one hundred million dollars and he hasn't had his day before the beak yet. What if he's found guilty, do you hope the young lady involved sues JDB for the same amount? As for the amount, the end result for a win wouldn't even be a hundred million cents.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Not with their current roster IMO. Sorry CPB.
Tim Gore
Expert
I’ll be very surprised if the family homestead makes it through Saturday, but yet we hope.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Apparently it’s only called cheating when you don’t like the team that’s doing it... for your own side it’s called excellent line speed
Blackfoot
Guest
If I was in his shoes I would sue for a hundred million dollars.
Bossbaybee
Guest
Even sooner I'd have thought :thumbup:
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I'm not sure JDB will sue or anything like that as he's probably keen to get on with his career but yes very embarrassing to stand an innocent man down and rob him of Origin money (he was an incumbent) and contract value which will plummet significantly one would think
kk
Roar Pro
Good summary TG. I expect Canterbury to improve with a 7th to 10th finish.
Chris.P.Bacon
Guest
All the very best to you Tim, your family, friends and anyone affected by the fires. My brother and partner are Moruyans and are helping out where possible. Terrible stuff down south - really hoping for some rain and a reprieve from these current conditions though I believe that Saturday will be a shocker (up to 43C with winds).