Now that the storylines have been written, player recruits and transfers have been finalised, the pre-season trials are done and the banter has commenced, experts are publishing their ladder predictions for the 2020 season all over the interweb which has caused much debate, on-line blow-ups and in some cases offence.
I’ve been reading and listening to a lot of ladder predictions over the past week, and as a proud North Queensland Cowboys supporter, I’ve been quite flattered at the amount of experts who have the mighty Cows finishing in the top eight.
But then I’ve seen some predictions from experts who believe my team will struggle again this year and miss out on finals football for the third-straight season.
Like, seriously? Who do these experts think they are?
If I don’t see my team in your top eight, I will let out a Greta Thunberg-like, “how dare you”. I mean, come on. Not only did we win the Nines tournament, but we also recruited Valentine Holmes.
That automatically means we’ll finish at least six places higher on the ladder, didn’t you know?
Valentine Holmes. (Image: Twitter/New York Jets)
A friend of mine is a diehard Canberra Raiders fan. He is filthy at the amount of so-called ‘experts’ who think the Raiders won’t finish in the top four and he’s sure to text me and tell me all about it. I mean, come on.
Not only did the Raiders finish top four and qualify for last year’s’ grand final, they were robbed of the premiership by the infamous ‘six again’ call, didn’t you know?
I’ve seen many Newcastle Knights, Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers supporters offended by experts predicting the Brisbane Broncos making the top eight ahead their teams. I mean, come on.
Although they have a talented forward pack, they lack experience. Brodie Croft has over a million Bronx supporters counting on him to lead this team.
Pressure much? Andrew McCullough is past his best, Anthony Milford is a shadow of his former-self, Jack Bird can’t stay on the park and Darius Boyd is… actually, I’m just going to leave it there.
I get it though, they’re the NRL’s glamour club and they have the luxury of a seven-day turn around every week. They are your Friday night delights, didn’t you know?
There have been a few predictions that has the Penrith Panthers in the top eight. I mean, come on. They were the biggest underachievers of the past decade. Gus’s five-year plan flopped five years ago and James Maloney bolted for the exit, didn’t you know?
James Maloney – long gone! (AAP Image/Michael Chambers)
I even saw a few predictions that had back-to-back premiers, the Sydney Roosters, finishing outside of the top four. I mean, come on. That’s next level trolling of Chooks supporters. They may have lost Cooper Cronk, but they still have a plethora of marquee talent under their sombrero, didn’t you know?
Perhaps we should be like Gold Coast Titans supporters and just hide under the desk in the foetal position when the expert ladder predictions are published. They’re not even offended by every prediction having them finishing last. For them, it’s a feeling of hopelessness.
And to that, I say this. “Get offended Titans fans”!
Your club will march up that ladder. They might not march very far up said ladder, but they’ll improve. I mean, come on.
Ash Taylor will finally fulfil his unlimited potential, Jai Arrow will lead from the front, Tyrone Peachy is returning to his dazzling best, AJ Brimson is a future superstar and your club has recruited the English Super League’s current premiership winning coach, didn’t you know?
Here is my own expert self-proclaimed crystal-ball musings, which are sure to cause offence.
I’m going to start with offending Roosters, Raiders and Storm supporters by predicting the South Sydney Rabbitohs will claim the minor premiership and apologise for the offence caused to New Zealand Warriors supporters by predicting your team will finish with the spoon.
1) Rabbitohs
2) Raiders
3) Roosters
4) Eels
5) Storm
6) Sea Eagles
7) Cowboys
8) Knights
9) Broncos
10) Tigers
11) Sharks
12) Bulldogs
13) Titans
14) Panthers
15) Dragons
16) Warriors
There are so many variables that makes predictions damn near impossible.
There’s always a top eight team that will fall head first down the ladder; I predict will be the Sharks, and a bottom eight team who will improve out of sight which, in my unbiased opinion, will be the Cowboys.
There’s the premiership dark horse, which I believe is the Manly Sea Eagles.
Brad Parker of the Sea Eagles runs the ball. (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
We might get a team – most likely the St George Illawarra Dragons – who’ll start the season off really well, before catastrophically falling by the wayside at the backend of the season.
We could see teams written off due to a poor start to the season, but deliver a late-season surge to scrape into the finals – which is how I see the Newcastle Knights season panning out, much to the chagrin of Broncos and Tigers supporters who I predict will finish on equal points as eighth, but will miss the finals on for and against.
Injuries to key players could derail a team’s season. Major upsets will undoubtedly occur and the usual refereeing controversies will likely decide a few results.
I predict the Raiders and the Parramatta Eels will contest this year’s grand final – and to offend Eels supporters, I believe the Raiders will be your 2020 NRL premiers.
Al
Roar Rookie
I think the only certainties for top 8 are the storm and roosters, simply based on their roster and consistency over the years. But for the rest it's really anyone's guess. Teams like manly, eels, raiders missed the 8 the year before last and are historically pretty inconsistent so I would definitely say they are not certainties. Other teams like rabbitohs have had significant changes to their spine/team and it all depends if it clicks together quickly. So while i think most teams have a hope the flip side is I don't think anyone can be too confident either!
Rob
Guest
Yep. I'm crossing the fingers and toes this season starts out better for my Cowboys and we manage to get in some good wins early. Picking the ladder before a ball is picked is like picking loto numbers. One week at a time for my team also. IMO the Rooster will be worse off not having Cronk and Mitchell. The Knights are dangerous if in the mood and anything is possible. Warrior are always going to struggle. Parra and Raiders actually putting in back to back good seasons? I can't work out Manly and the Hasler effect that always seems to have them winning games. Broncos are potential the best forward pack in the comp and good forwards always keep you in the picture.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I won't say anything until the beginning of R5 as even R5 is pretty hard against the Dogs, lets see what happens? With the first 4 draw against the Sharks, Broncs, Roosters and Storm anything can and will happen, lets see how the Bunnies pan out?
Walter White
Guest
Fully agree. The Broncs have some good young players coming through who will be a handful at times however they have too many liabilities to really mix it with the big boys. Those liabilities include Boyd and Seibold and I am unconvinced about Croft. As for Souths, I am not sure about Lattrell there. Fullback is a hard working position and Lattrell is basically lazy. He does have a lot to learn in that position but I can't see him doing the extras that Pappenheazen has this off season. He is naturally gifted and that might see him through but I would have big big concerns there. When I look at Lattrell, I see a highly talented but lazy young man with a propensity to gain weight easily and if he doesn't work really hard at it, as his new position demands, his career might be a relatively short one.
Walter White
Guest
I'm a Storm supporter so no ties to the Titans at all however I do rate Holbrook and I think he will be very good for your boys. I don't think you will get to the finals this year but I think you can look forward to much improvement. I think Justin will need a couple of years to build a good team before you can think finals but I reckon things are starting to look up for your club.
brookvalesouth
Roar Rookie
I am offended by this article
Walter White
Guest
Well I think all this talk of competition is Divisive and ought to be stopped immediately. What is wrong with turning out every week and just having a nice old run around ? Safe Tackling only because we don't want any injuries and why don't we just let everyone have a go, those poor guys sat on that bench look ever so lonely, we need to give them a good go too so that they don't feel left out. And whats this with kicking ? Its the same man on both teams that kicks all the goals, it needs to be shared around so that everyone gets a go. At the end of the year then everyone gets to play in the finals because we don't want anyone left out then we should bring every team to the Grand Final and just have a good old singsong. This rugby thingy would be far more inclusive then.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Actually only a couple, and only the last two years. And drop down goes from top 4 to just out of the top 4, so not a plunge. Yet, it will happen this year. And we'll know after several months, not just 2 or 3. Good fortune though and enjoy the semis, my horse is in line for the glue factory...
Walter White
Guest
Not a bad ladder though I am not sure about the Broncos. I don't think that Seibold has the goods and certainly not to get the GF. Not sure Manly have the cattle to get to the big one but they will be competitive for sure. I reckon Melbourne have a good chance of taking it out as they say goodbye to Cam. Then they might fall back a little but not for long. I think Canberra will fall back to the pack and the Sharks won't make the eight.
Walter White
Guest
"Agree Storm will drop down" How many time have you said that over the last 10 years DP ? Its more wishful thinking than reality, I'll give it a month to 6 weeks to prove you wrong.
Rob
Guest
Ethan Lowe is so underrated IMO. He isn't as dynamic as Sam Burgess but unlike Sam he does't make errors a give away penalties on a weekly basis. Lowe is winning 57% and Sam is under 55% in the NRL. In the 4 seasons(106 games) when Ethan has played 25 or more games both with the Cowboys and South have won nearly 70% of games. When he hasn't played a full season they struggled to win 40%? In 2018 Thurston won 33% and Ethan only played 15 games with limited minutes off the bench yet they won 40% with Ethan in 2018? He showed he could shine in the Origin arena when given the opportunity. I thought he was almost MOM in his only game. He's won more than he has lost in Finals. The Cowboys sorely missed him in 2019 IMO.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
You mean across the bridge presumably?
Nick
Roar Guru
Dogs and tigers are better then the big red V this year
Cyril Snodgrass
Guest
One thing is for certain..the Broncos are no chance to win the comp in 2020 Just remember their last game in 2019.....58 NIL Souths with an untried fullback, an aging coach and a weakened pack.......to miss the 8
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
GF preview
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
They do play the Titans, Dogs and Tigers each twice. They should be able to jag a couple there..
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I hope you are right Ethan. I live on the Coast now and while I'm not a supporter, I get to a couple of their games every year and I really do wish them well. A strong season would do wonders for their profile down here.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Very astute Joe. I reckon the Storm are a lock for minor premiers. Pencil them in. I just don't see another team that can top them for consistency. . Like you though I don't think they have the firepower to win the big one. Still if you finish top four you are a helluva chance .
The Barry
Roar Guru
I’m really looking forward to watching Mitchell playing 1 and think he’ll be good but like a lot of the others at Souths, he’ll have games where he kills it and others where he struggles I think there’s too many areas like that at Souths for them to have a big season this year
Nat
Roar Guru
Possibly. Graham finds incredible form and plays 80mins each week. The Sims boys turn into over-sized weapons and Friz finally catches those wingers he's been at pains to run down all these years. Then it comes to light that Flanno took the team on an excursion to Danks house... It should be noted that Norman had no part in this excursion. His suspension came from a more 'social' event. :stoked: