With just under six weeks out from the kick-off to the upcoming NRL season, I looked into the crystal ball for 2021 and conjured up some unabashed predictions for where clubs will place after the regular season, their most valuable player (MVP), how the finals series will play out, the Dally M recipient and Dally M team of the year.
Ladder (after 25 rounds)
Minor premiers: Melbourne Storm
Club MVP: Harry Grant
The benchmark club in Australian sport, the Melbourne Storm have the luxury of a near-complete line-up of representative players at their disposal. Even without Cameron Smith, the future Australian Kangaroos spine will take the reins and lead the Victorian-based club to their fifth minor premiership.
Second: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Club MVP: Latrell Mitchell
The signings of Jai Arrow and Josh Mansour offset any players that have left the club this season and will truly add to their go forward and execution in attack. Boasting a mean forward pack, agile backline and creative halves pairing, the cardinal and myrtle will be dangerous this year.
Third: Penrith Panthers
Club MVP: Isaah Yeo
Reeling from a near-perfect 2020, the Panthers have retained the majority of their players and with experience under their belt, the boys from Penrith will be hungrier to go one-better and prove to have another strong season in 2021.
(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
Fourth: Sydney Roosters
Club MVP: Angus Crichton
Another club boasting a world-class line-up and with the return of their enforcer, Victor Radley, the Roosters will remain a force in the NRL. If the wraps on their young halfback Sam Walker are proven true then no doubt his ability utilised with the players surrounding him will take Easts a long way.
Fifth: Canberra Raiders
Club MVP: Josh Papalii
The ever-tough and gritty green machine will continue to ruffle feathers this season and match the best there is. The signing of Ryan James can hopefully alleviate the loss of John Bateman but there is little doubt that the Raiders will be competitive in 2021.
Sixth: Parramatta Eels
Club MVP: Clinton Gutherson
Brad Arthur’s blue and gold army have dug deep the past few years to solidify a spot in the top 8 and will continue to do so in 2021. With heavy rotation in their reserves roster only, the Eels have virtually the same starting line-up as last year so their experience will be beneficial come finals time.
Seventh: Gold Coast Titans
Club MVP: AJ Brimson
The smokey of 2021. Their best signing thus far has been their coach Justin Holbrook, who has reset the culture on the Gold Coast. Key signings in David Fifita, Tino Fa’asuamaleaui and Herman Ese’ese have beefed up their forward stocks and compounding them with Moeaki Fotuaika and Tyrone Peachey, as well as up and coming star AJ Brimson and the re-emergence of Ash Taylor will see the Titans make their first finals series since 2016.
Eighth: Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
Club MVP: Tom Trbojevic
The club on the Northern Peninsula that in recent years has been decimated by injuries has built a rather formidable line-up for the 2021 season. The return of Kieran Foran will hopefully prove to be a masterstroke, minus any injury scares, and his partnership with DCE and the Trbojevic brothers could prove to be deadly.
The club will be desperate for the return of Manase Fainu pending the outcome of his court matter, but regardless the club will return to finals footy.
(Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
Ninth: Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Club MVP: Raymond Faitala-Mariner
After three years of conceding defeat and acknowledging the reality that their club will be unable to be competitive in the player market, Canterbury have undoubtedly been the most active in the player market. Once they signed Trent Barrett, the dominoes began to fall with Kyle Flanagan, Jack Hetherington, Corey Waddell and Corey Allan signing, with Nick Cotric signing prior to his arrival.
Not to mention their depth and smart retention, the Bulldogs will have a much improved 2021 and finally return to the winning culture they’re used to.
Tenth: Newcastle Knights
Club MVP: Tyson Frizell
The Novocastrian-based club have proven to be a rather hot and cold team as of late and with no real change to their squad, besides signing Australian and Welsh international Tyson Frizell, it looks as though the club will miss out on a top eight spot.
11th: New Zealand Warriors
Club MVP: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
After their selfless and brave efforts to ensure the 2020 season was kept alive, the New Zealand-based club have bought well for 2021 to beef up their forward stocks. The fact that they will have to endure another season living in Australia for an unknown amount of time will undoubtedly be a major challenge which will unfortunately factor heavily into their absence for this season’s finals series.
(Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
12th: Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
Club MVP: Siosifa Talakai
With their 2020 club man in Shaun Johnson being injured for the first two months of the season, much pressure will be placed on their so far underwhelming fullback-cum-five eighth, Matt Moylan, to deliver for the club. With an ageing roster and little depth, it seems as though the boys from the Shire won’t be sneaking into this year’s finals.
13th: Brisbane Broncos
Club MVP: Kotoni Staggs
With Kevin Walters at the helm, there is a strong sense that his reset of the Broncos culture will set the path for the club to one day return to their glory days. Although they will improve from the debacle of last year’s wooden spoon season, they won’t be tasting finals in 2021.
14th: St George Illawarra Dragons
Club MVP: Cameron McInnes
With relatively the same line-up as last season, of note adding Jack Bird and Poasa Faamausili and losing Tyson Frizell, it is hard to envision the Red V improving on their position from 2020.
15th: North Queensland Cowboys
Club MVP: Jason Taumalolo
Narrowly missing out on the wooden spoon (non)award, the Northern Queensland club was very quiet in the off-season player signing department, with their most formidable line-up reading as less than exciting. It is crucial that Jason Taumalolo remains fit all year, otherwise it will look direr than 15th place.
(Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)
Wooden spoon: Wests Tigers
Club MVP: David Nofoaluma
Sorry Tigers fans, but the dreaded wooden spoon will be coming your way for the first time in the club’s history. Across the park, the best line-up on paper just seems weaker when compared to the rest which will, unfortunately, result in a long year for the club.
NRL finals series
Week 1
Qualifying final: Storm (1) def. Roosters (4)
Qualifying final: Rabbitohs (2) def. Panthers (3)
Elimination final: Raiders (5) def. Sea Eagles (8)
Elimination final: Eels (6) def. Titans (7)
Week 2
Semi-final: Roosters (4) def. Raiders (5)
Semi-final: Panthers (3) def. Eels (6)
Week 3
Preliminary final: Storm (1) def. Panthers (3)
Preliminary final: Rabbitohs (2) def. Roosters (4)
Week 4
Grand final: Rabbitohs (2) def. Storm (1)
Dally Ms
Dally M player of the year
Cameron Munster
Dally M team of the year
Fullback: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Warriors)
Winger: Josh Addo-Carr (Storm)
Centre: Joseph Manu (Roosters)
Centre: Kotoni Staggs (Broncos)
Winger: Charlie Staines (Panthers)
Five-eighth: Cameron Munster (Storm)
Halfback: Nathan Cleary (Panthers)
Prop: Josh Papalii (Raiders)
Hooker: Harry Grant (Storm)
Prop: Moses Leota (Panthers)
Second-rower: Cameron Murray (Rabbitohs)
Second-rower: Angus Crichton (Roosters)
Lock: Victor Radley (Roosters)
Coach: Wayne Bennett (Rabbitohs)
Roarers, what does your NRL ladder look like and who is winning the premiership? Who will win the Dally M medal and who is cracking a team of the year spot?
Big Daddy
Guest
Mark, Freddy has already picked him in the emerging Blues squad and he hasn't even stepped on the field. Im like you I'd be pissed off . Freddy says he has learned from his SOO loss. Based on this I'd say not.
watcher
Guest
For me the most vulnerable from the 8 last year are the Sharks, Newcastle and the Eels. The Titans are rightly being picked as a coming force. However the team that pushed the 8 the most was the Warriors. Sure, they have lost Payten, but the majority of the squad is still there. Added to by Fonua-Blake, Evans, Sironin, Murdoch-Masila, O'Sullivan, Aitken, Maumalo, Fusitua and Montoya. That is some firepower to add to a squad. Harris-Tavita and Nikorima settled into the Halves role and will be better for a pre season, if this team doesn' make the 8 then they will certainly affect who is there, although I will be surprised if they do not make it comfortably.
Peter c
Roar Rookie
The Dragons have had a reasonable good roster but a mediocre coach and Debelin matter being an on going drama for the last 2 years. Hook comes in as coach with a NRL distinguished record and the JDB case being resolved one way or another in April could see the resurgence of the Red V. I think a good bet to make the top 8.
Peter
Guest
If JDB does make a return he has been robbed of 2 years out of the game. It will be a big ask for him to recapture his form before Beattie kicked him out of the competition. It has been a continual distraction to the Dragons and will remain the same untill it is finalised one way or the other.
1ETC
Roar Rookie
:laughing:
Popavalium Andropoff
Guest
What are the odds that either Cameron Smith or Brandon Smith will move to the Titans?
MarkD
Guest
The rules are the rules . Every team knows what tbey are and there should be no exceptions. Seems the rules only apply to some teams while others get the rough end of the pineapple . The medical retirement is one that has been a joke. South sydney with Burgess and Ingliss ok but Parra and Whatmough no. The rule is must be 18. There are no exceptions to the rule for size or maturity. If Peter V'landys wants to change the rule , fine, but it snould come into effect next season so all clubs have the same ability to sign an Australian schoolboy for the season . At the end of the day The roosters knew the rule when they signed bim and need to abide by it .
MarkD
Guest
He sued Lomax!
Walter Black
Guest
Different people develop at different rates and by all accounts Suaalii is advanced for his years. If he truly is ahead of his time then I have no issue with V'landys granting an exception. As for Adam Ritson, Rugby League is a hard game with significant risks of injury. Players know that going in but still choose to play for the the thrill, the accolades and the significant income. The same could be said of people who sign up for the armed services except that the accolades and income is significantly less. Accidents happen as they did to Ritson and as regrettable as they are, even Adam does not blame the game.
ferret
Guest
The biggest issue for the Cows is what effect Todd Payten has. Coaches can make or break a club (Bellamy, Seibold). Bellamy and Shane Flanagan got maximum efforts from players who were underperforming at other clubs. On the flip side Seibold seemed to make payers go backwards. Brian Smith and Nathan Brown seem/ed to be able to get young players to improve, but only so far. If Payten can tap into whatever he was serving the Warriors last year the Cows have the roster to move several positions up the ladder.
Walter Black
Guest
Yeah, Benji is a useful pick up. Can't believe he didn't go to Europe for the big bucks. A few years over there would have given him a nice finish to his career.
Walter Black
Guest
It also greatly reduced the amount of travel that they had to do which with other teams having to do lots of same day fly in/out was a big advantage. How much of an advantage, we will see in 2021.
MarkD
Guest
My prediction for 2021 is yet more bending of the rules from old mate V'landys for the benefit of the roosters. Expecting I Will be pretty pi$$ed off when V'landys gives Suaalii dispensation to play this year. I seriously hope he doesn't for the health and well-being of Suaalii but it is the roosters after all. . Someone needs to introduce him to Adam Ritson, debuted as a 16 yr old and career over aged 20.
JOHN ALLAN
Guest
Are you also offering a free set of steak knives? For a moment I thought you were the Demtel Man (for those old enough to remember).
Paul
Roar Guru
I know Hooks not on the rosters but he'll make a huge difference for a start. Bird, if he can stay fit will also be a terrific buy and I have high hopes for Faamausili. Throw in the Feagai's and I reckon there's plenty of improvement compared to last year
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
Who have St George signed to give them a better roster than last year...?
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
I sold the crystal balls to both those guys. You too can have one - for a limited time, $99.95 plus GST. But hurry, stocks won't last!
Chuck
Guest
Friendly finally got his well earned Maroon jersey, big box ticked. He is one tough nut but maybe with all boxes ticked and Father Time definitely catching up, he may not be as motivated this year. Happy to proven wrong by the champ.
Chuck
Guest
For the Cows, as I have said many times, it is all about the defence. They must improve exponentially in that area before they stand any chance. Everything else will fall into place once they figure out how to build an “impenetrable” wall of cows. Moo. It may take a couple of seasons, or years if you measure it in bovine years.
Daniel John
Roar Pro
I didn’t see Barry’s but I’d like to think my predictions can sway you, John hahahah