Who will straddle the middle of the table in the upcoming NRL season?
10. New Zealand Warriors (last year 10th)
The New Zealand Warriors are coming off yet again another poor season as they missed a spot if the finals for the ninth year in a row.
Last season the Warriors were very inconsistent. They would have some great games out of the blew, however most other games fail to achieve success.
The Kiwis will lose Blake Green as he was signed to the Knights nearing the end of the 2020 season. The Warriors young back-up five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tevita will fill Green’s role as the starting five-eighth.
Tevita in my opinion will be a great pairing in the halves with the Warriors other young half, the former Bronco Kodi Nikorima.
Some additions for New Zealand are Euan Aitken, Kane Evans, and Addin Fonua-Blake. Despite losing members of their forward pack, they have recruited a great prop in Addin Fonua-Blake to go along with Ben Murdoch who will be an imposing member of the pack.
To be honest with you, I strongly believe that the 21-year-old Eliesa Katoa should have starting role in the forwards as he was a star in the back end of the 2020 season.
He produced six tries in 13 games and an average of just under 100 running metres per game.
I was high on this guy before he debuted after finding out he was transitioning from playing rugby union in Tonga into playing in the NRL, I watched some of his highlights from union and realised this kid can play.
Katoa was also a steal in Supercoach as he was at a price of $170,000 so I bought him for my reserves and after the first few weeks I started him off the bench and he ended up averaging 52.5 supercoach points and his price ended up rising to somewhere around $400,000.
Karl Lawton will be side-lined long term for the Warriors due to Achilles surgery. Some good news though is the signing of Euan Aitken who will slide straight into the centre position.
Overall, I do not have the Warriors progressing this year as I do not see them being better then other possible bottom eight teams like the Sharks, Knights and Titans.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will play his last season with the Warriors. (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
9. Cronulla Sharks (last year eighth)
The Cronulla Sharks do not look like taking any steps up the standing this season as they have had a below average off-season.
Their only relevant signing in the off-season was Aiden Tolman from the Bulldogs who was signed to a one-year deal.
Tolman was the only Cronulla addition that was placed into the Sharks predicted Round 1 line-up. The same factor is in play for Cronulla’s losses this off-season as they were not really any notable losses in their squad.
The big talking point from the Sharks off-season is Shaun Johnson who will be on the side lined in the first two months of the season as he ruptured his Achilles at training.
Johnson will be likely to return somewhere around the time of rounds 8-10 in the season.
Matt Moylan should be available for Round 1 as he will almost certainly take the half back role while Johnson is unavailable.
However, Conner Tracey and Braydon Trindall can are also possible starters in the half back position. In my opinion Matt Moylan will be the starting halfback because of Johnsons absence.
I believe Connor Tracey can be utility man off the bench. Some more bad news for the blue army is Siosifa Talakai who likely to miss a minimum of one game as he has a shoulder injury.
The chef in my opinion was a great second rower for the Sharks in 2020 as he brought a great running game up the middle of the field.
Overall, I think the Cronulla Sharks will have a down year due to the absence of Shaun Johnson to start the season.
Also, they finished up in eighth position last season and they had an off-season with no big player buys and no real large losses either.
So, I think they will stay somewhere around the middle of the table.
joshua
Guest
what do you mean a below average of season the sharks have had one of the best in years look at moylon whos fit and firing again fifita whos lost 20kg brailey whos changed his whole diet to gain weight and will kennedy who's been looking very good off last weeks win
joshua
Guest
sharks will get any where from 4 - 8
bleh
Guest
The Warriors made the finals in 2018, and tbh... it didn't feel like a poor season in '20. They got rid of Kearney and massively overachieved given the covid (and injury) induced circumstances. Too bad they couldn't keep Todd Payten though. It does look like the best pack the Warriors have fielded since Ivan Cleary days - and, for once, the 'Big Warriors Forwards' stereotype will be true. Still question marks over speed in the backline, and the coaching. 10 might be a bit generous for me... but then, I'm a long suffering Warriors fan. Pessimism about my team pretty much defines my League experience for the last decade.
Christo
Roar Guru
Yeah completely agree, they were able to just focus on football and Todd Payton was a big influence to there success.
Succhi
Roar Rookie
Nice one again Christo. I think the run the Warriors had last year was greatly influenced by being based in Australia. They could focus on footy and not do the regular international trip. I’d like to see the Warriors based in regional Australia for the first month or so of the comp regardless of COVID.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
14 weeks and eventually Countdown refused to play it as the last song, but Abba fans complained so they brought it back. Beatles have many better songs than Hey Jude of course, just as Abba has better songs.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Tolman reminds me of an ex player at the Raiders - Luke Bateman - who tackled his guts out but when he carried the ball he'd hit a brick wall. His post contact metres were miniscule. For some reason I thought you were a Storm supporter Duncan.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Stop! I remember a bus trip from Adelaide to Broken Hill when I was a youngster where a passenger played the soundtrack to the film The Sting over and over again on her portable tape deck. By the time we reached our destination a lot of us were practically suicidal. Fernando has a similar impact. Just Googled and apparently Fernando stayed number 1 for 14 weeks in 1975. It replaced Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at the top spot. ‘Fernando’ equalled the previous longest running number 1, The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ in 1968. Still remember Bohemian Rhapsody with fondness but Fernando and Hey Jude for that matter are stains on the history of music.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
You should watch it on YouTube, Geoff, for old times sake.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
I'd almost forgotten Fernando Duncan - and now you've stirred it all up again! Hate to think how many times I saw that clip on Countdown. Awful song. There are some ABBA songs that are irresistible but Fernando is a complete flog.
Christo
Roar Guru
correct
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Gabe Hamlin.. didn't know much about him, till last week. Looked good, really good.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I can hear the drums .
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Duncan I think your a bit harsh on Tolman.He was only following Coach Pay's instructions.I note after Pay was sacked Aiden learnt how to pass again with coach Georgalis.Sure there are more skillful forwards at the Sharks but I suspect A Tolman will fill a void - with tough Defence and taking the hard yards - similar to Gallen.
Tony
Roar Guru
Duncan, please....
Tony
Roar Guru
Is the porch light going back on mate?
Boingo
Guest
Chad Townsend is the sharks no. 7 right? So Moylan will play 6 with SJ out with injury.
Duncan Smith
Roar Guru
What about Fernando? Wasn't that number one for 87 weeks or something?
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
Sharks were 11th in D last year ( and a remarkable 5th in offence) . The Cows were 15th and 11th. The Sharks have a lot of potential upside imo but both them and the Cows need to learn to tackle. Both teams were shocking at times last year. Defence is mostly an attitude so it certainly can be done but watch the opening rounds closely cause I don't think its an easy thing to change during the season. They will either have it or they won't.
farkurnell
Roar Rookie
Agreed Souv, last year Sharks major problem was defence - fix that an we’re in for a big year. One thing Sharks do well ,like the Storm, is unearth Talent from fringe NRL players. I see some good prospects coming through this year as injuries take and an bigger toll, not only at the Shire but throughout the League.Players seem to get injured just “walking” home after a night out these days.Recruits - Pepe,Martin,Metcalfe n Hamlin can join the likes of Rudolf,Talakai,Hunt,Hiroti ,Tracey n Trindal - who will only get better in 2021. Up Up