These are the two teams that I reckon will finish fourth and fifth this NRL season.
5. Paramatta Eels (third last season)
“This is our year.”
Every Paramatta fan has said coming into each new season since the 1986 grand final. This season will be no different as the Eels are competing with a strong side once again.
They have acquired some notable names during the off-season with Michael Oldfield, Tom Opacic, Bryce Cartwright, Keegan Hipgrave, and Isaiah Papali’i. Apart from Tom Opacic who is replacing the provisionally suspended Michael Jennings and Papali’i who will be taking Marata Niukore’s place after Niukore has one game left on his crusher tackle suspension, the rest of the new recruits do not look like cracking the 17.
However, if Bryce Cartwright can prove to coach Brad Arthur that he is NRL ready before Round 1 after he suffered a freak accident, he could be in the 17. As most of us know, Cartwright was absolutely scrutinised for most of his time at the Gold Coast Titans as he was playing like a kid from under-12 rugby league as he was just missing tackle after tackle and just being plain lazy. To be honest with you, I do not like to criticise players, however, Cartwright well and truly deserved the criticism that he was getting because you just cannot play like that in professional rugby league.
Cartwright did marginally improve in his 2020 season, although that was just to be released in September and he will be looking for a fresh start after signing a one-year deal with the Eels.
(Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
Overall, this season will once again not be the Eels’ year, however, they will almost certainly make the finals and possibly be in contention for a top-four spot.
4. Sydney Roosters (fourth last season)
After another year where the Sydney Roosters were once again a contender for the premiership and even threatened to have a three-peat, they look to try and win their third title in four years this upcoming season.
They lost some mentionable names in their system this off-season as they gave up Kyle Flanagan, Ryan Hall who will return home to the United Kingdom to play for the Hull Kingston Rovers, Sonny Bill Williams who will be having a quick second departure from the NRL as he is moving back to union and Mitchell Aubusson to retirement.
The Roosters’ biggest loss was obviously Kyle Flanagan, and I might get criticised a lot for saying this, but he was one of the most underrated players in 2020. He was a great partner alongside Luke Keary and was also a superb goal kicker as he kicked 81 per cent of his goals and kicked the second greatest number of goals in 2020 behind Adam Reynolds with 91. Flanagan could have easily been at the number one spot if he did not sit out for some games as he played three fewer games than Reynolds did.
(Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Most of us can agree Sonny Bill Williams was well overhyped when it was announced he would be playing the back end of the year for Sydney. He did not live up to it as he did not bring much to the team. Williams is (not talking about his first stint in the NRL) better suited for rugby union right now.
The injury news for the Roosters is that Boyd Cordner is set to miss the start of the season with a number of head knocks and Sitili Tupouniua is most likely to kick off the season replacing Cordner in the second-row position. I am just going to be brutally honest and say that Boyd Cordner needs to have an early retirement or something that will stop him from getting a head knock every damm game this man plays.
Because that is exactly how it felt in Boyd’s 2020 season as he was receiving head knocks and head concussions about every game he came back from the past head injuries.
You can probably tell I hate or dislike the Roosters. If you are a Roosters fan and you have somehow kept reading this article, the hate is over and here are some positive things about your team.
Sam Walker shapes as a long-term halves option but may not be NRL-ready as Lachlan Lamb should be in the number six jumper to start the season according to NRL.com. The Roosters’ full list shows their great depth.
When the Roosters are fit 1-17, they are at least in the top two for the best team in the comp on paper.
Christo
Roar Guru
Very true, the last big coach signing for a struggling team was proberbly Bellamy to the storm or Bennet to Brisbane
Paul
Roar Guru
and that's the problem the whole of the NRL has. We know Bennett & Bellamy are going to give it away soon enough, so there's two cashed up Clubs who'll be looking for a top notch coach. They'll get first dibs of a very small talent pool, which would leave the other Clubs scrambling for what's left - which isn't a lot.
eels47
Roar Rookie
I think it is a make or break year for Arthur. The club has signaled it's confidence in Moses it seems by looking at extending his contract, so it is Arthur to prove he is also worth persisting with. Another quick exit from the finals really pressures the club to move him on I think, we can't continue to just make up the numbers come September.
Christo
Roar Guru
Part 7 coming out Wednesday
Christo
Roar Guru
agree, however I don't know if their is any coaches on the market at the moment better then Arthur.
Paul
Roar Guru
he might have flown under the radar but at some point soon, the Eels fans & Board are going to wonder if he's got what's needed for Parra to win a Premiership, especially if the have a good season but fail in the finals - again.
Christo
Roar Guru
Yeah Arthur has been a coach flying under the radar.
Paul
Roar Guru
If the Eels don't have a great finals campaign, I wonder what that will do for Brad Arthur career? This will be his 8th season in charge and most Clubs would have expected a tad more from a guy who's been in charge for that long. It's fine to make the finals but not if the side is bundled out after a game or two.
Christo
Roar Guru
100% agree Paul, the Roosters were smashed with injuries last season and I believe that they would have won the comp last year if they had a fit team all the way through. The Eels are a regular season team and would not be surprised if they do make the top 4, however they will not go any further then the semi finals.
Paul
Roar Guru
I think your last sentence summed up the Roosters perfectly Christo. They have a quality squad and if they can keep their best players fit and well throughout the season, they’ll be mighty hard to beat come September. I can’t see the Eels being a top 4 team this season. They had lots of things go right for them last year but still underwhelmed when it came to the finals. I don’t think they’ve got a great spine with Moses in particular a weak link when it comes to high pressure situations. For mine, they’ll do well to finish any higher than 6th or 7th
Christo
Roar Guru
Yes the roosters probably have the best depth in the comp
mushi
Roar Guru
Whilst the hook seemed quick on flanno he was good for a young half, hardly an irreplaceable product. Hall is addition via subtraction if the other young guys don't get injured. Aubo is a loss but they've got young depth and only need 1 or 2 to develop to cover. Cordner is the big one, but the external tests suggest he doesn't have lasting damage (less than they'd expect of an average player) so just needs to be managed through it (preferably not by the nsw medical staff). Roosters bigger issue is Penrith's starting point and arrow joining souths.