The NRL season is just a month away and here is Part 2 of my analysis of where each NRL team will finish in 2022.
14. New Zealand Warriors
The New Zealand Warriors have shown some of the best fake advertising over the last few years as they usually begin the season with promise, however then fall off in the second half of campaigns. Last season, the Warriors continued their trend as they began the season four from eight.
This isn’t totally appealing, however, they defeated the Raiders in one of the greatest comebacks I can remember. The wheels soon fell off, as they lost nine out of their next ten matches. This completely threw them out of finals contention and they finished the year off being thrashed by the Titans and finishing 12th.
The Kiwis will welcome back Shaun Johnson as he signed a two-year deal worth around $450,000 per season. Besides this signing there is not really any other large gain.
Ashley Taylor has joined on a one-year contract, although he is not predicted to have a place anywhere in the Round 1 team. The loss of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will obviously place a huge dint in the leadership of this team as he was a great calmer and controller on the field.
The Warriors have simply not been able to keep some of their most valuable players including Ken Maumalo, Jamayne Taunoa-Brown, Peta Hiku, David Fusitu’a, and young Sean O’Sullivan. New Zealand has blatantly lost most of their future and part of this is because of the COVID dramas which is certainly understandable, and we have to respect how this organisation and players have kept this league alive during the recent pandemic.
Despite the amount of support they deserve for what they’ve done, there aren’t many positives at the moment and due to their current roster I see them as a bottom-four team.
13. St George Illawarra Dragons
The Dragons are coming off another disappointing year as they finished in the bottom eight for the third time in four years. Finishing 11th, they failed to reach a lot of people’s expectations, however I was not one of them as I had them predicted wooden spooners.
The Dragons have lately failed in trying to keep players, as in 2022 they will be without Matthew Dufty, Adam Clune, Cameron McInnes, and Paul Vaughan, along with some known role players.
How badly will the loss of Dufty hurt the Dragons? (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
The loss of Matthew Dufty is a hard shot in the stomach as he was supposed to be arguably the most important part of what many were calling a ‘rebuild’. McInnes obviously signed a deal with Cronulla in February 2021 and unfortunately suffered an injury soon after which forced his absence in his final year in the Red V.
His leadership, which was shown in 2021, will be missed as St George looked lost in parts of the year. On the bright side of things, the board have signed some sparky players including Moses Suli, Moses Mbye, and Jaydn Su’a. All three of these guys are set to be in the Round 1 team and Su’a and Suli will line-up in the starting side.
Young gun Tyrell Sloan has scored five tries in his six career appearances and will play fullback this season which I think is the right choice.
Talatau Amone will partner Ben Hunt in the halves as Corey Norman retired in December after failing to receive a new deal.
This team is filled with a few young guns and some veterans. I don’t think much true leadership is at the club right now and I feel like they’re a bottom-six team.
I can see them beating the Warriors in the standings as it seems like the Dragons just have a better roster at the current time.
meh
Guest
Those 'valuable' players the Warriors 'couldn't' keep weren't valuable and weren't wanted, with the exception of Peta Hiku (who was valuable but apparently not wanted). And even he couldn't defend worth a damn. Great attacking centre only. Maumalo was giving up on plays early last year and got moved on accordingly. Fusitua barely played and was under contract, got shipped out intentionally - he hasn't been the same since 2018, around when he signed his long term deal and after his great season outside Hiku. JTB is a fairly bad prop who couldn't make the team, was loaned out during the season and has been replaced by Aaron Pene, who is much more suited to the modern game. SOS wasn't good either, he wasn't a first choice player even last year before Johnson came back. None of that is to say the Warriors will be particularly great, but it was a silly point to make about the outgoings - they've realistically lost very little. Johnson returning, Berry coming into the side and a full year with their mid-season recruits (Walsh, DWZ, Lodge) will help - as would a little bit more luck with not losing key guys like Tohu Harris or Addin Fonua-Blake for large parts of the season.
Heyou
Roar Rookie
I just have to add right now that he had a very good game against Souths. Sloan gets my nod for fb but the Ramsey kid is an improver. Some club may watch him develop, bide their time until he is nicely cooked and snap him up.
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
I was at the game and he's definitely bulked up but again he he had limited involvement in attack and is best suited to the wing, even then he's under pressure
Heyou
Roar Rookie
Watched Ramsey last night in the trial match against the Eels. He has bulked up, showed some great speed, although not in Dufty’s league, he caught the bombs, made a few excellent tackles, although Sloan overshadowed him imo. I don’t know what the future holds for him at the Dragons but the kid has some skills and will be a handy spare to Sloan as the fullback heir.
Lord Ted Said
Roar Rookie
I’m reasonably confident that St George will play Parramatta in the GF and that, like in 1977, I will knock myself senseless in the the heroic act of scoring a chip n’ chase try just before halftime. Such was my physical commitment to the greatest-club-ever-in-the-history-of-the-game I was tragically in no fit state to return to the field in the second half. Parramatta did enough to snaffle a draw but we romped home in the replay a couple of days later, on the back of our creed for fair play and respect for the opposition. I can see it in the tea leaves (which are greener than usual)
Christo
Roar Guru
Lets do it Paul! :stoked:
Paul
Roar Guru
Nah, I was think more about an article written by the loser saying how good the winner's team was in 2022.
Christo
Roar Guru
Lets see if their gameplay will match your words this season Adam
Christo
Roar Guru
Put your money on the table Paul :laughing:
Pete
Guest
Fogarty is a handy signing but I just don't see where they improve other than at halfback. It feels as though we know everyones ceiling in that side and if anything most of their key players are on the way down rather than improving each year.
Blue
Guest
Ramsay should be given the benefit of the doubt for the moment. Last year he didn't get much open space to show his capabilities. Amone needs to be in the side .. this guy has talent and even for his young age knows how to take charge.
Dragon52
Roar Rookie
You can't have a fullback who can't WON"T tackle. We always went for the intercept to avoid player running at him
Dionysus
Guest
Canberra are an interesting one. They finished 10th last year and they haven't done anything this off season to make me think they will improve in 2022. So I reckon you could be right and we see the Raiders in the bottom 4.
Pete
Guest
Finding this one of the toughest years in a while to predict ladder positions. The only 4 sides I'm fairly confident will finish in the bottom 8 are the Knights, Cowboys, Bulldogs and the Raiders. Sides like the Warriors, Broncos, Tigers and Dragons all have their upside but it's impossible to know how that will translate once the season begins. I am fairly confident that the Dragons will be above 13th though. If I had to bet on it I'd say they'll be somewhere from 7th-10th.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Some of the ridicule was around the process for sure but I recall plenty of Saints fans telling me he was a dud and having a bit of a chuckle. Frankly the jury is still out on both Manly wingers as they need to string together several good seasons to prove themselves like any player. Even after last season lots of punters claim Saabs form was all up to Turbo but although it helped massively, heaps of his tries didn't involve Turbo at all. Kicks from DCE and intercepts were a big part of his harvest as well.
KenW
Roar Rookie
It is hard to see any reason to pump the tyres of the Warriors. There's an OK forward pack, if they hold their own and Johnson has a massive year where he puts it all together, other combinations then can settle in with that framework. Much more likely it plays out the way you say though.
Dionysus
Guest
I actually think the Warriors will do better this year. No logic, no facts but I just think that NZ is a sleeping giant that will get something right at some point. There again, I have been consistently wrong with worries predictions for about 20 years now.
KenW
Roar Rookie
Haven’t given up on him yet but agree that he hasn’t shown much in first grade so far. Injury hasn’t helped but at this point I wouldn’t have him in first grade. Apparently Hook is a big fan though so maybe he’ll get more time. I would still say most of the ridicule of Saab was around the process. It was comical to ask for a contract break because he couldn’t handle the trip to Wollongong before immediately signing on for more money and a longer commute.
Benjamin Rodriguez
Guest
Tevita Pangai Junior, Paul Vaughan, Max King, Joshua Cook: Are we jokes to you ????
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
Ramsay looked handy in his debut but has been ordinary since. Can't catch and doesn't seem to have much pace. I think Mat Fegai should be ahead of him for a spot on the wing.