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Opinion
The NRL season is just a month away, so here is Part 3 of my analysis of where each NRL team will finish in 2022.
You can also read about my predictions for places 14-13 and places 16-15.
12. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs did not deliver in 2021 on the field, but they certainly did off it. They secured some top-quality players who will be a key part in trying to lift this side up and get them back into finals contention in the coming years.
The Bulldogs will be one of the most interesting teams to watch this year, as it will be exciting to see if they can move out of a bottom-three ladder position, which is where they have finished the last two years.
Matt Burton is the most intriguing player, and I want to see him perform from the Bulldogs, as he was sensational at Penrith, but the question is whether he can prove it at a club not as stacked as the Panthers.
A few other well-noted signings include Josh Addo-Carr and Matthew Dufty. Addo-Carr is obviously one of the best wingers in the league, and the success he had at Melbourne will be important in trying to bring that winning feeling back to the Doggies. Dufty is a great signing because when you’re rebuilding a side you almost always need a solid fullback, and he fits that role perfectly at Canterbury.
(Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)
The only three losses that could have a meaningful effect are those of Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Nick Cotric and 2021 centre Will Hopoate. The outside backs that will be taking Cotric and Will’s roles are Brent Naden and Jayden Okunbor, one of the most underrated wingers in the competition. He’s very strong and has a great mentality on the field in a losing team.
Bulldogs fans have had to go through hell over the last four years, but they will make their way out of the bottom three and have the potential to finish just outside finals territory, though right now I have them at 12th because of the quality of other teams above them.
11. Canberra Raiders
This was the hardest placement to decide so far because of all the possibilities around seventh to 11th on the ladder. There’s so much to analyse when deciding whether teams reach the finals or not. The Raiders are among the hardest to place because of the way they surprised us in 2021, finishing 10th after falling asleep midseason, losing nine matches across an 11-game period. It was their first absence from finals footy in three years, and there were many reasons for it. They were in the bottom half of the league in attacking, defending and discipline stats.
If they want to improve this season, they need a true leader, and Josh Hodgson fits the bill after battling with Tom Starling for hooker duties all last year. Starling was starting in the role for parts of the season, while Hodgson came off the bench. Despite being criticised all year, Hodgson finished the season in the No. 9 jersey, with Starling suffering a broken jaw in the Round 22 loss against Melbourne.
(Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Hodgson is predicted to begin the season in the starting line-up, while Tom is set to play in No. 14, but don’t be surprised if that changes throughout the year. Josh Papalii was once again a standout player last season, and he finished runner-up in the Mal Meninga voting, which he has won four previous times.
The Raiders are one of the more likeable teams in the NRL, so to see them have a poor year was a large shock to not only Canberra fans but the whole league. I have them concluding the season in 11th spot because of the quality of teams above them, although a return to the finals is definitely a possibility if they execute their game plan and mould together well.
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