'Hardest To Pick So Far', NRL ladder prediction Part 5: (8th and 9th)

By Christo / Roar Guru

The NRL season is underway and here are my predictions for who will finish in eighth and ninth positions. These two spots were the hardest to pick so far, as both look equally promising, despite having tough draws this season.

9. Brisbane Broncos

The Brisbane Broncos fans are still feeling the pain after choking and missing the finals in 2022. The Broncos were flying high after Round 19, sitting solidly in the top four, before unbelievably sinking into the bottom eight. They lost five out of their last six matches. Those losses included two defeats where they conceded more than 50 points.

No one really understood the reason for the collapse, Brisbane had simply nothing to show in attack and played nothing like they did in their mid-season seven game win streak. Adam Reynolds was the biggest signing by the Broncos in a while and he delivered in all the ways they had hoped he would. However, Reynolds did miss a handful of games, which had some asking whether he was worth what he was paid. Yet an argument can be made that he almost single-handily improved the Broncos.

Adam Reynolds. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Reece Walsh has controversially returned home to Brisbane and could be a perfect fullback for a side which looks to be on the rise. You could argue that Red Hill was lucky to secure Walsh, as a clause on his release from the Warriors was that he couldn’t sign with the Dolphins.

Brisbane has the toughest draw in the league, as they face top eight teams from 2022 a total of fourteen times. Drama around Kevin Walters renewed contract has been circling in recent days, with the clauses in Walters’ contract making it seem like they haven’t renewed anything. Walters may be in hot water if the Broncos are on the decline after the first six games or so.

The Broncos are a team with a lot of potential and any result besides a premiership wouldn’t be too surprising because as a die hard fan, I’ve learnt that you never really know what to expect. 

8. Manly Sea-Eagles

The Manly Sea Eagles are entering the 2023 season after a rollercoaster year. They were floating around the middle of the table all season and found themselves in the top eight as late as round eighteen, before dreadfully losing seven straight games to finish their season in eleventh position.

2022 turned sour for the Sea-Eagles. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Manly went from thrashing Melbourne in arguably the biggest boil over of the season, to being embarrassed in those nightmarish final seven matches.

Tom Trbojevic was injured and for the second time in three seasons. These heavy blows to Turbo keep happening and it really hurts them. Once Trbojevic returned in 2021, he was able to turn Manly’s season around single-handily and comfortably won the Dally-M Medal, despite missing a significant portion of the season.

Trbojevic returned in the round one match-up against Canterbury and Sea Eagles fans will be praying to the rugby league gods that their superstar fullback doesn’t suffer a major injury once again. Manly have the second hardest draw in the competition, however I will give them the edge over the Broncos, due to an easier finish

It was tough to split two teams who will win plenty of matches in 2023, however the tie-breaker was due to the easier schedule at the back-end of the season.

The Crowd Says:

AUTHOR

2023-03-07T07:00:35+00:00

Christo

Roar Guru


Okay since you asked, i will deliver.

2023-03-07T06:23:28+00:00

DP Schaefer

Roar Rookie


Naaa, go through with it anyway, always a good read. You can preface to let people know it's pre-comp and that will stand. Too early to predict form just one round anyway. And I agree, Rooster v South GF

AUTHOR

2023-03-07T05:52:03+00:00

Christo

Roar Guru


As much as i would love to complete the ladder predictions, i don’t think i’ll be able to as many would think i based it off their round 1 performances, however heres a tip. Souths to beat the chooks in the grand final.*

AUTHOR

2023-03-07T02:59:46+00:00

Christo

Roar Guru


As much as i would love to cplete the ladder predictions, i don't think i'll be able to as many would think i based it off their round 1 perfomances, however heres a tip. Souths to be the chooks in the grand final.

2023-03-06T11:47:41+00:00

Forty Twenty

Roar Rookie


The Eels are a team which could easily go into a tail spin. They are missing a lot of forwards from last year for various reasons and Moses is poodling around with his contract extension. It's not a great endorsement for the club that he's still deciding. Then there is Matherson Gate........ not good. Arthur has done a very good job at the club but it could go pear shaped very quickly if they're not careful.

2023-03-06T09:35:00+00:00

Muzz

Guest


Manly have a well balanced team. They looked great against the Bulldogs! A lot more cohesive than most teams. They need to learn how to grind out tough wins like they use too. IF Turbo stays fit they could potentially finish 5th/6th.

2023-03-06T08:26:43+00:00

Rob

Guest


Very different 8 to previous years I believe. Broncos are a different beast this year. Many talented youngsters are maturing into quality star players. Manly also look very different with Turbo back and a couple of their raw youngsters coming through. I’m thinking they’re going to further up the ladder than down.

2023-03-06T07:46:29+00:00

DP Schaefer

Roar Rookie


Looking forward to seeing that, and your top 2 :happy: you rock :stoked:

AUTHOR

2023-03-06T07:42:39+00:00

Christo

Roar Guru


Hey DP, it does sound like a smart plan, however i already have my top eight written down :laughing:

2023-03-05T23:02:41+00:00

DP Schaefer

Roar Rookie


Hi Christo, I see your top 10 co-incides with the start of the season.. smart move. :silly: :laughing: :thumbup: . I actually think Broncos will be in and Manly close to the fight. What joins Raiders in moving out is the unknown.

2023-03-05T23:01:27+00:00

Nat

Roar Guru


I respect your efforts here Christo but I think it is a change up year. I've heard the punters talk about the top 6 remaining the same as previous years but I reckon that's pretty lazy thinking.

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