2012 Top eight

I reckon the most likely to miss out are the Dragons and Cowboys. Most likely to replace them are Souths and the Bulldogs (given a decent coaching appointment). I'm going to go wild and name the whole comp in order:

1) Brisbane
2) Manly
3) Warriors
4) Tigers
5) Melbourne
6) Souths
7) Newcastle
8) Bulldogs
9) Canberra
10) Roosters
11) Dragons
12) Cowboys
13) Titans
14) Cronulla
15) Penrith
16) Parramatta
 
@happy tiger said:
I think the biggest problem Bennett will have with Knights is the culture there
I can see a few issues in the first season with the Knights They will make the 8 but can't see them winning a premiership
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100% agree. When Bennett went to Saints, that team always had the potential to be great and they had been there or thereabouts in previous years, you could sense a premiership was imminent.

With the Knights, they have really struggled to establish a winning culture probably as far back as when Andrew Johns retired back in '07\. They've scrapped into a couple of finals series since his retirement, but have never really threatened in either of those finals series getting knocked out in the first week in both.

Bennett has a huge task ahead of him if he is to turn Newcastle into a premiership contender (I personally thought Rick Stone did well getting them to 8th) but there is no better coach than him in the game and I'm sure the task is within his reach.

Knights to improve next year, but not progressing beyond Week 2 of the finals I say.
 
@Marshall_magic said:
They had a bog average team this year and made the finals. Add a master coach and some quality buys (Boyd, Buderus, Tahu, Snowden) and it's easy to see why they'll be up there. They're team is 1000x better than it was this year, plus they've got a lot of depth in key positions.
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I love buderus, but he is now 34, and has been out of the NRL for 2 seasons, I dont expect him to even pay as well as De Gois did this year. I also believe Tahu is passed his use by date.

They have also lost alot of players. I believe they were well coached this year, Bennett is a great coach, but there is only so much he can do.
 
@Goose said:
@Marshall_magic said:
They had a bog average team this year and made the finals. Add a master coach and some quality buys (Boyd, Buderus, Tahu, Snowden) and it's easy to see why they'll be up there. They're team is 1000x better than it was this year, plus they've got a lot of depth in key positions.

I love buderus, but he is now 34, and has been out of the NRL for 2 seasons, I dont expect him to even pay as well as De Gois did this year. I also believe Tahu is passed his use by date.

They have also lost alot of players. I believe they were well coached this year, Bennett is a great coach, but there is only so much he can do.
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Bedsy is still going alright in the ESL. They have also brought in Boyd and Snowden-2 international players. Tahu under a steady coach out of the Sydney media will possibly get back to his best football. They had a massive injury toll this year too (probably the worst of any club). Most of the players they've lost are finge/depth players, only 2-3 regular starters have gone.
 
1\. Melbourne
2\. Wests Tigers
3\. Manly
4\. Warriors
5\. Brisbane
6\. Newcastle
7\. Cowboys
8\. Roosters

That's how I see it panning out. I can only see 5-8 changing but only positions within 5-8, not other teams coming in to the bottom 4.

If it wasn't for the injuries we had this year I feel we could have challenged for 2nd and I feel we can next year as well, injuries permitting.

I see the Broncos struggling without Lockyer (I think their record without Lockyer speaks for itself) but may have a late surge into the eight.

Newcastle made the eight this year but only just. The acquisition of Bennett will do them good but it will take time for players to gel, therefore I can't see them challenging for a top 4 spot.

I can't recall the Cowboys gaining many players and I think the loss of Tonga won't help (even though I don't rate him highly) he is still a danger man in their backline and will be missed. I can't see them improving too much, but don't see them going backwards from this year.

The Roosters are my smokey. Looking at their form at the back end of the year they were dangerous - thumping the storm (even though they were missing 2 of their big 3, Smith and Slater arn't worth 30 points) and beating a Fragons side that was "supposedly" back to their best after a loss to WT (great win by the Tigers I might add). Also that form wasn't coincidence as they finally had some consistency in regards to positions, with Carney stood down. Carney's form was up and down and adding to that he was constantly in and out of the side, the Rooster could never gain any momentum.

They are my top 8 and reasoning behind my choices. Hopefully I don't wind up with egg on my face.
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tigers
dragons
manly
storm
broncos
nz
Newcastle
souths

not in order
 
@innsaneink said:
1\. Storm
2\. Sea Eagles
3\. Cowboys
4\. Broncos

5\. Knights
6\. Warriors
7\. Tigers
8\. Raiders

9\. Bulldogs
10\. Dragons
11\. Panthers
12\. Rabbitohs
13\. Roosters
14\. Eels
15\. Sharks
16\. Titans
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Hasler's since decided to p off after next year, awkward times ahead…drop manly 5 rungs
 
1.Tigers
2.Melbourne
3.Warriors
4.Raiders
5.Manly
6.Newcastle
7.Broncos
8.Parramatta
–-------------------
9.Dragons
10.Penrith
11.Cowboys
12.Titans
13.Roosters
14.Cronulla
15.Souths
16.Bulldogs
 
In my predicted finishing order.

1\. Melbourne
2\. West Tigers
3\. Warriors
4\. Brisbane
5\. Manly
6\. Nth Qld
7\. Penrith
8\. Cannberra
9\. Newcastle
10 Saints
11\. Bulldogs
12\. Titans
13 Roosters
14\. Souths
15\. Parramatta
16\. Cronulla

see how close we go. I reserve judgement to have My "official order" closer to the start of the comp
 
1.Storm
2.warriors
3.Tigers
4.Knights
5.Dogs
6.Titans
7.Cowboys
8.Rabbits

9.Broncs
10.SeaEagles
11.Sharks
12.Saints
13.Roosters
14.Eels
15.Raiders
16.Panthers
 
@steve-o said:
1\. Storm
2\. Manly
3\. Cowboys
4\. Tigers
5\. Broncos
6\. Knights
7\. Dragons
8\. Eels
9\. Warriors
10\. Roosters
11\. Titans
12\. Bulldogs
13\. Panthers
14\. Rabbitohs
15\. Raiders
16\. Sharks
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in light of the the dramas at manly and the dogs getting hasler, im gonna drop manly to 10th and put bulldogs up to 8th so my 2012 ladder now looks like:
1\. Storm
2\. Cowboys
3\. Tigers
4\. Broncos
5\. Knights
6\. Dragons
7\. Eels
8\. Bulldogs
9\. Warriors
10\. Manly
11\. Roosters
12\. Titans
13\. Panthers
14\. Rabbitohs
15\. Raiders
16\. Sharks
 
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