AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
Tigers for the title
Posted by Michael Hagan - Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:26
I can hear the words of every coach in the NRL at this very moment.
"Our attitude has been great through summer. We can handle the expectation and our roster is stronger."
The optimism is flowing. Sadly though for eight of the 16 teams, 2011 will be a failure.
I was asked for my opening column to name a top eight and look at each team.
It was damn hard but here goes. In order, Wests Tigers, Dragons, Roosters, Raiders, Bulldogs, Storm, Titans and Panthers.
TITANS: Been there for two years but fallen over late. They will need to settle on a new number six with Mat Rogers having retired. That will probably be Greg Bird. A few of their senior players are now a year older so I reckon they really need to go hard this year before their roster changes dramatically.
KNIGHTS: They still can't quite settle on their halves. Beau Henry is a top young kid but has no NRL experience. Neville Costigan and Chris Houston will boost the Knights pack but I still think they lack a quality front-rower.
SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart and David Williams return to give Manly some needed speed. The big question though is over young halfback Daly Cherry-Evans. Can he handle first grade? If so, Manly are in for a robust season.
RABBITOHS: They really need to show some improvement. I reckon Sam Burgess will be better in his second year and Greg Inglis will obviously give Souths some clout out wide. But I still have question marks over their halves, John Sutton and Chris Sandow.
DRAGONS: Strong across the park. Will be right there again come September. Lost a couple of 'hard head' forwards in Neville Costigan and Jeremy Smith but the club has strong depth.
ROOSTERS: Have the best halves in the NRL in Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney. I really like the look of their forward pack too. They are really solid up front. Some thought last year's effort was a fluke but I reckon they will go close again.
TIGERS: They came within one point of the grand final last year. Robert Lui, their half-back, seems to have come along in giant strides and the return of Tim Moltzen will be a massive boost. How could you overlook the skills of Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall? My tip to win the title.
BULLDOGS: Been the most aggressive club in the market place. Trent Hodkinson and Kris Keating look the goods in the halves. Throw in Aiden Tolman, Frank Pritchard and Greg Eastwood - they are a quality side.
EELS: Reckon my old club may just miss out on a finals spot. But they will be a different team under Steve Kearney. They probably need to improve with their attitude, and they will under the Kiwi coach.
PANTHERS: Finished top four but I can't see them repeating that this year. Will be in the finals, but I reckon in about eighth spot. They have a handy roster but some believe they may have over-achieved last year.
STORM: Top eight material even with a depleted roster. Any team with Slater, Blair, Smith and Cronk will play finals footy.
RAIDERS: Will desperately miss Terry Campese for the opening 10 to 12 weeks. But Matt Orford's experience will go a long to cover for Campese. Big forwards. A top four pick for mine.
BRONCOS: Peter Wallace and Darren Lockyer never quite complimented each other last year. But that could change this year. Having Justin Hodges back will be huge for the Broncos. I never write off a Broncos side.
COWBOYS: The team under the most pressure. Had a huge turnover of players which makes it difficult to get any combinations. I don't think they will go much better than last year.
WARRIORS: A dangerous looking side. I like the look of their forwards and the inclusion of Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo will give the Warriors some real creativity.
SHARKS: Top-notch pack but still questions over their halves. Like previous years, points will be a problem. They will be physical but where will the points come from?
Posted by Michael Hagan - Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:26
I can hear the words of every coach in the NRL at this very moment.
"Our attitude has been great through summer. We can handle the expectation and our roster is stronger."
The optimism is flowing. Sadly though for eight of the 16 teams, 2011 will be a failure.
I was asked for my opening column to name a top eight and look at each team.
It was damn hard but here goes. In order, Wests Tigers, Dragons, Roosters, Raiders, Bulldogs, Storm, Titans and Panthers.
TITANS: Been there for two years but fallen over late. They will need to settle on a new number six with Mat Rogers having retired. That will probably be Greg Bird. A few of their senior players are now a year older so I reckon they really need to go hard this year before their roster changes dramatically.
KNIGHTS: They still can't quite settle on their halves. Beau Henry is a top young kid but has no NRL experience. Neville Costigan and Chris Houston will boost the Knights pack but I still think they lack a quality front-rower.
SEA EAGLES: Brett Stewart and David Williams return to give Manly some needed speed. The big question though is over young halfback Daly Cherry-Evans. Can he handle first grade? If so, Manly are in for a robust season.
RABBITOHS: They really need to show some improvement. I reckon Sam Burgess will be better in his second year and Greg Inglis will obviously give Souths some clout out wide. But I still have question marks over their halves, John Sutton and Chris Sandow.
DRAGONS: Strong across the park. Will be right there again come September. Lost a couple of 'hard head' forwards in Neville Costigan and Jeremy Smith but the club has strong depth.
ROOSTERS: Have the best halves in the NRL in Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney. I really like the look of their forward pack too. They are really solid up front. Some thought last year's effort was a fluke but I reckon they will go close again.
TIGERS: They came within one point of the grand final last year. Robert Lui, their half-back, seems to have come along in giant strides and the return of Tim Moltzen will be a massive boost. How could you overlook the skills of Robbie Farah and Benji Marshall? My tip to win the title.
BULLDOGS: Been the most aggressive club in the market place. Trent Hodkinson and Kris Keating look the goods in the halves. Throw in Aiden Tolman, Frank Pritchard and Greg Eastwood - they are a quality side.
EELS: Reckon my old club may just miss out on a finals spot. But they will be a different team under Steve Kearney. They probably need to improve with their attitude, and they will under the Kiwi coach.
PANTHERS: Finished top four but I can't see them repeating that this year. Will be in the finals, but I reckon in about eighth spot. They have a handy roster but some believe they may have over-achieved last year.
STORM: Top eight material even with a depleted roster. Any team with Slater, Blair, Smith and Cronk will play finals footy.
RAIDERS: Will desperately miss Terry Campese for the opening 10 to 12 weeks. But Matt Orford's experience will go a long to cover for Campese. Big forwards. A top four pick for mine.
BRONCOS: Peter Wallace and Darren Lockyer never quite complimented each other last year. But that could change this year. Having Justin Hodges back will be huge for the Broncos. I never write off a Broncos side.
COWBOYS: The team under the most pressure. Had a huge turnover of players which makes it difficult to get any combinations. I don't think they will go much better than last year.
WARRIORS: A dangerous looking side. I like the look of their forwards and the inclusion of Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo will give the Warriors some real creativity.
SHARKS: Top-notch pack but still questions over their halves. Like previous years, points will be a problem. They will be physical but where will the points come from?
