Tigerwould
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- Jan 18, 2020
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12. KNIGHTS
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Jack Hetherington 13. Adam Elliott
Full pack: Jayden Brailey, Mat Croker, Adam Elliott, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Tyson Frizell, Jack Hetherington, Bailey Hodgson, Brodie Jones, Jack Johns, Kurt Mann, Chris Randall, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Leo Thompson
Ins: Adam Elliott (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs)
Outs: Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Sauaso Sue (Hull KR), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), David Klemmer (Wests Tigers)
Analysis: The Knights have made two impressive signings to compliment what was already a solid pack.
Once again in 2022, a strong Newcastle pack on paper failed to deliver and give their outside backs the space they desperately need.
The Saifiti twins, Tyson Frizell and Jayden Brailey will be joined by Adam Elliott and Jack Hetherington – who will both likely start.
Elliott enjoyed a career-best season under Ricky Stuart at the Raiders, and the Canberra club were desperate to keep him.
Meanwhile, Hetherington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in March but is one of the NRL’s most imposing defenders.
Brailey’s experience was also sorely missed for half the season, but with their gun hooker healthy from Round 1, expect Adam O’Brien’s side to improve.
However, the loss of experienced front-rower David Klemmer could leave a hole in the middle of the park and O’Brien will look to Mat Croker or Leo Thompson to take up his workload.
11. SEA EAGLES
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Sean Keppie 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic
Full pack: Josh Aloiai, Ethan Bullemor, Ben Condon, Viliame Fifita, Sean Keppie, Karl Lawton, Lachlan Croker, Haumola Olakau’atu, Taniela Paseka, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Kelma Tuilagi, Alec Tu’itavake, Morgan Boyle, Zac Fulton, Nathaniel Roache
Ins: Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers), Ben Condon (Cowboys), Nathaniel Roache (Eels)
Outs: Martin Taupau (unsigned), Andrew Davey (unsigned), Dylan Walker (Warriors)
Analysis: The Sea Eagles forward pack will be mentored by a new coach this season after Anthony Seibold was hired following Des Hasler’s sacking.
Manly’s pack fell victim to a late-season slide following the pride jersey saga and key players were out of form and struggling including Josh Aloiai and Haumole Olakau’atu.
But in 2023 the Sea Eagles pack will be desperate to start fresh and two new faces are set to make their debut – Kelma Tuilagi and Ben Condon.
Tuilagi is a straight replacement for Andrew Davey on the left edge, while Condon will likely take Marty Taupau’s bench spot, who remains unsigned.
Lachlan Croker will only improve after a career-best season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2022.
Meanwhile, club stalwart Jake Trbojevic will also remain at lock alongside Olakau’atu and Aloiai who will be desperate to fire.
In positive signs, Manly had the least missed tackles of any team in 2023 and will be hoping to continue that trend.
10. BULLDOGS
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Luke Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Tevita Pangai-Junior 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Full pack: Andrew Davey, Brandon Clarke, Franklin Pele, Jackson Topine, Jacob Preston, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Max King, Tevita Pangai Junior, Chris Patolo, Luke Thompson, Corey Waddell, Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton
Ins: Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Franklin Pele (Sharks), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles)
Outs: Jack Hetherington (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Paul Vaughan (Warrington), Joe Stimson (Titans), Josh Jackson (retired), Ava Seumanufagai (released)
Analysis: The Bulldogs forward pack was already solid, but Phil Gould has added two huge players in Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney.
While Jeremy Marshall-King was arguably Canterbury’s best player in 2022, Mahoney is one of the NRL’s elite dummy-halves and is an impressive signing.
Kikau is also among the best backrowers in the NRL and he will provide a focal point for gun half Matt Burton.
The 27-year-old’s ball running and defensive skills will be sorely missed by the Panthers, but incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo already knows how to get the best out of him.
Veteran lock Josh Jackson’s retirement also opens the door for Raymond Faitala-Mariner to make the No.13 jersey his own.
Last season’s marquee recruit Tevita Pangai Junior struggled in his first season at the Dogs and was even dropped to NSW Cup late in the year.
But the 26-year-old has made a huge promise to Ciraldo and even skipped the World Cup to focus on pre-season.
Gould has also added backrower Andrew Davey and steam-rolling prop Franklin Pele to the Bulldogs’ pack — and both could be integral players off the bench for Ciraldo.
9. SHARKS
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Toby Rudolph 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane
Full pack: Blayke Brailey, Jesse Colquhoun, Dale Finucane, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tom Hazelton, Royce Hunt, Oregon Kaufusi, Cameron McInnes, Briton Nikora, Toby Rudolf, Siosifa Talakai, Jack Williams, Teig Wilton, Jayden Berrell, Wade Graham
Ins: Oregon Kaufusi (Eels)
Outs: None.
Analysis: Cronulla’s forward pack remains largely the same, with one big change coming in the form of Eels recruit Oregon Kaufus
The 23-year-old will likely ply his trade off the bench and the front rower will benefit from playing alongside Dale Finucane and Toby Rudolph.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s forward pack will once again be led by gun hooker Blayke Brailey, who was impressive in 2022.
The 24-year-old is one of the Sharks most important players and has continually improved in his four seasons in the NRL.
Meanwhile, Briton Nikora’s devastating running game will once again be showcased off the back of Nicho Hynes after a solid campaign for the Kiwis at the World Cup.
With Braden Hamlin-Uele, Cameron McInnes, Teig Wilton and Jack Williams at his disposal, Fitzgibbon once again has a strong pack.
Cronulla conceded the third least points in 2022 and allowed their opponents to cross for the second least amount of tries, being bestedonly by the solid Panthers defensive line.
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Daniel Saifiti 11. Tyson Frizell 12. Jack Hetherington 13. Adam Elliott
Full pack: Jayden Brailey, Mat Croker, Adam Elliott, Lachlan Fitzgibbon, Tyson Frizell, Jack Hetherington, Bailey Hodgson, Brodie Jones, Jack Johns, Kurt Mann, Chris Randall, Daniel Saifiti, Jacob Saifiti, Leo Thompson
Ins: Adam Elliott (Raiders), Jack Hetherington (Bulldogs)
Outs: Mitchell Barnett (Warriors), Jirah Momoisea (Eels), Sauaso Sue (Hull KR), Pasami Saulo (Raiders), David Klemmer (Wests Tigers)
Analysis: The Knights have made two impressive signings to compliment what was already a solid pack.
Once again in 2022, a strong Newcastle pack on paper failed to deliver and give their outside backs the space they desperately need.
The Saifiti twins, Tyson Frizell and Jayden Brailey will be joined by Adam Elliott and Jack Hetherington – who will both likely start.
Elliott enjoyed a career-best season under Ricky Stuart at the Raiders, and the Canberra club were desperate to keep him.
Meanwhile, Hetherington suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in March but is one of the NRL’s most imposing defenders.
Brailey’s experience was also sorely missed for half the season, but with their gun hooker healthy from Round 1, expect Adam O’Brien’s side to improve.
However, the loss of experienced front-rower David Klemmer could leave a hole in the middle of the park and O’Brien will look to Mat Croker or Leo Thompson to take up his workload.
11. SEA EAGLES
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Sean Keppie 9. Lachlan Croker 10. Josh Aloiai 11. Haumole Olakau’atu 12. Kelma Tuilagi 13. Jake Trbojevic
Full pack: Josh Aloiai, Ethan Bullemor, Ben Condon, Viliame Fifita, Sean Keppie, Karl Lawton, Lachlan Croker, Haumola Olakau’atu, Taniela Paseka, Josh Schuster, Toafofoa Sipley, Ben Trbojevic, Jake Trbojevic, Kelma Tuilagi, Alec Tu’itavake, Morgan Boyle, Zac Fulton, Nathaniel Roache
Ins: Kelma Tuilagi (Wests Tigers), Ben Condon (Cowboys), Nathaniel Roache (Eels)
Outs: Martin Taupau (unsigned), Andrew Davey (unsigned), Dylan Walker (Warriors)
Analysis: The Sea Eagles forward pack will be mentored by a new coach this season after Anthony Seibold was hired following Des Hasler’s sacking.
Manly’s pack fell victim to a late-season slide following the pride jersey saga and key players were out of form and struggling including Josh Aloiai and Haumole Olakau’atu.
But in 2023 the Sea Eagles pack will be desperate to start fresh and two new faces are set to make their debut – Kelma Tuilagi and Ben Condon.
Tuilagi is a straight replacement for Andrew Davey on the left edge, while Condon will likely take Marty Taupau’s bench spot, who remains unsigned.
Lachlan Croker will only improve after a career-best season, winning the club’s Player of the Year award in 2022.
Meanwhile, club stalwart Jake Trbojevic will also remain at lock alongside Olakau’atu and Aloiai who will be desperate to fire.
In positive signs, Manly had the least missed tackles of any team in 2023 and will be hoping to continue that trend.
10. BULLDOGS
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Max King 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Luke Thompson 11. Viliame Kikau 12. Tevita Pangai-Junior 13. Raymond Faitala-Mariner
Full pack: Andrew Davey, Brandon Clarke, Franklin Pele, Jackson Topine, Jacob Preston, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Max King, Tevita Pangai Junior, Chris Patolo, Luke Thompson, Corey Waddell, Viliame Kikau, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton
Ins: Viliame Kikau (Panthers), Reed Mahoney (Eels), Ryan Sutton (Raiders), Franklin Pele (Sharks), Andrew Davey (Sea Eagles)
Outs: Jack Hetherington (Knights), Jeremy Marshall-King (Dolphins), Paul Vaughan (Warrington), Joe Stimson (Titans), Josh Jackson (retired), Ava Seumanufagai (released)
Analysis: The Bulldogs forward pack was already solid, but Phil Gould has added two huge players in Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney.
While Jeremy Marshall-King was arguably Canterbury’s best player in 2022, Mahoney is one of the NRL’s elite dummy-halves and is an impressive signing.
Kikau is also among the best backrowers in the NRL and he will provide a focal point for gun half Matt Burton.
The 27-year-old’s ball running and defensive skills will be sorely missed by the Panthers, but incoming coach Cameron Ciraldo already knows how to get the best out of him.
Veteran lock Josh Jackson’s retirement also opens the door for Raymond Faitala-Mariner to make the No.13 jersey his own.
Last season’s marquee recruit Tevita Pangai Junior struggled in his first season at the Dogs and was even dropped to NSW Cup late in the year.
But the 26-year-old has made a huge promise to Ciraldo and even skipped the World Cup to focus on pre-season.
Gould has also added backrower Andrew Davey and steam-rolling prop Franklin Pele to the Bulldogs’ pack — and both could be integral players off the bench for Ciraldo.
9. SHARKS
Round 1 predicted starting pack: 8. Toby Rudolph 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Royce Hunt 11. Briton Nikora 12. Wade Graham 13. Dale Finucane
Full pack: Blayke Brailey, Jesse Colquhoun, Dale Finucane, Braden Hamlin-Uele, Tom Hazelton, Royce Hunt, Oregon Kaufusi, Cameron McInnes, Briton Nikora, Toby Rudolf, Siosifa Talakai, Jack Williams, Teig Wilton, Jayden Berrell, Wade Graham
Ins: Oregon Kaufusi (Eels)
Outs: None.
Analysis: Cronulla’s forward pack remains largely the same, with one big change coming in the form of Eels recruit Oregon Kaufus
The 23-year-old will likely ply his trade off the bench and the front rower will benefit from playing alongside Dale Finucane and Toby Rudolph.
Craig Fitzgibbon’s forward pack will once again be led by gun hooker Blayke Brailey, who was impressive in 2022.
The 24-year-old is one of the Sharks most important players and has continually improved in his four seasons in the NRL.
Meanwhile, Briton Nikora’s devastating running game will once again be showcased off the back of Nicho Hynes after a solid campaign for the Kiwis at the World Cup.
With Braden Hamlin-Uele, Cameron McInnes, Teig Wilton and Jack Williams at his disposal, Fitzgibbon once again has a strong pack.
Cronulla conceded the third least points in 2022 and allowed their opponents to cross for the second least amount of tries, being bestedonly by the solid Panthers defensive line.
