2025 ladder predictions

[Fangs]

Into the home stretch.

And perhaps the most exciting top 8 potential in years?

Its a great mix right now. Raiders and Warriors return to the 8. Dogs/Melbourne round out the top 4.

Roosters/Manly are deadwood and will lose week one. So really hoping the Sharks and Broncos continue to sure up their spots 5th to 8th. Those two sides have the talent and experience to take this finals series up a level. Penrith the favourites and the team to beat but will likely have to do it the hard way from 5th to 8th.

Then you've got the wildcard in the Dolphins. First finals series and most exciting attack in the game. I really hope they make it.

My ideal week one fixtures:

Raiders v Storm
Bulldogs v Warriors
Broncos v Dolphins
Panthers v Sharks

 

[BadnMean]

We have done it twice before, and they don't look as good now as they did then. Time will tell.

Big game tonight.

Yep. Good as Storm usually are for some reason we match up well against them.

 

[Trifili13]

Into the home stretch.

And perhaps the most exciting top 8 potential in years?

Its a great mix right now. Raiders and Warriors return to the 8. Dogs/Melbourne round out the top 4.

Roosters/Manly are deadwood and will lose week one. So really hoping the Sharks and Broncos continue to sure up their spots 5th to 8th. Those two sides have the talent and experience to take this finals series up a level. Penrith the favourites and the team to beat but will likely have to do it the hard way from 5th to 8th.

Then you've got the wildcard in the Dolphins. First finals series and most exciting attack in the game. I really hope they make it.

My ideal week one fixtures:

Raiders v Storm
Bulldogs v Warriors
Broncos v Dolphins
Panthers v Sharks

So Penrith get the bye first week of semis.

 

[Fangs]

So Penrith get the bye first week of semis.

Sharks are underrated.

They took Penrith to the 60th minute in the 2024 prelim which is nothing to sneeze at. They have made the finals in 3 straight seasons and I can see a slight upward trajectory for them. I think Iro will be a massive inclusion if he can return this year. They can be a danger side in the finals.

By comparison the Roosters prelim in 2024 was over at halftime. Likewise week one of the finals the game was over at halftime. The Roosters still think its 2019 and their brand of football doesn't cut it anymore.

I want the most competitive top 8 possible. The top 4 is secured you'd think. Roosters, Manly, Cowboys etc aren't teams that are going to trouble anyone.

 

[Valheru]

Sharks are underrated.

They took Penrith to the 60th minute in the 2024 prelim which is nothing to sneeze at. They have made the finals in 3 straight seasons and I can see a slight upward trajectory for them. I think Iro will be a massive inclusion if he can return this year. They can be a danger side in the finals.

By comparison the Roosters prelim in 2024 was over at halftime. Likewise week one of the finals the game was over at halftime. The Roosters still think its 2019 and their brand of football doesn't cut it anymore.

I want the most competitive top 8 possible. The top 4 is secured you'd think. Roosters, Manly, Cowboys etc aren't teams that are going to trouble anyone.

Except Penrith who all 3 have beaten

 

[Chins]

Except Penrith who all 3 have beaten

Do you really need another lesson about gears?

 

[soc123_au]

Except Penrith who all 3 have beaten

All part of Ivan's grand plan. Next year we will go for breaking the 50 curse. For number 7 I imagine Ivan will lobby the NRL preseason to add a finals wildcard for the defending premiers, we can then tank all season and win the spoon and the premiership in the same year. Ivan is playing 6d chess while the rest of the world plays pocket billiards.

 

[Valheru]

Do you really need another lesson about gears?

You know they have no gears this season.

I can't wait to the finals if Penrith get that far

 

[Valheru]

All part of Ivan's grand plan. Next year we will go for breaking the 50 curse. For number 7 I imagine Ivan will lobby the NRL preseason to add a finals wildcard for the defending premiers, we can then tank all season and win the spoon and the premiership in the same year. Ivan is playing 6d chess while the rest of the world plays pocket billiards.

The Karate Kid right of reply... I like it

 

[Chins]

You know they have no gears this season.

I can't wait to the finals if Penrith get that far

We aren't what we were but we are still MANY levels above Easts.

 

[Valheru]

We aren't what we were but we are still MANY levels above Easts.

Yeah I can tell by the ladder and this season's results lol

 

[Chins]

Yeah I can tell by the ladder and this season's results lol

You're a very slow learner mate. You better hope we don't meet week 1

 

[Fangs]

Do you really need another lesson about gears?

Mate I've tried. I don't think anyone will convince Valheru.

Same line he ran with in 23 and 24. 'There are no gears'. Maybe third time lucky this year.

 

[soc123_au]

You're a very slow learner mate. You better hope we don't meet week 1

They would have to make the 8 first.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Val's bottoming in multiple threads today has been somewhat arousing

 

[Valheru]

You're a very slow learner mate. You better hope we don't meet week 1

I'm actively hoping for it. It's our easiest path to week 2

 

[ACTPanthers]

I'm actively hoping for it. It's our easiest path to week 2

3/10 bait

 

[Valheru]

3/10 bait

A higher mark than it deserves TBH

 

[Fangs]

You know they have no gears this season.

I missed this post.

An admission from Valheru that Penrith have always had gears. They just don't have them anymore for reasons unknown.

Alarming for our boys. Better go to our local mechanic to see what they can do with our machine or what's left of it.

 

[mongoose]

Storm could still easily get the MP, If we drop 1 game and they win all their remaining ones. Their F&A is much better than ours.

Have no idea what to expect for the remaining rounds and finals. Storm are definitely favorites for mine