Melbourne are gonski. It's now a two horse race.

[Packy]

Can we not write off the Storm just once.. just to see how it goes? They are still premiership favourites in my eyes.

 

[Valheru]

I agree that writing off the storm is ridiculous. For reference, their 5 losses in a row last year happened at exactly the same time as now with the drought being broken in round 22 and they were even 3rd in the comp as they are now. (Manly would go above them with a win tonight)

One small difference may be they are on 27 points during this slide as opposed to 30 last year and 5 points behind 2nd as opposed to 2, I doubt they will be able to make up the ground to move into 2nd as they did last year.

 

[BunniesMan]

I agree that writing off the storm is ridiculous. For reference, their 5 losses in a row last year happened at exactly the same time as now with the drought being broken in round 22 and they were even 3rd in the comp as they are now. (Manly would go above them with a win tonight)

One small difference may be they are on 27 points during this slide as opposed to 30 last year and 5 points behind 2nd as opposed to 2, I doubt they will be able to make up the ground to move into 2nd as they did last year.

Big difference between getting top 2 and 3rd/4th. Big difference between staying in Melbourne all September or going on the road for at least 2 games before the GF.

 

[Someone]

I know Dunniesman is usually an idiot, but he is on the money there. If there is a weakness we had all year it is lack of meters from our wingers. We put in two wingers on the weekend, King and Farrell, that gained 150m each against the Titans and it felt like the last piece of the puzzle. At least to me.

I would seriously consider keeping them over Merritt when Inglis is back TBH, if they can do it week to week

you mean the State of origin worthy winger?

lol.

 

[natheel]

Fool

We will see. I can see a lot of resemblances between Souths last year and easts this year. Pearce and Sutton the main stays in the halves that lift another level with a new half with them in Maloney for easts and Reynolds for Souths last year. Similar forward pack that in a big game may get out muscled. If roosters come second and face Melbourne first then they're f**ked.

Souths will do away with manly or dogs (the 2 vying for 4the at this stage)

It will come down to the top 4 in the preliminaries. And I just see roosters fading when it matters

 

[natheel]

Canberra have points in them and their backline would carve Souths up. Inglis won't come back 100%, and without him, Souths struggle to match the top sides.
Sam Burgess is a wonderful player . Touch wood, he stays fit, cause if anything happens to Him, Souths won't win another game all season

They may have points in them but they also have a lot of points to give up in them too. Look at their for and against. Says it all really.

 

[BranVan3000]

you mean the State of origin worthy winger?

lol.

Others might have said that but I've consistently said Merritt should have been selected between 2007-2011 when he consistently topped try scorers list and was an xfactor. He hasn't been as good since he broke his toe early last year in the indigenous game. This year he was selected on reputation more than real form. As usual NSW far too slow to react.

And now he is down on confidence to boot.

 

[Slackboy72]

Weren't Melbourne 'gone' last year at one stage?
I'm pretty sure even we beat them.

 

[Michael Bishop]

Others might have said that but I've consistently said Merritt should have been selected between 2007-2011 when he consistently topped try scorers list and was an xfactor. He hasn't been as good since he broke his toe early last year in the indigenous game. This year he was selected on reputation more than real form. As usual NSW far too slow to react.

And now he is down on confidence to boot.

For a long time NSW fans have been dismissive of Merritt regardless of club form. His performance in Origin only reinforced what most people thought, that being he'd be out of his depth. I don't believe it would have made any difference as to when he was selected.
He could however be excused for feeling hard done by considering how NSW persist with Mitchell Pearce despite his inability to perform at Origin level.

 

[GONZO72]

We will see. I can see a lot of resemblances between Souths last year and easts this year. Pearce and Sutton the main stays in the halves that lift another level with a new half with them in Maloney for easts and Reynolds for Souths last year. Similar forward pack that in a big game may get out muscled. If roosters come second and face Melbourne first then they're f**ked.

Souths will do away with manly or dogs (the 2 vying for 4the at this stage)

It will come down to the top 4 in the preliminaries. And I just see roosters fading when it matters

Wow, that comment would rival some of bunnies man's dribble. The roosters team 2013, would lap that Souths outfit of last year. Last year the roosters beat Souths , and lost in the last min. Last years roosters team was a rabble under smith.
It would be a 30 point flogging.
I know poor old Souths fans are not used to praising their team on a forum. They generally are too excited to make much sense. Souths are losers. They remind me of a drunk, who has given up the grog, after drinking himself silly for 4 decades.
I really hope Souths can do something this year, unfortunately a leopard doesn't change it's spots.
Souths have a losing culture. It will take a few more years to overcome. I forecast 2016 could be their year.

 

[BranVan3000]

For a long time NSW fans have been dismissive of Merritt regardless of club form. His performance in Origin only reinforced what most people thought, that being he'd be out of his depth. I don't believe it would have made any difference as to when he was selected.
He could however be excused for feeling hard done by considering how NSW persist with Mitchell Pearce despite his inability to perform at Origin level.

I've watched Merritt for years. He used to be the player who created all our tries, he would be in everything, he had kicking and tackle breaks galore. He hasn't really done that for ages and he is 30 this year and wasn't showing the sort of form that had people calling for his selection for years. And picked in the worst possible game no less. Just a dumb selection all around

 

[Raider_69]

I dont think the top 4 will fear anyone who isnt in the top 4.

Those top 4 are a clear cut above the rest. Its a real close competition once we get there, with Manly club i see least likely to win the comp of those. But i will be very surprised if a team outside the top 4 right now make the prelim finals, let alone the GF... Knights, Raiders, Warriors, Sharks, Bulldogs... all good to fantastic sides on their day, but not in the same level of Manly, Rabbits, Roosters or Storm

 

[magpie4ever]

I would still back them to win the title, what price are they currently?

When you have Slater, Smith and Cronk (world's best in their positions) in your team; you can't write them off until the fat lady actually sings.

 

[BranVan3000]

I dont think the top 4 will fear anyone who isnt in the top 4.

Those top 4 are a clear cut above the rest. Its a real close competition once we get there, with Manly club i see least likely to win the comp of those. But i will be very surprised if a team outside the top 4 right now make the prelim finals, let alone the GF... Knights, Raiders, Warriors, Sharks, Bulldogs... all good to fantastic sides on their day, but not in the same level of Manly, Rabbits, Roosters or Storm

Warriors have beaten more top 4 sides than any of the top four sides

 

[Someone]

I would still back them to win the title, what price are they currently?

When you have Slater, Smith and Cronk (world's best in their positions) in your team; you can't write them off until the fat lady actually sings.

slater is no longer the best fullback in the game.

G.I is.

imo it all hinges on Cronk.

 

[magpie4ever]

slater is no longer the best fullback in the game.

G.I is.

imo it all hinges on Cronk.

Beg to disagree on that. Slater is still number one - best fullback I have ever seen.

 

[GONZO72]

Others might have said that but I've consistently said Merritt should have been selected between 2007-2011 when he consistently topped try scorers list and was an xfactor. He hasn't been as good since he broke his toe early last year in the indigenous game. This year he was selected on reputation more than real form. As usual NSW far too slow to react.

And now he is down on confidence to boot.

Merritt, was a disgrace in origin. Cost the blues 18 pts. He was never a hope playing for NSW in those years, u drip. Souths were a rabble between 2007-11, an utter disgrace. Sure Merritt found the tryline, but his defence was horrid.

 

[BunniesMan]

I would still back them to win the title, what price are they currently?

When you have Slater, Smith and Cronk (world's best in their positions) in your team; you can't write them off until the fat lady actually sings.

Slater hasn't been the best fullback in the world in over 12 months.

He has clearly lost a step from his absolute peak a year or two ago. He is nowhere near as agile. When he has the ball on a kick return I don't assume he's going to get past the first tackler like he almost always used to.

 

[natheel]

Merritt, was a disgrace in origin. Cost the blues 18 pts. He was never a hope playing for NSW in those years, u drip. Souths were a rabble between 2007-11, an utter disgrace. Sure Merritt found the tryline, but his defence was horrid.

Souths 2007 - 7th
Roosters 2007 - 10th

Souths 2008 - 14th
Roosters 2008 - 4th

Souths 2009 - 9th
Roosters 2009 - spoon

Souths 2010 - 9th
Roosters 2010 - 6th regular season but GF runner up

Souths 2011 - 10th
Roosters 2011 - 11th

Apart from a fluke cf appearance roosters have been around similar to Souths in the years you claim they were a rabble where in reality they were actually on the verge of the 8 almost every year almost missing out by 1 win. To be fair you could argue they have been there abouts with the other sides and were just waiting for the coach to bring the best out of them which Maguire is doing now.

Mate roosters have a lot to prove to become a winning force and Robinson has to go through this season and next with decent seasons to be considered a success. One good year doesn't make a success.

Last year Souths did well and then fell at the last hurdle this year they have an improved forward pack and their halves are firing. The backs are also improved as well. Face it as much as you troll you just keep looking like a fool ever time you count Souths out but give roosters every chance to win.

 

[magpie4ever]

Slater hasn't been the best fullback in the world in over 12 months.

He has clearly lost a step from his absolute peak a year or two ago. He is nowhere near as agile. When he has the ball on a kick return I don't assume he's going to get past the first tackler like he almost always used to.

Let's see if they can win the title this year.