2016 Predictions

[Still Nutty]

Ladder position: 9th-10th

Captain: Hodkinson (Vice - Rochow)
Rep Players: Hodkinson, K Sims, Gagai and Rochow to get a surprise bench spot in at least 1 of the origin games.

Knight of the year: Rochow

Rookie of the year: Feeney

Leading Tryscorer: Gaigai
__________________
Agree with Showstopper - defensive performance this year is my focus.

And agree with All Star Knights - it is about who we can keep on the field this year because the cupboard is pretty bare after our top 17 are picked.

 

[9701]

Ladder position: bottom 4

Captain: Houston

Rep Players: Houston

Knight of the year: Houston

Rookie of the year: Houston's little brother

Leading Tryscorer: Houston

Damn it with news that the great man is being moved on, my predictions are all doomed to failure. Nathan Brown has a lot to answer for.

 

[League_God]

Jesus Christ, I don't know what the f**k I was on when I made this thread but no way are we going to be anywhere near the 8.

We have the weakest side in the entire comp besides maybe the titans.

Ladder prediction: 15th

 

[K-Man]

I think any positive predictions earlier were based on the belief we would probably add to the squad with one more forward and one outside back. I always thought there were funds available to add some pretty decent signings, not just depth. With Houston getting let go and McManus retiring, to me it seemed a certainty we'd pick up one or two players around about that Hiku / Lafai level, for example.

But based on the actual squad we have, I think we're looking at back to back wooden spoons. There is just no depth whatsoever. 4 injuries and we're cooked imo. Even the decent players we had in NSW Cup were let go (in the backs we didn't keep Holland or Tuha etc) so there's just nothing there to call on. Feeney looks good but is a rookie, I rate Fitzgibbon and others rate the Safiti brothers (I haven't seen enough).

Take a few key players out of our team with injury and it starts to look closer to a NSW Cup team than a top 8 NRL team.

Anything higher than 12th is a solid coaching performance from Brown if you ask me.

 

[isaiah]

Was Rochow really that good this year?

 

[PhilGould]

He only played 4 and 1/2 games but I thought he was our best in the opening 4 games.

 

[Misanthrope]

Guess I won't bother tuning in this year either then ��

 

[Swarzey]

Take a few key players out of our team with injury and it starts to look closer to a NSW Cup team than a top 8 NRL team.

Anything higher than 12th is a solid coaching performance from Brown if you ask me.

That's literally the case for all but one team who finished in the bottom 8 this year and St. George. What separated us from the Dragons and every team in between was how much we could arse our way out of a victory. The Warriors are the only team with an improved squad in 2016. Us, Titans, Tigers, Raiders, Parra, Manly, Penrith, St. George in 2016 will come down to how little you can plod.

There's no difference in quality or depth among the bottom 8 of the league.

 

[PhilGould]

That's literally the case for all but one team who finished in the bottom 8 this year and St. George. What separated us from the Dragons and every team in between was how much we could arse our way out of a victory. The Warriors are the only team with an improved squad in 2016. Us, Titans, Tigers, Raiders, Parra, Manly, Penrith, St. George in 2016 will come down to how little you can plod.

There's no difference in quality or depth among the bottom 8 of the league.

Manly haven't improved their squad??? We must be looking at 2 different squads. They're one of the premiership favorites IMO.

Edit: actually I take back premiership favourites until I see how Barrett goes as a coach, but on paper they have one of the best squads in the comp.

 

[Swarzey]

Manly haven't improved their squad??? We must be looking at 2 different squads. They're one of the premiership favorites IMO.

I don't rate Trent Barrett as a coach to start with. I think Foran was the glue that held that side together and I don't think DCE can lead them without him. Their only two decent forwards are Tapau and Myles; I don't think there's enough in those two to support a NSW standard pack. Granted Walker is an excellent buy.

I just see them being soft in the middle, Barrett is going to be under immense pressure and I question if he's got the experience in the role to survive. They won't be wooden spooners but I don't see them winning enough games to make the eight.

Edit: scratched the favourites line.

 

[PhilGould]

1. Brett Stewart
2. Jorge Taufua
3. Jamie Lyon
4. Steve Matai
5. Tom Trbojevic
6. Dylan Walker
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Jake Trbojevic
9. Matt Parcell/Apisai Korisarou
10. Nate Myles
11. Tom Symonds
12. Feleti Mateo
13. Marty Taupau

Could do with some better second rowers but apart from that they look pretty good to me. Guys like Starling, Lawrence, Buhrer, Brown, Lussick on the bench too. I'd pick DCE over Foran any day of the week as well.

Unless Barrett is completely clueless or they have a Penrith-like injury crisis, I'm very confident Manly will make the 8. Possibly even top 4.

 

[perverse]

Not sure about this Walker at 5/8th business. I would have thought either putting Lyon there and Walker in the centres or even bringing Stewart into 5/8th and Trbojevic to fullback would make more sense. Maybe there's more to Walker than I've seen, certainly a talented player. Looks an out and out centre to me.

I don't particularly see instant success in Manlys future. I mean, they've got a way better team than us on paper, no doubt... but that's not a high bar to leap. I don't rank their squad in the same league as the Roosters, Broncos, Cowboys, Bunnies, Bulldogs or the Warriors.

 

[Swarzey]

Don't get me wrong, I can certainly see why you and others see them as a top 8 team but the only way I can see them making the 8, anyone else really, is unless teams suffer injury and form woes. Crazier things have happened but, Manly IMO is going to spend the season struggling to get in and just fall short. Like Perverse, I don't see Walker as a 5/8. He's a gun centre, I know he's filled in but to consistently play there? Not sure. Until I see it I guess I'm going to view Manly as a team with only one half and that doesn't work.

One of our criticisms is a lack of experience at hooker; Manly aren't much better. Korisarou isn't a high quality hooker and Parcell has, well I don't think he has any. No more than two or three games surely. It's a situation very similar to ours.

Lewis Brown is a name I keep forgetting; very handy pick up. Buhrer is handy too but Lawrence, Starling and Lussick are basically Houstons. So too Mateo and Symonds. Their bench isn't going to make much of an impact at all.

Manly have a team to build around for a few years to come, I don't see them having success next year.

 

[League_God]

Manly will make the top 4. You heard it here first

 

[Spot On]

Well they have the squad to make the 8. They should win at least half their games with the line up they have. A no-brainer really.

 

[The Showstopper]

If they keep their top squad fit, by rights The Warriors should win the comp. They have the best spine in the comp. RTS and Luke are either going to go backwards as player's there or go to another level allowing Johnston to become what he is IMO, the most complete footballer in the world. Shaun could potentially beat JT's record for dally M's if he applies himself properly. He has it all. The most naturally talented halfback i have seen.

 

[Spot On]

You can have the Warriors. Don't care who is in their squad, they seemingly find every possible way to fail. Isaac Luke won't be much of an asset if he doesn't change his tackling style. Won't be surprised if they have a new coach after 10 rounds.

 

[Knight Vision]

If they keep their top squad fit, by rights The Warriors should win the comp. They have the best spine in the comp. RTS and Luke are either going to go backwards as player's there or go to another level allowing Johnston to become what he is IMO, the most complete footballer in the world. Shaun could potentially beat JT's record for dally M's if he applies himself properly. He has it all. The most naturally talented halfback i have seen.

aaarrmm A.Johns ?

 

[The Showstopper]

Johns didn't have the natural gifts Thurston and Johnston have. Not in their postcode for pace or hole running. Joey worked very hard to be the best. His ability was God given but he had to counter his physical limitations.

 

[Maroon4life]

I have you finnishing 15th, just ahead of the titans.

Anything else would require a herculaen season with that roster.