2019 Ladder Predictions

Who else do you think can/will seriously challenge?

 

South Sydney and Cronulla.

 

1. Canberra Raiders
2. Gold Coast Titans
3. Parramatta Eels
4. Newcastle Knights
5. Manly Sea Eagles
6. Sydney Roosters
7. Wests Tigers
8. Melbourne Storm

9. New Zealand Warriors
10. Penrith Panthers
11. North Queensland Cowboys
12. St George Illawarra Dragons
13. South Sydney Rabbitohs
14. Cronulla Sharks
15. Brisbane Broncos
16. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

 

I’m sure the refs will make sure that doesn’t happen skeepe

 

yeah agree on Souths...can never write Storm off as long as Smith and Bellamy are there. Verdict is out on Sharks... gona be interesting.

 

Storm relies on if Munster can take his merkinery to the next level

 

TOP 8 (not in any particular order)
Knights
Rorts
Storm
Sharks
Penriff
Souffs
Cows
Dragons

DUDS (kinda in order)
Raiders
Donks
Tigers
Parra
Warriors
Beagles
Titties
Dogs

 

All heart.

 

Hard to predict without knowing how the season will be officiated. If the rules are actually enforced like they were early 2018 which saw Storm, Roosters and Sharks struggle it could be anyone. However if the referees allow wrestle mania like they did after about round 8 it will be the same boring clubs as always.

 

My team will be a safe bet for the 2019 grand final.

 

Storm, Roosters and Sharks clubs were playing without resolve at the start of the year in their losses. They just weren't running harder and tackling harder than their opposition.

 

1. Roosters
2. Souths
3. Storm
4. Penrith
5. Knights
6. Cowboys
7. Sharks
8. Dragons

9. Broncos
10. Canberra
11. Tigers
12. Warriors
13. Manly
14. Titans
15. Parramatta
16. Bulldogs

 

We have been through this before. Roosters changed the way they played post ANZAC day after an ordinary start i.e less structure. They were open about this in the media prior to the round 11 change in officiating. On a side note, we weren't actually involved in any of the highly penalised games at the start of the season.

You have a point with Melbourne. Not sure about the sharks, they were just a very good and clinical side by the end of season.

Big things coming for your tigers though

 

How can seibold do worse with better cattle?

 

Wishful thinking.

 

I thought Brisbane looked as weak as they had in years at the beginning of 2018 but their young forwards were outstanding and there seems to be an endless procession of them.

They’ll make the 8 but don’t have good enough creative players to be a serious threat.

 

1. Sydney Roosters
2. Brisbane Broncos
3. North Queensland Cowboys
4. Melbourne Storm
5. Newcastle Knights
6. Gold Coast Titans
7. Penrith Panthers
8. South Sydney Rabbitohs
9. St George Illawarra Dragons

10. Cronulla Sharks
11. Parramatta Eels
12. Canberra Raiders
13. New Zealand Warriors
14. Wests Tigers
15. Manly Sea Eagles
16. Canterbury Bulldogs

Knights & Titans have recruited well and with some injury luck, they should both make the eight.

For the Knights they have improved in both quality and depth on their 2 weakest positions of last season - centres and front row. Still a winger and backrower short of going all the way though.

The Titans went through injury hell last season but unearthed some gems in Brimson, Sami and Fotuaika. Add Peachey, Boyd and Kelly to last seasons team along with some luck on the injury front and the Titans are in for a strong season.

The Warriors & Sharks go in the opposite directions for me.

Without Shaun Johnson the Warriors lack that creative playmaker. Will become heavily reliant on their defence which was strong in 2018. I feel they outperformed last season and will come back to regularities.

The Sharks are in turmoil with the front office woes to affect the on-field performance. Also, they will have a near new backline missing the likes of Holmes, Ramien, Leutele and Lee. Regardless a strong roster and could sneak the eight but I have them just missing currently.

 

The deregistering of Shane "Peptides" Flanagan means that Cronulla are increasingly unlikely to make the top 4 in 2019. Not impossible though. If they can secure another top class coach then they do have a real chance of making the top 4. But John Morris and Jim Dymock will not take them there.

 

You have heard of the term “interim” right?