Valheru
Coach
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That time of year again
I'm going to organise mine in groups of 4 (5 for the bottom group in a 17 team comp), I have also forced myself to stick to the long term trend of an average of 1-2 teams coming out of the previous years top 4, 3-4 coming out of the top 8 and one bolter making the 8 from the bottom 4 (5 in this case).
Here we go and in no particular order within the groups
TOP 4
PENRITH - I do think this will be the year they slide a bit but way too much quality to not make the top 4
Roosters - I think we finally worked out our best team and brought some key young forwards and backs along which will see us return to the top 4
Storm - Didn't look up to it really in 2023 but I can't back against Bellamy and a spine of Paps, Hughes, Munster and Grant to not make the top 4
Cowboys - Looked bottom 4 and top 4 at different times in 2023. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they return to the top 4
NEXT 4
Broncos - Very difficult to predict this one. They were the best team in 2023 IMO and would have won the MP if they cared about the last game. They also had PENRITH well and truly beat in the GF until the chin turned in an all time performance. It's hard to say what that type of a loss in a GF will do so I'm going to say they just miss the 4
Sharks - Don't see much changing for them which is both good and bad. Good in that they will be competitive but bad in that they will never look like winning the comp and will lose in week 1 again
Dolphins - My bolter to make the 8. Bennett clearly has them playing for each other and a few additions will see them squeeze in to the 8
Parra - Who knows with this team. Seem to be able to beat PENRITH at will but will just as soon lose to the tigers. They will just sneak in to the 8
IN THE HUNT
Knights - Don't think they had any business being in the finals and that showed in their finals performances. AOB to be under immense pressure by season's end
Souths - Logic dictates this talented squad returns to the top 8, if not top 4. However, that last 8 weeks was an epic capitulation and i get the feeling that things aren't quite right behind the scenes with the (aging) leadership group and the coach
Titans - Similar boat to the dragons but just a bit further along IMO. Des will get some better performances out of them and they will finish 3-4 spots higher
Warriors - Sorry warriors fans but I've seen this movie before. Has this club ever had 2 good seasons in a row? I hope i'm wrong but I can't predict consistency from them at this stage
BOTTOM 4 (5)
Tigers - Doesn't meed much explanation. it's really difficult to see them being competitive any time soon
Dragons - I think they will ultimately be ok under Flanno and turn in some respectable performances but another year of pain before they get closer to the 8
Raiders - They had even less business being in the 8 than the Knights. They won't win the close games that got them there this time but will still cop some floggings
Bulldogs - They have bought everyone so maybe that will work but I can't put them in the next group until they show me something on the field
Manly - I think they are on a long road of failure with Siebold in charge. Turbo will keep them well away from the spoon though.
I look forward to this being laughably wrong.
I'm going to organise mine in groups of 4 (5 for the bottom group in a 17 team comp), I have also forced myself to stick to the long term trend of an average of 1-2 teams coming out of the previous years top 4, 3-4 coming out of the top 8 and one bolter making the 8 from the bottom 4 (5 in this case).
Here we go and in no particular order within the groups
TOP 4
PENRITH - I do think this will be the year they slide a bit but way too much quality to not make the top 4
Roosters - I think we finally worked out our best team and brought some key young forwards and backs along which will see us return to the top 4
Storm - Didn't look up to it really in 2023 but I can't back against Bellamy and a spine of Paps, Hughes, Munster and Grant to not make the top 4
Cowboys - Looked bottom 4 and top 4 at different times in 2023. I'm going to give them the benefit of the doubt and say they return to the top 4
NEXT 4
Broncos - Very difficult to predict this one. They were the best team in 2023 IMO and would have won the MP if they cared about the last game. They also had PENRITH well and truly beat in the GF until the chin turned in an all time performance. It's hard to say what that type of a loss in a GF will do so I'm going to say they just miss the 4
Sharks - Don't see much changing for them which is both good and bad. Good in that they will be competitive but bad in that they will never look like winning the comp and will lose in week 1 again
Dolphins - My bolter to make the 8. Bennett clearly has them playing for each other and a few additions will see them squeeze in to the 8
Parra - Who knows with this team. Seem to be able to beat PENRITH at will but will just as soon lose to the tigers. They will just sneak in to the 8
IN THE HUNT
Knights - Don't think they had any business being in the finals and that showed in their finals performances. AOB to be under immense pressure by season's end
Souths - Logic dictates this talented squad returns to the top 8, if not top 4. However, that last 8 weeks was an epic capitulation and i get the feeling that things aren't quite right behind the scenes with the (aging) leadership group and the coach
Titans - Similar boat to the dragons but just a bit further along IMO. Des will get some better performances out of them and they will finish 3-4 spots higher
Warriors - Sorry warriors fans but I've seen this movie before. Has this club ever had 2 good seasons in a row? I hope i'm wrong but I can't predict consistency from them at this stage
BOTTOM 4 (5)
Tigers - Doesn't meed much explanation. it's really difficult to see them being competitive any time soon
Dragons - I think they will ultimately be ok under Flanno and turn in some respectable performances but another year of pain before they get closer to the 8
Raiders - They had even less business being in the 8 than the Knights. They won't win the close games that got them there this time but will still cop some floggings
Bulldogs - They have bought everyone so maybe that will work but I can't put them in the next group until they show me something on the field
Manly - I think they are on a long road of failure with Siebold in charge. Turbo will keep them well away from the spoon though.
I look forward to this being laughably wrong.