2024 Ladder predictions

[firechild]

I wasn't trying to take anything away from Manly, but given Storm were over the cap (admittedly minus Smith in the GF), were the current Premiers with basically the same team and Minor Premiers, I don't think you can lose a GF 40 - 0 without an element of bed shitting.

Anyway the original point I was challenging was that Storm have regularly shit the bed in the finals. More commonly I think it was other teams having an extra gear in finals they rarely had. They played pretty much as well in the regular season as in the finals which rarely cuts it.

Oh I get where you're coming from and largely agree. I think you're last point is probably the key. I think when they have won (including the stripped titles) it was mostly against teams that just didn't have that extra gear. Parra 2009 for example had to be at their best just to reach the gf, the Cowboys in 2017 Bradbury'd their way to the gf, neither had that extra gear. Manly were a deer in headlights in 2007, similar to Penrith in 2020. Teams like Manly 2008, the Sharks 2016 and Roosters 2018 had an extra gear and Melbourne didn't have their regular advantage.

 

[SpaceMonkey]

2011 stands out for me

Losing to a warriors team in the prelim who finished 6th and got belted by 30 in week 1.

It (justifiably) resulted in the removal of the old finals system.

Why?! Storm had home advantage in that game, they lost fair and square to a Warriors side who were forced to make it to the grand final the hard way by getting belted in week one

 

[Valheru]

Why?! Storm had home advantage in that game, they lost fair and square to a Warriors side who were forced to make it to the grand final the hard way by getting belted in week one

Because I don't believe in an 8 team system that the team finishing 6th should get a 2nd chance.

The warriors got an easier opponent (theoretically) in week 2 than they had in week 1 after getting smacked.

 

[blue bags]

Raiders. Bulldogs
Top 8

 

[dogz08]

Bulldogs are winning this weak comp

 

[skeepe]

I've just gone through every match remaining this season with my unbiased eye and run it through the NRL ladder predictor, and this is how the regular season will shake out.

1. Canberra Raiders
2. Melbourne Storm
3. Penrith Panthers
4. The Dolphins
5. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
6. St. George-Illawarra Dragons
7. Wests Tigers
8. Gold Coast Titans

9. New Zealand Warriors
10. Brisbane Broncos
11. Sydney Roosters
12. North Queensland Cowboys
13. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
14. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
15. Newcastle Knights
16. South Sydney Rabbitohs
17. Parramatta Eels

 

[soc123_au]

I've just gone through every match remaining this season with my unbiased eye and run it through the NRL ladder predictor, and this is how the regular season will shake out.

1. Canberra Raiders
2. Melbourne Storm
3. Penrith Panthers
4. The Dolphins
5. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
6. St. George-Illawarra Dragons
7. Wests Tigers
8. Gold Coast Titans

9. New Zealand Warriors
10. Brisbane Broncos
11. Sydney Roosters
12. North Queensland Cowboys
13. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
14. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
15. Newcastle Knights
16. South Sydney Rabbitohs
17. Parramatta Eels

Impressive, you have a keen eye for Rugba Leeg. Maybe swap the Tigers and Titans, but thats just being pedantic.

 

[t-ba]

I've just gone through every match remaining this season with my unbiased eye and run it through the NRL ladder predictor, and this is how the regular season will shake out.

1. Canberra Raiders
2. Melbourne Storm
3. Penrith Panthers
4. The Dolphins
5. Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
6. St. George-Illawarra Dragons
7. Wests Tigers
8. Gold Coast Titans

9. New Zealand Warriors
10. Brisbane Broncos
11. Sydney Roosters
12. North Queensland Cowboys
13. Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
14. Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles
15. Newcastle Knights
16. South Sydney Rabbitohs
17. Parramatta Eels

The biggest shock here is that the Knights are so high tbh.

 

[MugaB]

The biggest shock here is that the Knights are so high tbh.

Biggest shock was you bought his "unbiased eye" tag, and Canberra is on top of the ladder

 

[t-ba]

Biggest shock was you bought his "unbiased eye" tag, and Canberra is on top of the ladder

Why wouldn't Skeepe have the Raiders on the top of the ladder?

 

[Mr. Shaman]

Biggest shock was you bought his "unbiased eye" tag, and Canberra is on top of the ladder

You sweet summer child

 

[MugaB]

You sweet summer child

Nothing wrong with stating the obvious

 

[skeepe]

Nah, @t-ba knows what’s up.

 

[blue bags]

Dargons 7th now
Dargons top 8

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Sharks have successfully navigated their hard part of the draw.

Nothing going to stop us now getting the minor Premiership!

Penrith should finish 2nd or 3rd.

It will be the 1967 teams into the GF!

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

Sharks have successfully navigated their hard part of the draw.

Nothing going to stop us now getting the minor Premiership!

Penrith should finish 2nd or 3rd.

It will be the 1967 teams into the GF!

Sharks can't play finals footy period. That's their biggest monkey on their backs. Minor premierships nobody talks about years after lol

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Sharks can't play finals footy period. That's their biggest monkey on their backs. Minor premierships nobody talks about years after lol

lol.

Thanks for AFB and enjoy the bottom half of the ladder as usual Sheep Shagger!

 

[Wheeled Warrior]

lol.

Thanks for AFB and enjoy the bottom half of the ladder as usual Sheep Shagger!

AFB is an awesome signing. Addin alone won't win you a competition though.
You need that whole squad humming and win some finals games.
I don't hate the Sharks so sorry if the comment I made was a bit blunt.
My son is a Sharks fan. I don't mind them myself as now Paul Gallen is not in the team
The puzzle to work out is to win those finals matches in which I'm sure Craig and co are working out.

Good luck for the remainder of the season.

 

[Grizzman]

lol.

Thanks for AFB and enjoy the bottom half of the ladder as usual Sheep Shagger!

lol, straight into the abuse and WW responds with grace. Someone is bitter and someone is an adult and they are not the same people

 

[mongoose]

Virtually at the halfway point now...

Top 4 will be Panthers, Sharks, Storm, Roosters

You would have to think the Bulldogs make the top 8 from here.
Broncos have been disappointing in recent weeks but they will make the top 8.
Warriors are just outside the 8, I expect them to climb back up the ladder.

One of the Raiders or Dolphins will drop out of the 8, probably us with our terrible F&A.

Dragons have been better than expected but can't see them finishing top 8.
Another disappointing season for the Cowboys. Their defence is awful.

1. Sharks
2. Storm
3. Panthers
4. Roosters
5. Broncos
6. Bulldogs
7. Warriors
8. Dolphins

9. Raiders
10. Sea Eagles
11. Dragons
12. Cowboys
13. Rabbitohs
14. Knights
15. Titans
16. Eels
17. Tigers