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2024 Predictions

murraymob

Coach
Messages
10,099
Ju
Yeah its looking bad for the big bald BRAAAAD Arthur here on these predictions, along with simple jack at the wabbits being a dud, lets see if he suits that shade of green
just waiting on ryhno to come out and support him ultimate kiss of death.Arthur should be given a extension of 20 years
 

Luke Bowden

First Grade
Messages
6,913
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Raiders, Sharks
News teams in the 8: Rabbits, Manly
Our biggest threats:
Broncos
Our rookie of the year:
Henry
Our best player:
Edwards
Surprise packet(s):
Bullldogs
Underachiever(s):
Roosters
1st coach sacked:
BA
Other coaches sacked this year:
No Others
Wooden spooners:
West Tigers
Buy of the year:
Critter
Dud buy of the year:
RTS
Biggest talking point: “Return of the Bears”
Which former Panther will return home in 2025: Terrell May
 

Sime_11

Juniors
Messages
1,497
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Raiders & Knights
News teams in the 8: Cowboys & Dolphins
Our biggest threats:
Storm
Our rookie of the year:
Sommerton
Our best player:
Edwards
Surprise packet(s):
Titans (just missing the 8)
Underachiever(s):
Knights
1st coach sacked:
Ciraldo
Other coaches sacked this year:
O'Brien & Arthur (if Eels implode)
Wooden spooners:
Dragons
Buy of the year:
Flegler & Farnworth
Dud buy of the year:
Wighton
Biggest talking point:
Papenhuyzen resurrects the Storm team to be feared of previous years
Which former Panther will return home in 2025:
Ciraldo or Kikau
 

Fangs

Coach
Messages
11,545
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Knights, Sharks
News teams in the 8: Parramatta, Rabbits
Our biggest threats: Warriors
Our rookie of the year: Cole
Our best player: Cleary
Surprise packet(s): Dolphins
Underachiever(s): Sharks
1st coach sacked: Adam O'Brien
Other coaches sacked this year: Nil
Wooden spooners: Tigers
Buy of the year: Luke Brooks
Dud buy of the year: Jayden Sullivan
Biggest talking point: No one can stop Penrith
Which former Panther will return home in 2025: Brent Naden

Cooked up some good ones here.

Parramatta back to the 8 and pushing the top 4 this year. They don't have a WC hangover to deal with and their players will stay out of nightclubs.

Luke Brooks will have a great year at Manly and wonder why he didn't leave the Tigers when he had the chance (*cough* Ivan *cough*).

Knights will flounder and AOB will last till around Origin time.
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
17,318
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Knights, Sharks
News teams in the 8: Parramatta, Rabbits
Our biggest threats: Warriors
Our rookie of the year: Cole
Our best player: Cleary
Surprise packet(s): Dolphins
Underachiever(s): Sharks
1st coach sacked: Adam O'Brien
Other coaches sacked this year: Nil
Wooden spooners: Tigers
Buy of the year: Luke Brooks
Dud buy of the year: Jayden Sullivan
Biggest talking point: No one can stop Penrith
Which former Panther will return home in 2025: Brent Naden

Cooked up some good ones here.

Parramatta back to the 8 and pushing the top 4 this year. They don't have a WC hangover to deal with and their players will stay out of nightclubs.

Luke Brooks will have a great year at Manly and wonder why he didn't leave the Tigers when he had the chance (*cough* Ivan *cough*).

Knights will flounder and AOB will last till around Origin time.

Was that Parra's issue though? Their roster seems very ordinary and a terrible coach

Not to mention sides like Dolphins got better too
 

Fangs

Coach
Messages
11,545
Was that Parra's issue though? Their roster seems very ordinary and a terrible coach

Not to mention sides like Dolphins got better too

2022 grand finalists means they played a very long year. They aren't used to going that deep.

They had high representation at the WC. Granted other teams had reps as well but they started the year poorly just like we did. Lost 4/5 to start the year which really killed them later.

Moses picked for Origin II and III. Lost Josh Hodgson at the halfway point of the season who retired and literally at the same time lost Dylan Brown due to suspension. All excuses in the end but it paints a picture. Disruption in the spine hurts any team. They got pumped by Warriors/Brisbane/Melbourne towards the end of the year and were only 2 points outside the 8 by the final round.

Normally I look for sides to improve their squad so I can justify them making the 8 the year after. In this instance I think there is enough turmoil to suggest they underachieved in 2023. I don't think top 8 is a stretch at all and could feasibly see them make the top 4.
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
17,318
2022 grand finalists means they played a very long year. They aren't used to going that deep.

They had high representation at the WC. Granted other teams had reps as well but they started the year poorly just like we did. Lost 4/5 to start the year which really killed them later.

Moses picked for Origin II and III. Lost Josh Hodgson at the halfway point of the season who retired and literally at the same time lost Dylan Brown due to suspension. All excuses in the end but it paints a picture. Disruption in the spine hurts any team. They got pumped by Warriors/Brisbane/Melbourne towards the end of the year and were only 2 points outside the 8 by the final round.

Normally I look for sides to improve their squad so I can justify them making the 8 the year after. In this instance I think there is enough turmoil to suggest they underachieved in 2023. I don't think top 8 is a stretch at all and could feasibly see them make the top 4.

The loss of Hodgson is the big one, Add to that Arthur in his wisdom going against the grain and saying he wants only one hooker.

The 2024 Eels squad is missing 7 from that GF team, Not sure Fringe Manly guys will fill the void.

Arthur's bench usage mean they don't develop depth either, see how it plays out but they look stuck in mud
 

Bred not Bought

Juniors
Messages
393
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Canberra and Cronulla
News teams in the 8: Souths and Titans
Our biggest threats: Brisbane and Warriors
Our rookie of the year: Cole
Our best player: Luai
Surprise packet(s): Titans and the further improvement of the Warriors
Underachiever(s): Cowboys and Parramatta.
1st coach sacked: Brad Arthur
Other coaches sacked this year: Benji. Bellamy retires too
Wooden spooners: Tigers
Buy of the year: RTS
Dud buy of the year: Crichton (carrying a niggle already )
Biggest talking point: Luai backflips on Tigers!
Which former Panther will return home in 2025: Some lower grader I never heard of.
 

Michael Matral

Juniors
Messages
369
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Raiders, Sharks
News teams in the 8: Rabbitohs, Eels,
Our biggest threats: Broncos, Warriors, Storm if Paps remains injury free
Our rookie of the year: Sommerton (with defensive improvements) otherwise Jack Cole
Our best player: Nathan Cleary
Surprise packet(s): Dolphins - knocking on the door of the 8
Underachiever(s): Eels
1st coach sacked: Brad Arthur if they are travelling badly by Round 10
Other coaches sacked this year: Possibly Ciraldo
Wooden spooners: Tigers
Buy of the year: Cogger but Luke Brooks could surprise
Dud buy of the year: Jack Wighton
Biggest talking point: Parra to miss the 8 again
Which former Panther will return home in 2025: None, we have good enough pathways and signings for 25
 

hindy111

Post Whore
Messages
59,288
Was that Parra's issue though? Their roster seems very ordinary and a terrible coach

Not to mention sides like Dolphins got better too

Lane missed bulk of season
RCG 10 games
Jnr unfit
Dylan suspension.

Good roster.Great pack and one of better halves pairing in comp. Very good fullback. Should push top 5.
Coach is issue. Needs to be sacked if not top 5 with this side.
Sharks have easy draw so make 8.

Barring injuries Penrith get a 4 peat. Unsure who improves enugh to stop them??

Manly are the smokies. I put $50 on them at 35-1
 

hindy111

Post Whore
Messages
59,288
The loss of Hodgson is the big one, Add to that Arthur in his wisdom going against the grain and saying he wants only one hooker.

The 2024 Eels squad is missing 7 from that GF team, Not sure Fringe Manly guys will fill the void.

Arthur's bench usage mean they don't develop depth either, see how it plays out but they look stuck in mud

Who are missed from GF tho?
Waqa,N.Brown (Was cooked)
Kafusi, JA ...None would get in the side now.
Papali'i,Reed & Marata are losses.but Hopgood,Ofenghue & Bryce's form helps.
Add a kid called Morretti and the packs very good. Issue is a bush coach with no tactics.
 

Iamback

Coach
Messages
17,318
Who are missed from GF tho?
Waqa,N.Brown (Was cooked)
Kafusi, JA ...None would get in the side now.
Papali'i,Reed & Marata are losses.but Hopgood,Ofenghue & Bryce's form helps.
Add a kid called Morretti and the packs very good. Issue is a bush coach with no tactics.

Your last line sums it up.

Players don't develop under Arthur, The use of the bench is poor and as such the depth is lacking.
 

BossleyPanther

Juniors
Messages
2,169
I don't rate the Roosters halves, but everywhere else is genuine quality. Maybe my dark horse. If I was honest I would say we should get to the GF, but I think we will come short. 2 years ago I didn't think Crichton was a big lose, but now I'm worried about our left edge. It will take time to click I believe.
 

Munky

Coach
Messages
10,530
I don't rate the Roosters halves, but everywhere else is genuine quality. Maybe my dark horse. If I was honest I would say we should get to the GF, but I think we will come short. 2 years ago I didn't think Crichton was a big lose, but now I'm worried about our left edge. It will take time to click I believe.

Their spine isn't particularly balanced.

Keary, Teddy and Smith are all ball runners.

Walker is a ball player but is still overplaying his hand and goes for the big play rather than managing the situation.
 

Black Magik

Juniors
Messages
873
Which side(s) from the top 8 last year misses out: Raiders
News teams in the 8: Sea Eagles
Our biggest threats:
Broncos Roosters Storm
Our rookie of the year:
Cole
Our best player:
Cleary
Surprise packet(s):
Sea Eagles Titans
Underachiever(s):
Rabbits
1st coach sacked:
Ceraldo
Other coaches sacked this year:
None
Wooden spooners:
Dragons
Buy of the year:
Critta
Dud buy of the year:
Leila’s
Biggest talking point:
Bulldogs misfiring despite Crittas influence.
Which former Panther will return home in 2025: None
 
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