2025 ladder predictions

[Dragon Slayer]

I like this thread.

It confirms any suspicions I might have about certain people being totally farked in the head in here.

 

[Marshall_magic]

I like this thread.

It confirms any suspicions I might have about certain people being totally farked in the head in here.

If you post here you’re totally farked in the head. From someone who posts here and is totally farked in the head

 

[Vee]

Storm
Riff
Sharks
Drongos
Manly
Dogs
Cows
Phins

Bunnies
Knights
Roosters
Tigers
Raiders
Titans
Warriors
Eels
Dargons

 

[Dragon Slayer]

If you post here you’re totally farked in the head. From someone who posts here and is totally farked in the head

Another wooden spoon coming for the Tigpies! Bahahaha !!!!

 

[flippikat]

OK, my table.

Each group of 4 or 5 could honestly end in any order IMO, but I've ranked them all - just wouldnt be surprised if my top 4 or 5-8.. or even 14-17 are in different order

Top 4...

1 Storm (will be stronger)
2 Panthers (will dip, but surely still top 4)
3 Bulldogs (continue the upwards progress)
4 Sharks (Holding steady)

Also in the 8...


5 Broncos (rebounding back up)
6 Warriors (will have a stable squad & thus improve)
7 Rabbitohs (Just make it in, but no big impact in the playoffs)
8 Sea-Eagles (scrape in)

Unlucky

9 Cowboys
10 Knights
11 Dolphins
(Inconsistancy, injuries, you name it.. just the kinda things that make teams barely miss the 8)
12 Eels (Wont tumble as badly as some think - the thrill of a fresh start/new coach will keep things keen)
13 Tigers (a slow start to the season will cost them, BUT after they start to click mid-year, they will wreck some teams top 4 or top 8 chances with upsets at the back-end)

Battle for (avoiding) the Spoon

14 Titans (The wild card in this group - and maybe the whole competition... COULD easily be higher, could easily implode and get the spoon. Roll one of those Dungeons & Dragons dice! )

15 Roosters (Window closing, for sure.. and all I can say is IF they bottom-out with a spoon, that's still a season or two away...)

16 Raiders (by all rights, Ricky should be gone by year-end, so extension coming soon?? Hahaha)

17 Dragons (I haven't seen anything to indicate they'll improve.. so they look a good choice here - the other teams in this group look like they can beat them too)

 

[Marshall_magic]

Another wooden spoon coming for the Tigpies! Bahahaha !!!!

Mate you’re totally farked in the head if you think we’re coming last……is something that someone totally farked in the head would say.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Mate you’re totally farked in the head if you think we’re coming last……is something that someone totally farked in the head would say.

Talk to me about your forward pack.

 

[This Year?]

After the off season signings are being completed the ladder is looking more clearer as the season is approaching, so here is my revised 2025 ladder prediction:
1. Merged scum
2. Merged scum
3-17. All the other non-merged scum clubs.

 

[Marshall_magic]

Talk to me about your forward pack.

Klemmer is there

But I guess Bateman and Papali’i are not

 

[Saxon]

After the off season signings are being completed the ladder is looking more clearer as the season is approaching, so here is my revised 2025 ladder prediction:
1. Merged scum
2. Merged scum
3-17. All the other non-merged scum clubs.

Sure they're not your Race-for-the-Spoon predictions?

 

[Macedonian Dragon]

My opinion.

Side note: whenever i predict my team the Dragons i usually get it right or very close. (I predicted us to come 12th in 2024 and we came 11th). So i promise you the bookies are wrong for predicting us to come last haha

1. Storm (best team on paper and the best spine. Added Stefano and didn't lose anyone major)
2. Panthers (top 2 team, lost key players but made great signings)
3. Sharks (added one of the best props in Fonua-Blake, big year ahead)
4. Broncos (signed ben hunt and have one of the best spines. So much quality and Madge will get them firing)
5. Manly (Solid team with elite players in key positions)
6. Roosters (strong team although lost many key players but have good young players)
7. Rabbitohs (Wayne Bennett will get them playing well and they have lots of quality. Hooker position is weak after Cook leaving and the halves combo is questionable)
8. Bulldogs (great defence but don't have enough elite players or a big prop to put them higher)
9. Dragons (made great experienced signings, have an elite hooker rotation and a great fullback, backrowers and centres but not a good enough 7 or star prop to push to next level)
10. Dolphins (solid signings but lost Wayne Bennett and some good players)
11. Cowboys (great spine but lost too many good experienced players and will lose key players in origin)
12. Raiders (great forward pack, tough gritty team but not enough class and lost few experienced players)
13. Titans (great forward pack but can't defend and too many questions about who plays in the halves. Playing players out of position to fit every good player in the team doesn't work)
14. Eels (made good signings but lost key experienced players, elite halves pairing but forwards are lacking and have one of the worst hooker rotations along with a rookie fullback. Will take time to gel with new players and get used to Jason Ryles coaching)
15. Tigers (made great signings but also lost key players and can't defend. Have come last 3 years in a row and the team is accustomed to losing. Will take time to change the losing mentality)
16. Knights (lost a key forward in Daniel Saifiti and haven't replaced him. One of the worst halves combo's in the comp. Not enough elite players outside of Ponga and Best to do much)
17. Warriors (lost too many elite and experienced players in Johnson, Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris. Fisher-Harris is a great replacement for Fonua-Blake but haven't properly replaced Johnson or Harris. Not enough top tier quality apart from RTS, Fisher-Harris and Barnett)

Teams finishing bracket

Storm 1-2
Panthers 1-4
Sharks 2-5
Broncos 3-5
Manly 4-9
Roosters 5-12
Rabbitohs 6-9
Bulldogs 6-9
Dragons 7-12
Dolphins 8-13
Cowboys 7-13
Raiders 9-14
Titans 9-14
Eels 9-15
Tigers 12-17
Knights 14-17
Warriors 14-17

 

[Valheru]

1. Storm - Expecting more of the same from last year. They will win the MP by at least 2 wins and this time they won't falter in the GF. From that aspect this makes it the most predictable season in some time IMO.
2. Sharks - I think with a lot of change from the other top teams around them, this will be their best chance to push for a 2nd title. Unfortunately for them Melbourne are far superior
3. Dogs - They have their flaws but there is a bit of a power vacuum this season outside the storm. They were on an upward trajectory last year so expecting them to kick on.
4 Manly - Pretty much the same as dogs. Others around them have gotten worse whilst they maintain stability

5 PENRITH - With the roster changes they will certainly exit the top 2, they would have done so last year if not for that disaster the roosters had against Canberra (Not saying the outcome in finals would have been different). The reason I put them down to 5th is a) they don't have the same ability to cover Cleary if he misses games now that Luai is gone and b) the home ground factor. IMO playing at commbank will lead to two more losses than they otherwise would have had.
6 Souffs - The Bennett factor is a proven commodity and whether people on here like it or not, he will have Latrell at his best. I still think they have issues in the forwards limiting their rise
7 Roosters - We don't have any legitimate chance to win the comp this year unless the young kids provide something epic but the fall won't be anywhere as drastic as a lot of people predict. 2026 will see a bounce back
8 Dragons - This is a pick for the coach as opposed to the rest of the team. I think he has them on a good trajectory and they are as good a chance as any of sneaking in to the 8

9 Broncos - This one could be wildly wrong either way. I know the popular pick is a big bounce back under Madge but I need to see it to believe it so sticking them here.
10 Cowboys - Another that could be way higher but their defence was atrocious last year even though they finished 5th so expecting regression.
11 Tigers - Expecting a positive year from the tigers moving towards a finals push in 2026. They have some good buys in the forwards and Luai is a proven winner who on his own will get them two wins in games they wouldn't have won last year.
12 Knights - The definition of a one man team and their coach sucks

13 Raiders - Got some good young kids coming through but think this year will be a tough slog for them
14 Warriors - Hard to see what they have done from last year to improve and they have lost both Johnson and their captain Harris now. Might get a bit higher on the back of some great home crowds.
15 Dolphins - I've got big fears for the Dolphins with an aging roster in the post Bennett period. Losing Bennett never leads to success and IMO they are the least equipped to break that trend with maybe the exception of Newcastle.
16 Titans - A franchise going absolutely nowhere
17 Eels - I think they are better than some of the teams above them but I'm expecting them to implode due to the contract situations of Brown and Moses. Gutherson will be a huge loss as a leader

 

[mongoose]

Titans have one of the better teams on paper imo. I think they will climb. I know they disappoint so often though.

Tigers have a very decent roster now too, if they can't avoid the spoon then that club is done, they will NEVER make finals.

 

[Vic Mackey]

My opinion.

Side note: whenever i predict my team the Dragons i usually get it right or very close. (I predicted us to come 12th in 2024 and we came 11th). So i promise you the bookies are wrong for predicting us to come last haha

1. Storm (best team on paper and the best spine. Added Stefano and didn't lose anyone major)
2. Panthers (top 2 team, lost key players but made great signings)
3. Sharks (added one of the best props in Fonua-Blake, big year ahead)
4. Broncos (signed ben hunt and have one of the best spines. So much quality and Madge will get them firing)
5. Manly (Solid team with elite players in key positions)
6. Roosters (strong team although lost many key players but have good young players)
7. Rabbitohs (Wayne Bennett will get them playing well and they have lots of quality. Hooker position is weak after Cook leaving and the halves combo is questionable)
8. Bulldogs (great defence but don't have enough elite players or a big prop to put them higher)
9. Dragons (made great experienced signings, have an elite hooker rotation and a great fullback, backrowers and centres but not a good enough 7 or star prop to push to next level)
10. Dolphins (solid signings but lost Wayne Bennett and some good players)
11. Cowboys (great spine but lost too many good experienced players and will lose key players in origin)
12. Raiders (great forward pack, tough gritty team but not enough class and lost few experienced players)
13. Titans (great forward pack but can't defend and too many questions about who plays in the halves. Playing players out of position to fit every good player in the team doesn't work)
14. Eels (made good signings but lost key experienced players, elite halves pairing but forwards are lacking and have one of the worst hooker rotations along with a rookie fullback. Will take time to gel with new players and get used to Jason Ryles coaching)
15. Tigers (made great signings but also lost key players and can't defend. Have come last 3 years in a row and the team is accustomed to losing. Will take time to change the losing mentality)
16. Knights (lost a key forward in Daniel Saifiti and haven't replaced him. One of the worst halves combo's in the comp. Not enough elite players outside of Ponga and Best to do much)
17. Warriors (lost too many elite and experienced players in Johnson, Fonua-Blake and Tohu Harris. Fisher-Harris is a great replacement for Fonua-Blake but haven't properly replaced Johnson or Harris. Not enough top tier quality apart from RTS, Fisher-Harris and Barnett)

Teams finishing bracket

Storm 1-2
Panthers 1-4
Sharks 2-5
Broncos 3-5
Manly 4-9
Roosters 5-12
Rabbitohs 6-9
Bulldogs 6-9
Dragons 7-12
Dolphins 8-13
Cowboys 7-13
Raiders 9-14
Titans 9-14
Eels 9-15
Tigers 12-17
Knights 14-17
Warriors 14-17

Find those brackets way way too narrow. It only takes one longterm injury or club scandal for any club to spiral down the ladder. Look at the Broncos and Eels from 2024, no one had them 12th and 15th at the start of the year. Some clubs have very high ceilings and very low floors. Manly would be a prime example of this for me, have quality players to beat anyone and challenge for the comp, but one hammy injury away from stinking it up in the bottom 4.

 

[Vic Mackey]

Titans have one of the better teams on paper imo. I think they will climb. I know they disappoint so often though.

I agree

Ill tell you one thing about them, they are one of only four teams that have two premiership winners in their spine. Funnily enough Wests are one of the four too.

 

[mongoose]

I agree

Ill tell you one thing about them, they are one of only four teams that have two premiership winners in their spine. Funnily enough Wests are one of the four too.

The Kini/Campbell/Brimson juggling is a nice headache for Des to have.