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</H2>By Christopher Boyd
foxsports.com.au
February 22, 2010 The only good thing about summer ending is the return of rugby league. We reckon 2010 is going to be a big year for the sport - and here's 10 of the biggest reasons why.
But what's a look-ahead to a highly-anticipated NRL season without your opinions? Go on, tell us we're on the money ... or off our rocker! Email Us your hopes and forecasts for the season ahead. We want to know what's on your mind.
OUR BIG 10 IN 2010:
1. NSW to save State of Origin
With Queensland having won the past four Origin series, New South Wales are staring down the barrel of interstate embarrassment. But the Blues will draw confidence from winning last year's dead-rubber in Queensland and have the advantage of playing two games in Sydney this year. Combine that with the uncertainty over ageing Maroons captain Darren Lockyer and the code-switch of Karmichael Hunt, and the Blues will bounce back in 2010.
2. Bad boys to come good
Two of the NRL's serial villains, Todd Carney and Greg Bird, return this season, and if all goes to plan both will be heavily in contention for NSW selection. Carney's self-imposed booze ban will allow fans to see the best of him at Sydney Roosters. Meanwhile, Bird is a huge acquisition for Gold Coast Titans, who will firm as title contenders if he can conjure a good partnership with halfback Scott Prince. The 26-year-old has performed for the Blues at Origin level before and is a good bet to fight it out with Carney for the five-eighth position.
3. Get on Ennis for the Dally M
After four clubs in his first seven seasons, it's easy to forget Michael Ennis is only 25 and yet to play his best football. After finding a home at Canterbury-Bankstown and thriving in partnership with Brett Kimmorley, Ennis is now a bona-fide leader with a premiership contender. With halves and hookers dominating Dally M honours until Jarryd Hayne bucked the trend last year, expect Ennis to show up perennial favourites Cameron Smith and Robbie Farah as the game's premier rake.Darkhorse ... Ennis on the verge of great things. Gregg Porteous
4. South Sydney: "On my signal, unleash hell"
We don't know how much Russell Crowe had to do with it, but Souths have acquired a gladiatorial forward pack. The addition of England star Sam Burgess and former Broncos powerhouse Dave Taylor means the Rabbits will look more like lions when they take the field in 2010. Burgess tore into Australia in last year's Four Nations, while Taylor's form at the end of 2009 had Broncos fans crying "don't go". With former Cronulla prop Ben Ross also joining Roy Asotasi and Michael Crocker, the Rabbitohs are primed to muscle their way deep into the finals.
5. Tahu and Tuqiri - T-T-Terrific
The frustration Timana Tahu endured from a mixed two-year stint in rugby is sure to be taken out on opposition defenders. The 29-year-old looks set to reclaim his status as one of the game's best centres, and his return will give the Eels every chance to go one better. Lote Tuqiri has filled out into a power winger since his code-switch, having not played in the NRL since 2002. The dual international is likely to play centre instead of fullback, and he should form a formidable left-side combination with Taniela Tuiaki.
6. Panthers on the move
Penrith haven't had much to cheer about in recent times, but a bunch of bargain recruits should see them push for a top-eight position for the first time since 2004. Former Wests Tigers enigma Daine Laurie has bulked up under new coach Matt Elliott, and is joined by former Canberra tackling-machine Nigel Plum. You can mark down hooker Kevin Kingston, who was instrumental in Parramatta's run to the 2009 grand final, as a contender for buy of the year. The club haven't ignored the backline either, picking up Travis Burns from the Cowboys, and adding handy speedsters Adrian Purtell, from Canberra, and former Cronulla winger David Simmons.
7. Eels to exact revenge
The NRL grand final is becoming a bit like the last day of a tennis grand slam - Roger Federer v who? Manly won't resume their rivalry of 2007-2008 after falling off the pace last season. Instead, the Bulldogs, St George Illawarra and Parramatta are the new heavyweight contenders. Who will be there on the first Sunday of October? Put your money on a grand final rematch, and like Manly did to Melbourne in 2008, expect the Eels to exact revenge in 2010.Benchmark ... will anyone stop the Storm? Gregg Porteous
8. Fall of an empire
Sorry Brisbane fans, but the Broncos are set to miss the finals for the first time in 19 years. Last season they conceded the third-most points in the NRL, making the finals thanks largely to a hot start to the year. However the loss of Hunt and Taylor, combined with injury concerns over Lockyer and Hodges, means coach Ivan Henjak will get a reality check - and the Broncos will get bucked out of the top eight.
9. Coaches looking over their shoulder
Kangaroos boss Tim Sheens will be getting hot under the collar if Wests Tigers aren't around the top-eight as September approaches. A Tigers squad boasting the likes of Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and Gareth Ellis is too talented to miss the finals for a fifth-straight season. Also, Ricky Stuart faces an anxious start to the year as he looks to solve Cronulla's woes, and off-contract Ivan Cleary has some work to do if he wants to stick around at the Warriors.
10. Wooden spoon specials
It's hard to get excited by Canberra's off-season recruiting. The Raiders notoriously struggle to attract high-calibre players and this year has been no different, forcing them to rely on a promising batch of juniors and a few wise old heads. Fellow 2009 strugglers Cronulla and the Roosters have had a large player turnover, which will signal a revival of their fortunes. If second-year coach David Furner doesn't get the best out of a committed, yet limited, squad, the wooden spoon will be air mailed into the nation's capital for the first time since 1982.
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,26749480-5018866,00.html
