Comp is Wide Open..

[Non Terminator]

I will second the "nothing is certain" calls. The eventual premiers could lose in the first week and cause havoc. It'll be an interesting one!

 

[Noa]

Nah...can't see Storm winning it. They are reliant on Inglis and if he does not fire then they will lose. The forward pack is also missing the likes of Manu and Proctor at the moment and need to step up.

My money is on the Dragons and I hate to say it but the Broncos will be sniffing around as well..

I tend to agree but this move of Blairy out wide could be a masterstroke and if Bromwich can step-up we could do a Tigers or Broncos.

 

[grouch]

Gould described it well last night:

"This comp is very equal - unless the Dragons play like this"

 

[Billythekid]

Much more open than the past few years, i think last year you could only say this time around that 3 sides could win it (manly, melbourne, sharks), but this year I can definately see the top 6 sides having a go for it.

I think the storm and sharks were just making up the numbers last year. Even if Manly had an off day in the GF i still think they would have won.

 

[Big Pete]

Dragons or Manly for mine.

Dragons showed what they're capable of last night while Manly go into the finals as the sleeping giants, if they wake up it's goodbye 09 for the rest of us.

 

[renouf]

Gould described it well last night:

"This comp is very equal - unless the Dragons play like this"

Haha.. yeah right, we beat them at their own game only a few weeks ago.. parramatta simply didn't play that tight grinding mistake free footy last night.. not sure whether they are capable of it or not, but thats the only way to beat the dragons. Storm and Broncos are the only sides capable of knocking off dragons IMO.

 

[flamin]

They say this every year but for once I could see any of the top 7 winning the comp.

 

[SilentAssassin]

Much more open than the past few years, i think last year you could only say this time around that 3 sides could win it (manly, melbourne, sharks), but this year I can definately see the top 6 sides having a go for it.

From here I think Parra may be early exiters, as they will be most likely be coming up against the same side that walloped them last night.

I agree that there were only 3 teams in it last year. But Sharks? lol Your kidding yourself.

Broncos would of gave Manly a much better grand final. Seeing as Bennett hasn't lost a GF with the Broncos.

Glad we got rid of Sims. Felt for Bronco fans that night.

 

[AJH]

Haha.. yeah right, we beat them at their own game only a few weeks ago.. parramatta simply didn't play that tight grinding mistake free footy last night.. not sure whether they are capable of it or not, but thats the only way to beat the dragons. Storm and Broncos are the only sides capable of knocking off dragons IMO.

Don't know about that. As they've shown over their three losses the Dragons are pretty good at beating the Dragons!;-)

I agree though, it's the most open comp I can remember in recent years. So why will the Dragons be labelled 'chokers' if they don't win?

AJ

 

[ME SO HORNBY!]

Please everyone write us off. Won 7 in a row to make the finals, then had a relatively unimportant game against the favourites who were absolutely busting for a win, and were missing 2 key players (1 of which was our heart and soul). It will be a totally different Parra side next week.

Mate you are deadset the most biased guy going around. I read the match thread in the Parra forum this morning and all you could say was 'Hindmarsh was out', 'Growthe was out', 'St George didnt outplay us, we just played crap'. Not once did you give the Dragons any credit for their performance. Seriously man wake up and smell the sh*t coming from your mouth. You guys were completely outclassed last night by a MUCH better team. It will take a HUGE effort to beat us should we meet next week, not just the fact that Hindmarsh is back.

 

[Shorty]

Nope I'm not willing to write off Parra yet and the Dogs versed a club that is basically bi polar.
So I'm still sticking to those two, Titans are probably really good value too.

 

[Cletus]

Dragons or Manly for mine.

Dragons showed what they're capable of last night while Manly go into the finals as the sleeping giants, if they wake up it's goodbye 09 for the rest of us.

Manly may be sleeping giants but I don't see us waking from our slumber. We've played like busteds for the last month or so and unless there is a massive turnaround we won't win it this year. Our fowards aren't going nearly as well as last year and it looks like our most consistent prop in Jason King is out for a few weeks. Can't see it happening, unfortunately.

Brisbane looked good last week and they've got the players but I still worry about their defence.
St George have been the most consistent this year but have shown their very beatable if their fowards are taken on. Should be the favourites though.
Bulldogs don't look likely without Noddy and I don't think they can stay in it until he's fit.
Parra will be dangerous if they are full strength. Last night showed they don't have a lot of depth. Still a good chance of winning this year.

I don't think the other teams have a realistic chance of winning the GF this year.

 

[macavity]

I dont think we will win it all, but IF we beat the panthers tomorrow we are a chance of upsetting the dogs. it would still be an upset, but it could well happen.

 

[kia ora storm]

Seeing Storm and Manly tonight...this comp is definitely open !!.

 

[scottyeel]

Mate you are deadset the most biased guy going around. I read the match thread in the Parra forum this morning and all you could say was 'Hindmarsh was out', 'Growthe was out', 'St George didnt outplay us, we just played crap'. Not once did you give the Dragons any credit for their performance. Seriously man wake up and smell the sh*t coming from your mouth. You guys were completely outclassed last night by a MUCH better team. It will take a HUGE effort to beat us should we meet next week, not just the fact that Hindmarsh is back.

Boo f**king hoo mate, the big bad parra fan didn't give your team any credit:lol::lol::lol:

 

[Gaba]

Seeing Storm and Manly tonight...this comp is definitely open !!.

l

the loser of storm vs manly could be out next week, the dogs finish 2nd twice since the mcintyre system came in and lost both times, i think dogs will lose again next week, be the 3rd time they have lost from 2nd

 

[Ridders]

l

the loser of storm vs manly could be out next week, the dogs finish 2nd twice since the mcintyre system came in and lost both times, i think dogs will lose again next week, be the 3rd time they have lost from 2nd

Yeah and one of those times we went on to achieve a little thing called being Premiership winners.

 

[Gaba]

Yeah and one of those times we went on to a achieve a little thing called being Premiership winners.

maybe in previous years but cant see it this year

 

[Pittwater Legend]

The Dogs have the composure and defensive steel to win next week even without Noddy.

The teams placed 7th and 8th will be competitive next week but I don't think they will get over their opponents.

 

[Ridders]

As much as i like our team, if we really want to win the title, Noddy is going to have to be at the helm. I think the universe would explode if a team won the premiership with Ben Roberts directing the ship. Roberts is at his damaging best when he is just picking his spots and allowing some else to orchestrate the majority of the kicking game.