Dave Ronalds has a look at the 2005 NRL Season and how the 15 clubs will shape up this season.
1st PARRAMATTA EELS
Brian Smith has recruited excellent this year and finally the Supercoach will get his first Premiership. PJ Marsh has been training extremely well and is over his neck problems. Marsh will solve the Eels halfback woes. The forward pack will be awesome with captain Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh, Glenn Morrison, Daniel Wagon, Paul Stringer, Mark Riddell and the tough as nails Michael Vella all in the mix. Timana Tahu gives the Eels so much spark outwide. Expect a massive revival this year and the Premiership the Eels were robbed off in 2001 will be here in 2005. Smith is the most astute judge in the game and the great man will reap the awards he richly deserves. With Dennis Fitzgerald as boss Parramatta have the best setup in the business.
2nd SYDNEY ROOSTERS
Unfortunately for the Roosters they will appear in three successive Grand Finals and lose to three different teams. The Roosters have recruited well in 2005 but the loss of Brad Fittler will hurt them. Watch for Brett Finch however to firmly step into Fittler's shoes and establish himself as a genuine star in the game. Adrian Morley gives the Roosters pack plenty of starch and mongrel. The loss of Justin Hodges will be a bonus for them. Once again will be front runners and will be boosted by announcing the signing of Mason or Williams for the 2006 season but will fall short at the final hurdle. It's a shame for them as they were robbed last year.
3rd NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
The new power in the game. Emerged last year and that experience will do them good. Former Parramatta halfback Graham Murray is doing a great job as coach of the Cowboys. Matt Bowen has established himself as a star in the game and they have a good forward pack led by Paul Rauhihi and Shane Tronc. The new signings of Carl Webb and Johnathan Thurston will be great for them.
4th ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
They have been an inconsistent side but did show good signs last year that it was slowly disappearing out of their game. They were unluckily knocked out in the opening week of the Finals after a disappointing first two minutes on top of woeful efforts from the Bulldogs and Broncos. Shaun Timmins retirement from representative football will be a plus for the Dragons. Its a club top heavy with superstars. The acid test is on coach Nathan Brown and hell get them to the final four.
5th PENRITH PANTHERS
The 2003 Premiers fell one game short of the Grand Final in 2004 and proved that 2003 wasnt a one-off fluke. Penrith have been quiet in the market place but have lost Ryan Girdler, Martin Lang, Paul Whaturia and Amos Roberts. The Panthers depth will be tested but they have a big Junior League where no doubt a new star will emerge. Penrith will once again be competitive and will have their moments of brilliance during the season. A lack of depth will see them fall short in the Finals.
6th NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
The return of Andrew Johns will bring life back into the Novacastrians and Newcastle will be one of the leading teams again. After becoming lucky in 2001 the Knights have struggled with Johns unable to complete any of the last three seasons. Im expecting Johns to make a triumphant return and will lead Newcastle all the way to the finals. Like Penrith they have a lack of depth and that will stop them making the final four.
7th NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
Steven Price and Ruben Wiki will bring much-needed discipline and intensity to the Warriors outfit. They are a club that can score points from anywhere on the football field and trouble the best of teams but couldnt sustain it for 80 minutes and poor discipline let them down. Price is a good choice for captain and will prove to be the best buy any club could make. Nathan Fien is also a good signing and came of age during the Cowboys end of season run last year. The form of Stacey Jones is a key but with Fien in the ranks the Warriors have the halves positions covered.
8th BRISBANE BRONCOS
Will limp into the Finals as they always do but be knocked out immediately. The Broncos have always been good starters but lose their way heading into the latter rounds. The loss of Gorden Tallis will be a huge blow to the Broncos as he provided excellent leadership and inspiration. Pressure will fall onto Darren Lockyer to provide the leadership, inspiration and organise the team around the park plus create all the tries. Lockyer is an outstanding player but with no support around him Brisbane will struggle.
9th CRONULLA SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Stuart Raper brought stability back to the Sharks last year and theyve been quiet in the player market except for the return of Adam Dykes. He was a disaster at Parramatta but will enjoy a return back to his local club. The Sharks will enjoy the benefits of a full off-season under Raper and away from all the dramas Chris Anderson caused them. Brett Kimmorley will need to lift his game and prove he can play club football as good as Test football. A lack of depth and impact in the forward pack will see the Sharks fall ever so close from the Finals.
10th MELBOURNE STORM
Matt Orford, Scott Hill and Cameron Smith gives the Storm a strong halves and hooker combination but outside of them and their top 13 they struggle. Future of the Melbourne Storm will again hang over their heads with small crowd support demanding that Melbournes future in the game to be assessed with the Central Coast and Gold Coast both worthy clubs to play in the Premiership. The loss of captain Stephen Kearney will be a big loss for the Storm and the uncertainty about the clubs future will plague them this year.
11th BULLDOGS
The luckiest club to ever play the game and even luckier to win the Grand Final last year. They will enjoy a remarkable fall not seen by a club since their fall in 1996. The Bulldogs have lost the one man that held that club together during their long list of scandals. Without Steve Price they will start to fall apart. Expect Willie Mason, Braith Anasta and Sonny Bill Williams to leave mid season and put the club through unbelievable turmoil. What they achieved last year was a myth and will be exposed this year.
12th MANLY WARRINGAH SEA EAGLES
Manly have added Ben Kennedy, Brent Kite and Michael Witt to their stable and have only lost Ian Donnelly and Albert Torrens. If Kennedy can stay fit than the Sea Eagles will be a competitive outfit. Michael Witt was unwanted by the Eels after he was trialed and failed at halfback. He may do a Tonga and fluke one good year but that will be it. Des Hasler will have Manly super fit heading into the new season but a lack of depth and Kennedys proneness to injuries will cut their season short of expectations.
13th CANBERRA RAIDERS
Trouble has hit the Nations Capital in the off-season losing Brad Drew, Mark McLinden, Ruben Wiki, Joel Monaghan and Luke Davico. The signing of Lincoln Withers is a good one but both Jason Smith and Matt Adamson are dubious. The Raiders snuck into 8th position last year but are on a downward spiral.
14th WESTS TIGERS
The loss of Scott Sattler and other experienced players will harm the Tigers this year. They have put a heap of reliance on injury prone halves Scott Prince and Benji Marshall. The loss of one of those players will see the Tigers struggle to score points and Sattlers work-rate in defence will be telling with more points leaked in this year. They are a young side and will struggle.
15th SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
I cant see Souths removing themselves from last position despite snaring Shannon Hegarty and Peter Cusack in the off-season. Adam MacDougall is already struggling with injury and theres next to no chance hell play more than 10 games. Shaun McRae will have his hands full in his first year of coaching at the NRL. Hell be wishing he never left Hull.
