For Better or worse............

[dangerousdave]

There is a train of thought that Chase Stanley could nullify Gasnier's loss. Therefore, as good as Darius was I'm wondering whether he will be as bigger loss as Costigan and Smith?

I'm also wondering whether Penrith are real underdog material, with a backline featuring Gordon, Jennings and Coote, and better discipline with the coaching changes?

I also note the absence of comment on the Gold Coast. They have to improve, surely?

That train of thought includes Vidot. Hes bulked up heaps and as long as he's kept his pace will be a force in the centres.

As far as Darius goes, he had a pretty rubbish year. I think Style or Kemp could easily do a better job.

 

[NAS]

Souths- tough one. With the likes of burgess, taylor, inglis and Luke in the same team, and a pretty decent support cast, you'd think the team should be challenging for the title...alas those players were there last year...I think they'll finish in that 6-10 area.

Penrith- sorry panther fans...lost most of your leadership group...cleary is a long term coach and he will give you value come 2014, but next year? I'm sorry there's just nt enough to like I'm afraid. I fear 14th to 16th

St George- I really don't know about St George. So many unknowns. No Boyd, no gasnier, lost a bit of depth too....how does Jamie Soward go, being a senior player? Bennett got the best out of players like Weyman and Scott who were previously not even on the radar as players of the calibre they became...I think much depends on players like Young, Hunt and Creagh....players who were earmarked before Bennett, flourished under Bennett and know no other system really. I don't think the Scott's and the Weymans keep the form, but if the juniors perform, then you're evens to at least remain a mainstay of the finals...5th to 10th realistically.

 

[Loudstrat]

That train of thought includes Vidot. Hes bulked up heaps and as long as he's kept his pace will be a force in the centres.

As far as Darius goes, he had a pretty rubbish year. I think Style or Kemp could easily do a better job.

Yes, forgot Vidot. Can he cover fullback though? He has a lot of ability as a winger.

I suspect their forwards will maintain their toughness - Beau Scott came of age and those players rarely lose form, they just maintain a higher standards. Geez though I wish Creagh would ditch his f*cking barber or get some tatts or something. He's got so much potential but it's all blown because he just looks like the tenor in a baberbershop quartet running at you. He needs a week fishing with Hindy and Fui.

 

[StormHi]

There is a train of thought that Chase Stanley could nullify Gasnier's loss. Therefore, as good as Darius was I'm wondering whether he will be as bigger loss as Costigan and Smith?

I'm also wondering whether Penrith are real underdog material, with a backline featuring Gordon, Jennings and Coote, and better discipline with the coaching changes?

I also note the absence of comment on the Gold Coast. They have to improve, surely?

On the Titans...... They will go Worse Beu Im not a Champion is on their roster now Nuff said...................... :roll:

 

[StormHi]

Geez though I wish Creagh would ditch his f*cking barber or get some tatts or something. He's got so much potential but it's all blown because he just looks like the tenor in a baberbershop quartet running at you. He needs a week fishing with Hindy and Fui.

Hahaha they would use pretty Boy as bait

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Only if they're fishing for Hodges...

 

[DRAGONZ_RULE]

The only thing that stops me from saying the Dragons WILL finish Top 4 is the fact that Brisbane were in a similar situation when Bennett left i.e. a level-headed coach with multiple years under Bennett coming in ... but they didn't do so well in those 2 seasons Henjak was in charge (albeit they did make a Prelim in his first season).

Boyd is a big loss, but his performances in the second half of 2011 were poor at best .. Kyle Stanley is a really, really good player, and he should do well this year.

Gasnier is another loss - more for his defence than his attack, in truth - but hopefully either C Stanley or Vidot can fill that void as well as possible .. that's a big unknown.

Other question marks surround the age of Hornby, Cooper, Fien, Young .. will really need Cam King to stay injury-free this season, and Mitch Rein will need to step up again.

Finally there is a question around Soward and how he will go post-Bennett .. I believe in him, but only time will really tell. If he fires, Dragons will finish at least top 6 .. if the rest falls into place, particularly adaptation to Steve Price, we could finish anywhere from 1-4.


Improvers: Gold Coast. Expect them to make the 8, or finish just outside it.

Decliners: Manly. A million reasons why.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Dogs, missing the 8 by for and against in 2011, with the addition of Graham our foward pack will be better.

With the kids like Kasiano, Taupau, Jackson, Finucane, Gavet, Browne pushing through we will be better off.

With the addition of Hasler we will improve a heap and hopefully stop the 20 minutes of crap during a game which cost us half our defeats. Hopefully can make Pritchard and co hit their straps too.

Ryan was great for us for several years but has been way off for a while, i think Ennis getting the C next to his name will be a big lift for the club, especially at least with talking to the refs.

Idris is a loss in attack no doubt, Lafai though looked the goods and is certainly far better in d.

There is more than one team in the competition you muppet. Read the first post ffs.

 

[Habitual Linestepper]

Parramatta - Can't do any worse than last year. Decent recruiting should make the year better. Lots of talent but not sure if Kearney is the man to get things going, especially if he continues with this overly structured boring shit. - Better

Penrith - Fckn no idea. Obviously Petero is a massive loss but having Cleary on board and Gus getting more time with the club will probably help improve things. Could go either way really. Should be bit better if injuries don't ruin Michael Gordan and Jennings decides to grow up. - Better

North Queensland - Can't see them not making the 8. If Thurston, Sims, Scott and Bowen all stay healthy they could be pushing top 4. - Better

 

[rooster1908]

South Sydney: 16th. They lack any kind of core to build their team around.

Sydney Roosters: 7th-12th. We have a great young forward pack but our backs are slight off the pace. This year was basically just be a waiting game for 2013 when we can really have a crack at the top again.

Wests Tigers: 3rd-8th. It's hard to gauge what theyll be like, but just by looking at the roster they should be there in September. Adam Blair will be a good addition.

 

[Hanscholo]

Rothfield, coming out with his expert opinion on things....

Like anyone cares what he thinks, honestly, nobody respects the bloke, either in the game or outside of it.

I find his entire expose amusing, like an 8 year old doing a school newspaper.

 

[adamkungl]

Like anyone cares what he thinks, honestly, nobody respects the bloke, either in the game or outside of it.

Truest words ever spoken on LU

 

[Miller was a legend]

Worse... I got married
Better... I got divorced

All good now

 

[firechild]

Improvers: Gold Coast. Expect them to make the 8, or finish just outside it.

Decliners: Manly. A million reasons why.

Looks like you might need to go back to kindergarten to re-learn the alphabet.

Manly: Unless they take out the MP and GF the only way is down and statistically this is highly likely. However, the squad is pretty similar with a little more experience this year. Only significant losses are on the wings but the replacements are good. I'd say we should still be top 4 and pushing for a premiership defense.

Newcastle: Big question mark. They have recruited well, they have plenty of talent but they've failed recently to combine their talent into good consistent performances. Bennett should be able to help with this. I would think they would be dissapointed finishing below 6th and that's pretty much where I expect them.

Melbourne: With Slater, Smith, Cronk and Widdop as the spine they will always be tough to beat. The loss of Blair will be huge and their forwards are on the whole quite unimpressive. I expect them to fall away but not by much, still expect 3rd-5th.

 

[joshie]

Melbourne - We will go one better and win the Grand Final in 2012. We did extremely well to come out with a underrated team, and 2010 benefited us by being able to blood young guys under no pressure what so ever. Now that they have felt the real pressure, they will learn how to deal with it and we will carry through to the big one to win it.

Manly - They will crash and burn. They have good halves but Dessie did so much for those kids and I think they will be shot for confidence under the big time lights without Des. They need to get a backline sorted out soon, as to me their backs are the most overrated in the comp.

Newcastle - They will defiantly improve but i don't see a title from them in one year. The knights are a bigger challenge the dragons ever were, so much so i dont think they will ever win under Bennett. Their recruitment is well done but they need that team to gel. its one thing to have names, but another for them to play together.

 

[Goddo]

Melbourne - We will go one better and win the Grand Final in 2012. We did extremely well to come out with a underrated team, and 2010 benefited us by being able to blood young guys under no pressure what so ever. Now that they have felt the real pressure, they will learn how to deal with it and we will carry through to the big one to win it.

Manly - They will crash and burn. They have good halves but Dessie did so much for those kids and I think they will be shot for confidence under the big time lights without Des. They need to get a backline sorted out soon, as to me their backs are the most overrated in the comp.

Newcastle - They will defiantly improve but i don't see a title from them in one year. The knights are a bigger challenge the dragons ever were, so much so i dont think they will ever win under Bennett. Their recruitment is well done but they need that team to gel. its one thing to have names, but another for them to play together.

:lol:

Not sure if serious...

The Storm may go close but its cocky to be saying they will win it this far out. Top 4, but depth and forwards are worries for the Storm.

Newcastle will be a major threat, definately (not defiantly) top 8 this year.

Manly still have a class roster, and Toovey is no slouch. The collapse of Manly will happen in 2013 when all the players start ditching the club.

 

[dikefalos]

Melbourne - We will go one better and win the Grand Final in 2012. We did extremely well to come out with a underrated team, and 2010 benefited us by being able to blood young guys under no pressure what so ever. Now that they have felt the real pressure, they will learn how to deal with it and we will carry through to the big one to win it.

Manly - They will crash and burn. They have good halves but Dessie did so much for those kids and I think they will be shot for confidence under the big time lights without Des. They need to get a backline sorted out soon, as to me their backs are the most overrated in the comp.

Newcastle - They will defiantly improve but i don't see a title from them in one year. The knights are a bigger challenge the dragons ever were, so much so i dont think they will ever win under Bennett. Their recruitment is well done but they need that team to gel. its one thing to have names, but another for them to play together.

stewart williams lyon matai oldfield foran cherry evans
please find me a better club backline anywhere in the world.

 

[netic]

Tigers.... Have a good pack and will be there in September, just dont know if they can go all the way and win four in a row come finals, need to finish 1st or 2nd and lose week 1 of finals to get back down to earth.

Rabbitohs... will not finish in the 8, Sandow will be missed and big names will get injured.... predicted finish about 11th.

Warriors.... Think they will be genuine contendors and can only improve on last year, Need to see if Johnson and Maloney can back up last years form... we have seen that some years great young players one year seem to collapse the next.... 05-06 Tim Smith.....09/10 Mortimer and Hayne....

 

[mongoose]

Bulldogs - Will improve and could grab 7th or 8th but won't be contenders with those halves. Hasler is a good coach but not that good.

Broncos - I thought Lockyer was superb in his final season, so he will be a huge loss. It could be a case of Roosters post Fitler for the Broncos. Although I think Griffin is a smarter coach that Stuart. There is still a lot of quality in the side but big question marks over the spine. I'm actually tipping them to miss the top 8.

Raiders - I have no idea... I'm going to say 9th - 12th... which is an improvement sadly.

 

[Patorick]

The only thing that stops me from saying the Dragons WILL finish Top 4 is the fact that Brisbane were in a similar situation when Bennett left i.e. a level-headed coach with multiple years under Bennett coming in ... but they didn't do so well in those 2 seasons Henjak was in charge (albeit they did make a Prelim in his first season).

Boyd is a big loss, but his performances in the second half of 2011 were poor at best .. Kyle Stanley is a really, really good player, and he should do well this year.

Gasnier is another loss - more for his defence than his attack, in truth - but hopefully either C Stanley or Vidot can fill that void as well as possible .. that's a big unknown.

Other question marks surround the age of Hornby, Cooper, Fien, Young .. will really need Cam King to stay injury-free this season, and Mitch Rein will need to step up again.

Finally there is a question around Soward and how he will go post-Bennett .. I believe in him, but only time will really tell. If he fires, Dragons will finish at least top 6 .. if the rest falls into place, particularly adaptation to Steve Price, we could finish anywhere from 1-4.


Improvers: Gold Coast. Expect them to make the 8, or finish just outside it.

Decliners: Manly. A million reasons why.

Such as?