Matthew Ellis
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Get a load of this, some of these are hilarious.
19 bold predictions for the 2019 NRL season
Anthony Griffin to be picked up by the Sharks
In the minds of many ‘Hook’ was unjustly punted by Phil Gould and the Panthers’ hierarchy — with the reason reportedly being he was too “old school”.
Yet before he was shown the door, the Panthers led the competition after 14 rounds and were on track for a top four finish.
The Sharks of course are now without a head coach, with assistants John Morris and Jim Dymock taking on the caretaker role with Shane Flanagan deregistered.
So respected is Griffin that he was sounded out by Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson to help out with the Super Rugby franchise’s attack.
The one sticking point is the relationship between Griffin and Sharks star Matt Moylan, which deteriorated badly, and resulted in Moylan being traded for James Maloney.
But Griffin has proven he can mend fractured relationships.
He and Peter Wallace parted ways on less than friendly terms at the Broncos when the coach moved him on. But together again at the Panthers the pair not only buried the hatchet but actually grew closer.
Panthers to miss finals
There is enormous pressure on a number of key people at the Panthers.
None more so than Ivan Cleary, who infamously ditched the Tigers mid-contract this year to return to the foot of the mountains.
Cleary wanted to coach his son and NSW halfback Nathan, and club supremo Phil Gould brought back the man he sacked just three years ago to lock up Nathan long-term.
This also places significant pressure on the 21-year-old playmaker, and of course Gould himself.
Whether all this affects the playing group remains to be seen, but one thing that certainly will is the loss of Blues utility Tyrone Peachey.
The ‘Peach’ has been the unsung hero at Penrith. He can cover any position and has arguably been their most dangerous attacking weapon in recent seasons.
Cowboys to win the premiership
They could only do it once while Immortal-in-waiting Johnathan Thurston was pulling the strings, and yet I’ve tipped them to win the competition in their first year without him.
That would be bold, if not for the masterful recruitment effort of the Cowboys ahead of the 2019 season.
Kangaroos lock Josh McGuire adds aggression, mongrel, go-forward and most importantly 100 per cent effort to their forward pack.
Even Wally Lewis admitted he was in shock the Broncos let him go.
“He could come up against his father and smash him to bits and wait until full-time to ask his dad how he was feeling,” the Immortal joked.
With McGuire joining the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean and Matt Scott, plus back-rowers of the ilk of Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper, they’ll have the competition’s best pack.
Michael Morgan has always played his best football when he’s the dominant playmaker, and they also have no shortage of big bodies in the backline to get their sets rolling from out of their own end.
With Ben Barba putting the polish on their attacking plays, and the two best finishers in the game outside him in Nene Macdonald and Kyle Feldt, they are in for a bumper year.
New look Maroons spine
Cameron Munster has made no secret of his desire to play fullback for the Storm, and being the player he is Kevin Walters will likely give him the option to play there for Queensland too.
Of course, it helps that they have plenty of playmaking options to choose from barring injury.
Michael Morgan and Daly Cherry-Evans should get the nod as starting halves, with Kalyn Ponga applying the blowtorch as the Knights’ new No.6.
Ben Hunt was a revelation when he replaced Andrew McCullough at dummy half in this year’s series and while he won’t replace Cameron McInnes at hooker for the Dragons, Walters will have no hesitation slotting him in there for the Maroons, with Ponga taking on the utility role.
Dragons to unravel
St George Illawarra have been left reeling on the eve of the 2019 season by the alleged sexual assault by their star NSW lock Jack de Belin.
Is there a serious culture issue within the club? Only time will tell. But the charges laid against him will undoubtedly unsettle the squad.
He’s been an integral member of the Dragons for the past seven seasons, basically the glue that holds them together in the middle of the park.
So, it will be a huge challenge for Paul McGregor to find someone to fill that void if he is rubbed out of the game.
They’ve just celebrated the signing of Corey Norman, who’s an exceptionally gifted playmaker.
But will the bad outweigh the good?
His presence is sure to ruffle feathers within the playing group, with Matt Dufty likely to be dropped to NSW Cup in favour of Norman or skipper Gareth Widdop.
They still have a roster chock-full of talent but if there is any disharmony off the park, it tends to be felt on it.
Sonny Bill Williams to return to the NRL
Williams revealed to Fox Sports exclusively in November that he was planning on raising his family in Sydney.
His contract with the Auckland Blues ends at the completion of the 2019 season and the Rugby World Cup will be done and dusted by then too.
SBW and Roosters supremo Nick Politis are as close as family and have a handshake agreement that he would play for the Tricolours if he ever returned to the NRL.
When you put all that together, you’re left with the Roosters announcing the return of their premiership-winning hero for the 2020 season.
Bulldogs to collect the spoon
You have to feel sorry for Dean Pay and Josh Jackson — they simply do not have the players to challenge next year. Particularly now that David Klemmer has moved to Newcastle.
They have a couple of youngsters with loads of potential, namely backs Lachlan Lewis, Reimis Smith and Nick Meaney, but they don’t have the necessary experience across the park to avoid a last-placed finish.
It’s going to be a tough year for Canterbury fans, but Pay needs to be given time to get the club back on its feet after inheriting a wafer-thin roster.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/15f0986694312443bd2b32821065cf2d
19 bold predictions for the 2019 NRL season
Anthony Griffin to be picked up by the Sharks
In the minds of many ‘Hook’ was unjustly punted by Phil Gould and the Panthers’ hierarchy — with the reason reportedly being he was too “old school”.
Yet before he was shown the door, the Panthers led the competition after 14 rounds and were on track for a top four finish.
The Sharks of course are now without a head coach, with assistants John Morris and Jim Dymock taking on the caretaker role with Shane Flanagan deregistered.
So respected is Griffin that he was sounded out by Waratahs coach Daryl Gibson to help out with the Super Rugby franchise’s attack.
The one sticking point is the relationship between Griffin and Sharks star Matt Moylan, which deteriorated badly, and resulted in Moylan being traded for James Maloney.
But Griffin has proven he can mend fractured relationships.
He and Peter Wallace parted ways on less than friendly terms at the Broncos when the coach moved him on. But together again at the Panthers the pair not only buried the hatchet but actually grew closer.
Panthers to miss finals
There is enormous pressure on a number of key people at the Panthers.
None more so than Ivan Cleary, who infamously ditched the Tigers mid-contract this year to return to the foot of the mountains.
Cleary wanted to coach his son and NSW halfback Nathan, and club supremo Phil Gould brought back the man he sacked just three years ago to lock up Nathan long-term.
This also places significant pressure on the 21-year-old playmaker, and of course Gould himself.
Whether all this affects the playing group remains to be seen, but one thing that certainly will is the loss of Blues utility Tyrone Peachey.
The ‘Peach’ has been the unsung hero at Penrith. He can cover any position and has arguably been their most dangerous attacking weapon in recent seasons.
Cowboys to win the premiership
They could only do it once while Immortal-in-waiting Johnathan Thurston was pulling the strings, and yet I’ve tipped them to win the competition in their first year without him.
That would be bold, if not for the masterful recruitment effort of the Cowboys ahead of the 2019 season.
Kangaroos lock Josh McGuire adds aggression, mongrel, go-forward and most importantly 100 per cent effort to their forward pack.
Even Wally Lewis admitted he was in shock the Broncos let him go.
“He could come up against his father and smash him to bits and wait until full-time to ask his dad how he was feeling,” the Immortal joked.
With McGuire joining the likes of Jason Taumalolo, Jordan McLean and Matt Scott, plus back-rowers of the ilk of Coen Hess and Gavin Cooper, they’ll have the competition’s best pack.
Michael Morgan has always played his best football when he’s the dominant playmaker, and they also have no shortage of big bodies in the backline to get their sets rolling from out of their own end.
With Ben Barba putting the polish on their attacking plays, and the two best finishers in the game outside him in Nene Macdonald and Kyle Feldt, they are in for a bumper year.
New look Maroons spine
Cameron Munster has made no secret of his desire to play fullback for the Storm, and being the player he is Kevin Walters will likely give him the option to play there for Queensland too.
Of course, it helps that they have plenty of playmaking options to choose from barring injury.
Michael Morgan and Daly Cherry-Evans should get the nod as starting halves, with Kalyn Ponga applying the blowtorch as the Knights’ new No.6.
Ben Hunt was a revelation when he replaced Andrew McCullough at dummy half in this year’s series and while he won’t replace Cameron McInnes at hooker for the Dragons, Walters will have no hesitation slotting him in there for the Maroons, with Ponga taking on the utility role.
Dragons to unravel
St George Illawarra have been left reeling on the eve of the 2019 season by the alleged sexual assault by their star NSW lock Jack de Belin.
Is there a serious culture issue within the club? Only time will tell. But the charges laid against him will undoubtedly unsettle the squad.
He’s been an integral member of the Dragons for the past seven seasons, basically the glue that holds them together in the middle of the park.
So, it will be a huge challenge for Paul McGregor to find someone to fill that void if he is rubbed out of the game.
They’ve just celebrated the signing of Corey Norman, who’s an exceptionally gifted playmaker.
But will the bad outweigh the good?
His presence is sure to ruffle feathers within the playing group, with Matt Dufty likely to be dropped to NSW Cup in favour of Norman or skipper Gareth Widdop.
They still have a roster chock-full of talent but if there is any disharmony off the park, it tends to be felt on it.
Sonny Bill Williams to return to the NRL
Williams revealed to Fox Sports exclusively in November that he was planning on raising his family in Sydney.
His contract with the Auckland Blues ends at the completion of the 2019 season and the Rugby World Cup will be done and dusted by then too.
SBW and Roosters supremo Nick Politis are as close as family and have a handshake agreement that he would play for the Tricolours if he ever returned to the NRL.
When you put all that together, you’re left with the Roosters announcing the return of their premiership-winning hero for the 2020 season.
Bulldogs to collect the spoon
You have to feel sorry for Dean Pay and Josh Jackson — they simply do not have the players to challenge next year. Particularly now that David Klemmer has moved to Newcastle.
They have a couple of youngsters with loads of potential, namely backs Lachlan Lewis, Reimis Smith and Nick Meaney, but they don’t have the necessary experience across the park to avoid a last-placed finish.
It’s going to be a tough year for Canterbury fans, but Pay needs to be given time to get the club back on its feet after inheriting a wafer-thin roster.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...n/news-story/15f0986694312443bd2b32821065cf2d
