NRL Ladder Predictions

[Jakester1288]

We are 5 rounds into the 2009 NRL season, so I have decided to compile this list, with a brief rundown of each club and where I think each club will finish after the 26 rounds this year.

NOTE: This is what I think the ladder will look like after the full 26 rounds of the Telstra Premiership, finals are not included.

The top 8:
1. St George Illawarra Dragons – The benchmark of the competition so far. Soward playing like a superstar, the forwards doing their job, and the backline finishing off the tries. Excellent defence and a very well rounded attack.

2. South Sydney Rabbitohs – Russell’s guys have impressed me so far in their 2009 campaign, I really thought they would do well before the season started. Creative players like Luke, Sandow, Wing and Sutton create a lot of points. Solid defence, have been known to struggle to score points in the past, but maybe that will change this season.

3. Brisbane Broncos – An excellent halves pairing and great backline, their weakness lies in their substandard-compared-to-previous-Bronco’s-packs forwards. Weak bench, but I still see them getting top 4.

4. Cronulla Sutherland Sharks – I have really high hopes for the Cronulla boys. With some good signings over the off season to add to their good player base, I would have them 3rd if they still had Brett ‘Noddy’ Kimmorley in the number 7 jersey.

5. Melbourne Storm – Been the benchmark of the competition for a long time now, something has to give. Haven’t had the greatest start to the competition, don’t see them going to distance to be top 4.

6. Manly Sea Eagles – Had a terrible start to the season so far, 0/4. I see them winning a lot of matches between now and the end of the season to claim the number 6 spot.

7. New Zealand Warriors – Warriors are always up there, always threatening top class teams. I don’t see them doing anything special, but a word of warning to opposing teams, watch out.

8. Canterbury Bulldogs – A good start to the season, some great buys over the off season and at the moment you would assume a very happy club. Predict them to have a form slump throughout the season at some point, dragging them from about 5th to 8th.

9. Gold Coast Titans – Had a great start to the season, but I see injuries taking their toll and Titans missing out on the 8 by 4 points or less.

10. North Queensland Cowboys – I think they have the potential to be top 4. I originally had them in the top 6, but seeing Thurston’s lack of form and teams general poor play so far, they have slid down to 10th.

11. Sydney Roosters – Again, lots of potential. I don’t like the makeup of the side at the moment, and we have been playing very scrappy football so far. Not capitalising on chances, missing vital tackles, letting through soft tries, etc.

12. Wests Tigers – Relying on Farrah and Marshall at the moment. Farrah will likely be playing Origin, and during this period I expect the Tigers to lose a few places.

13. Canberra Raiders – Another team who has a lot of potential, but hasn’t quite got winning away from home down pat. Too much relying on Terry Campese to do everything.

14. Newcastle Knights – Hot and cold. One game they will beat the premiers 40-0 and the next lose 38-2 against the wooden spooners.

15. Penrith Panthers – I don’t see them going far with Matthew Elliot as head coach, and no recognized halfback.

16. Parramatta Eels – With Finch leaving, they drop down to last, taking Penrith’s position at the bottom of the ladder. Eels now have no five eighth or half with any experience, lack direction and despite having some good players who are destined to go a long way in football, I don’t see them getting far this season. Top position able to finish would be about 12th.

More at my blog, nospam43.

 

[roboshark]

if my mob ends up 4th and the knights 14th I will walk backwards from hear to bourke naked

 

[Flapper]

Cronulla won't end up anywhere near the Top 8, have you actually seen them play this year?

 

[t1tan]

Cronulla 4th..is it April 1st? :lol: :lol:

 

[Big Mick]

lol you have Penrith in 15th when in 5 games, we've been unlucky in the 2 we lost with crucial refereeing decisions resulting in the outcome and 1 where we should have won.

We are playing without a halfback, but we are grinding out wins...yet you have Cronulla in 4th...please...they look hopeless.

On current form also Melbourne and Manly shouldn't be near the 8 either...both don't look anywhere near their best.

 

[Selachimorpha]

As bad as the Sharks have been they're still only one win from the top 8. There are going to be some very average sides making up the bottom half of the 8 this year, assuming the Sharks don't continue their run of a major injury every week there's plenty of time to turn things around. That said i don't particularly rate their chances right now.

 

[Non Terminator]

Mate you've thought this well, but I disagree on a few things:

4. Cronulla Sutherland Sharks – I have really high hopes for the Cronulla boys. With some good signings over the off season to add to their good player base, I would have them 3rd if they still had Brett ‘Noddy’ Kimmorley in the number 7 jersey.

The Sharks have played nothing like last year, not even their attacking has improved. The new signings won't do much if the old boys don't kick in.

6. Manly Sea Eagles – Had a terrible start to the season so far, 0/4. I see them winning a lot of matches between now and the end of the season to claim the number 6 spot.

That's the thing, a terrible start. One person isn't going to change all of that, they didn't win 2008 just from Stewart.

8. Canterbury Bulldogs – A good start to the season, some great buys over the off season and at the moment you would assume a very happy club. Predict them to have a form slump throughout the season at some point, dragging them from about 5th to 8th.

Why?

9. Gold Coast Titans – Had a great start to the season, but I see injuries taking their toll and Titans missing out on the 8 by 4 points or less.

Are you just going off previous years? In 2009 they have proven they can win whilst injuries occur.

11. Sydney Roosters – Again, lots of potential. I don’t like the makeup of the side at the moment, and we have been playing very scrappy football so far. Not capitalising on chances, missing vital tackles, letting through soft tries, etc.

Alot of teams above that you have mentioned are guilty of the same.

13. Canberra Raiders – Another team who has a lot of potential, but hasn’t quite got winning away from home down pat. Too much relying on Terry Campese to do everything.

Did tonight change that?

14. Newcastle Knights – Hot and cold. One game they will beat the premiers 40-0 and the next lose 38-2 against the wooden spooners.

The Knights have continually been competitive in each game this year.

15. Penrith Panthers – I don’t see them going far with Matthew Elliot as head coach, and no recognized halfback.

They are currently one of the darkhorses in the comp. I don't see what you mean with just mentioning Elliott.

 

[Apey]

credit to making a prediction, but I disagree with a lot of it.

It's so hard to predict one though, who knows, it could do a complete upside down flip by the end of the comp for all we know :crazy:

 

[AILD]

if storm keep playing the way we are...we will struggle to make 8.

 

[Bazal]

Parramatta won't make the 8, but why do so many people think Finch leaving was a bad thing? He was cruelling our attack...without him we looked better in attack and if not for some crappy handling and some overzealous offloads we could have had a few more tries. We won't finish last

 

[Cletus]

Parramatta won't make the 8, but why do so many people think Finch leaving was a bad thing? He was cruelling our attack...without him we looked better in attack and if not for some crappy handling and some overzealous offloads we could have had a few more tries. We won't finish last

Because you've got Robson and some under 20 guys like Mortimer that won't be up to it this year. Finch as ordinary as he can be is better than Robson, so this year is looking like a writeoff for the Eels.

 

[mongoose]

It really is anyones competition at the moment. There have not been many blowouts. Even top of the table dragons are not that impressive in attack. The eels and sharks have improved on previous weeks even though they lost. I think there is going to be some big surprise packets this season.

Knights at 14th is ludicrous. They are a darkhorse.

Panthers are full of young talent and game breakers and should be looking at a top 8 finish.

The Storm don't look like the same side of the past 3 years. In fact they look way off.

Not sure if manly can turn it around either.

 

[smacky]

The comp is so close predictions are really just random. Any team can beat any other team. A team coming last can be in the 8 with 2 wins. Its anyones game so lets all enjoy the ride!

 

[Bazal]

Because you've got Robson and some under 20 guys like Mortimer that won't be up to it this year. Finch as ordinary as he can be is better than Robson, so this year is looking like a writeoff for the Eels.

It always was, with Finch or no...but like both his previous clubs, we'll be better without Finch.

 

[Cletus]

You probably will be better off next year but this year I don't think so. Anderson needs to put a broom through the forwards as well, it's looking like what Smith did at Newcastle when he got there. I just don't know if that will come out of the Parra juniors, not that I'd know but their does seem to be a tradition of promoting juniors rather than buying in.
I like Kris Keating though so there is some hope, but next big thing players like Hayne and Inu don't seem to have kicked on.

 

[Bazal]

You probably will be better off next year but this year I don't think so. Anderson needs to put a broom through the forwards as well, it's looking like what Smith did at Newcastle when he got there. I just don't know if that will come out of the Parra juniors, not that I'd know but their does seem to be a tradition of promoting juniors rather than buying in.
I like Kris Keating though so there is some hope, but next big thing players like Hayne and Inu don't seem to have kicked on.

I think everyone, Hayne and Inu included, fell victim to Hagan's apathy. Finch was the first casualty in what could be a long list with guys like Cayless, Cordoba, Lowrie, Hauraki, Oake, and so forth looking to be on or near the chopping block. But we still have some good players and Anderson has already started fixing the fitness and attitude. Will we be contenders? Nope, not even close...but we'll get better as time goes on and will not finish last either. Most of us are just happy to have a coach that knows how to win a competition, knows that we aren't up to that level and is doing things to change that.

 

[Corbin]

Jake your inadequate knowledge was exposed enough on CricSim, Rleague, Sidhe and Cricketweb.

Don't bring it to the last place in LU that holds higher creditabilty in the League and forum worlds.

 

[RufusRex]

sharks 4 ... you must be talking about the number of wins they will secure this year because you can not be talking about ladder position

 

[_Johnsy]

I think we could make predictions in say 8 weeks time, 1/2 way though would give a better indicator. 5 games way, way too early.

 

[Corbin]

I was going to reply in detail to your post Jake but I simply can't be bothered to argue with your poor knowledge.