Top 8
1. Roosters (If they don't have so many injuries their squad depth is the best Walker and Suuali should be better and they have some good players coming back, plus the media will bang on about if they had no injuries they would have won 5 comps in a row or some other bullshit completely overlooking any facts or nuance or the fact that Souths beat a strong team by 50+ two years ago)
2. Storm (As long as this scandal doesn't hurt them too much they will be up there again, Coates will look like a superstar)
3. Panthers (Will have a slight dip but nothing too dramatic they will miss Capewell more than Burton, depth will be tested but as long as Cleary goes with youngsters rather than career reserve graders they will be fine)
4. Eels (I think their forwards are really good and they have some good outside backs but they struggle to score points and that is what will hold them back from winning the competition, there will be comparisons made to how Penrith won it this year but Penrith have the threat of scoring points whereas the Eels don't have that)
5. Souths (I think they might miss Gagai a lot if they can keep that left side of the field deadly they will definitely be up there they need their forwards to have a big year without Reynolds being able to bail them out)
6. Brisbane (Reynolds will make a huge difference for them as will Capewell, they will add some direction and professionalism, I think Reynolds on the back of Haas go forward will have a big year)
7. Sharks (They will be the new Newcastle when O'Brien took over they will have a good season but just won't quite have enough)
8. Manly (They will have a dip the decision not to sign anyone will hurt them, Trbojevic will still be great but I think they will have a bit of a dip)
9. Dragons (I think in two years the Dragons are going to challenge for the top 4, they have a really promising spine of players coming through all around the same age and a good forward pack, I genuinely almost put them as high as 4th but I think Griffin will be a bit conservative I think they will end the season well)
10. Bulldogs (They will start the season slowly there are still many question marks and people will take the piss out of them for spending so much money and not making the 8, but I feel they will be strong in two years time)
11. Titans (Holbrook will be under pressure but this negates the fact that the Titans only beat one top 8 side last season and that they lack a bit of steel in their team they will look brilliant on occasion and terrible at other points basically the Warriors 2.0)
12. Knights (I think they will suffer a dip O'Brien will be on the verge of getting the sack, there will be rumblings of Ponga wanting to leave and I think it will be a disappointing season for them)
13. Raiders (I think this will be the end of the road for Ricky and that will factor into a poor finish, they don't have a halfback yet, haven't signed any new players and I feel their season will implode a few of their players look to be past their best also)
14. Cowboys (I quite like the Cowboys I like some of their players but they do lack a lot of quality compared to some of the other sides around)
15. Warriors ( The Warriors have done an amazing job and as soon as they start getting home matches they should get a whole season, they will make the finals but if Covid continues as it has done and they have to stay in Australia I think it will begin to unravel they have done an amazing job to stay competitive for the past two seasons)
16. Tigers (Maguire is getting the sack early in the season, they are a rabble their recruitment leaves a bit to be desired they almost stumbled on the correct way last season Douehi and Laurie were intelligent signings players who are good and first-grade standard but being held back by others, they use their junior base poorly there is no reason the Tigers shouldn't be as strong as Penrith, they put in two of the most gutless performances I've ever seen last season the Raudonikis match and the last game of the season both absolute disgraceful performances and the club is in a mess and has been since Tim Sheens left.)
Grand Final teams and winner
Teams: Roosters vs Eels
Winner: Roosters
Clive Churchill Medallist: Tedesco
Wooden Spoon
Tigers
Dally M Player of the Year
Adam Reynolds
Rookie of the year
Not sure who is eligible, one of the dragons rookies or Selwyn Cobbo
Signing of the season
Adam Reynolds
The Steven Bradbury award for overachieving club
Dragons
Disappointment of the year - player
Oliver Gildart
Disappointment of the year - club
Knights
First coach sacked
Maguire
First player to be sacked
James Roberts
State of Origin winner
NSW
Longest suspension - how many weeks and whom
JWH - 7 weeks
Most important/dramatic rugby league-related announcement (e.g. expansion)
another Brisbane team Bennett to coach
First forum poster to rage quit
one of the Luke Covell fan alts
)
