The comp leaders (Warriors/Saints)...how far will they go?

[Saint Doc]

TAB currently has Dragons at $6.5 to win the comp behind Roosters and Storm and favourites for the minor premiership (equal with Roosters)

CrownBet has them outright favourites for MP

Most others have them 4th favourites to win the comp at (between $7-7.5)

The hype begins

Thats not hype. Thats just statistics/ big money investers. We're 50:50 to make the 8 still IMO

 

[Emu01]

As a Dragons fan I’m ecstatic with the start we have made but I’m worried about the origin period. If we have a good run with injuries and origin doesn’t burn out the squad I believe we can go all the way this year.

 

[This Year?]

Happy with the wins so far but it's still early days and fortunes can change very quickly. My markers for how we will do this season will be our games against Roosters, Storm and teams we always lose against no matter the form like Bulldogs, Eels and Rabbitohs.

The Warriors have been impressive so far this season without being spectacular and I hope for them and their long suffering fans it continues and increases the popularity of rugby league in New Zealand again.

It would be nice to see both sides in the finals but at this stage of the season it would take a brave person to think they will.

 

[wibble]

Thats not hype. Thats just statistics/ big money investers. We're 50:50 to make the 8 still IMO

Well, to make the 8 you only have to win about 8 or 9 of your remaining 20 games, so you'd think better than 50% chance. Top 4 is where you need to aim. That is possibly a 50/50 chance, but the Dragons look better than anyone else, at the moment.

 

[Pedge1971]

Long season ahead and injuries always play a part.

Talking point for mine is the Cows. I dead set had them favourites this year but they seem a yard off the pace and now beset with injury.

Storm have also been below their lofty standards and the refs actually seem to be calling them out for the same shit most here have been goi g on about for years.

If thw refereeing stays the same it is a new ball game and Saints and Warriors have adjusted better than most.

 

[Saint Doc]

Well, to make the 8 you only have to win about 8 or 9 of your remaining 20 games, so you'd think better than 50% chance. Top 4 is where you need to aim. That is possibly a 50/50 chance, but the Dragons look better than anyone else, at the moment.

2015: after 8 rounds we only had to win 6 out of our remaining 16 games to make the finals. We won 6 exactly and finished 8th.

2017: after 7 rounds, we only had to win 7 of our remaining 17 games to make the finals. We won 6 and missed out.

We are 50:50 to make the 8. Happy to bump this post in 5 months!

 

[wibble]

2015: after 8 rounds we only had to win 6 out of our remaining 16 games to make the finals. We won 6 exactly and finished 8th.

2017: after 7 rounds, we only had to win 7 of our remaining 17 games to make the finals. We won 6 and missed out.

We are 50:50 to make the 8. Happy to bump this post in 5 months!

And I said you were certs last year!

But you are certs this year....

 

[myrrh ken]

I think we have the best pack in the comp, a great halves combo and decent backline. We will make a run of it this year but come origin time it will be a test.

As a Dragons fan I’m ecstatic with the start we have made but I’m worried about the origin period. If we have a good run with injuries and origin doesn’t burn out the squad I believe we can go all the way this year.

Im sure you guys will be able to cover the 2 blokes youll lose.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

I am not sold on the Warriors, I know they're 4 from 4 and can't do much more than beat their opposition but I don't think their opposition have been anywhere near their best in each game, certainly the Roosters weren't and Souths were still finding their way

Dragons however have one hell of a squad, they'll be hard to beat

And how much of that is to do with how well we allowed them to play?

The Titans just beat the Broncos. The Rabbits just beat Manly, nay both teams thrashed them. The Raiders are shit, sure. But we've played some bloody good football that hasn't allowed other teams to get up over us.

 

[Smack]

Im sure you guys will be able to cover the 2 blokes youll lose.

Yeah I don't think so bucko

 

[myrrh ken]

Yeah I don't think so bucko

Friz definite
Vaughan maybe
Jdb 18th man
Hunt no

Who the hell else? Kurt mann?

 

[Smack]

Friz definite
Vaughan maybe
Jdb 18th man
Hunt no

Who the hell else? Kurt mann?

Jdb, friz, vaughan and they would be massive losses. Maybe hunt too if injuries.

 

[Surely]

The stains look good this year, top 4 certainties

 

[Changa]

Problem for De Belin is Jake T plays almost the exact same role (defensive enforcer and linking lock in attack) except he’s younger and was very good in his Origin debut series. JDB deserves to be there, but doesn’t make sense to carry both in the blues.

Vaughan and Friz are certainties.

 

[Willow]

They are a different beast this year. I cannot see them miss the 8.

Any coach who has the top 8 in their sights is in for a mediocre season. The top 4 should be the minimum aim.

 

[Leber]

Both teams will finish 4-6 I reckon.

 

[umina panther]

Bellend isn't half the player Jake is

 

[mozza91]

It’s too early to tell. I remember the Cowboys looking dominant in 2006, winning their first 6 games and they didn’t go near the 8.

It’s one of the toughest seasons to predict though. The Warriors, Dragons and Tigers are the only teams that have played consistently well.

 

[Life's Good]

I’ve posted elsewhere that teams like us, Warriors, Knights, Panthers, Tigers aren’t known for being dirty sides with a lot of niggle. This, I think, has played its part because they are the teams needing to adjust the least to the penalty crackdown and are just getting on and playing footy. It’s working for us now but the seasons only 4 rounds old and other teams will adjust.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

What gives me hope isn't who the Warriors played, but where they played.

Perth > Auckland > Canberra > Sydney.

The Roosters haven't played outside Sydney have they? Yet we were the ones who looked fresh.

Just hope they don't get home, put their feet up and get comfortable with 3 home games coming up. They'll get caught out if they do.