Broncos2010, I can't argue with your assessment of Moylan. He has yet to produce at the highest level and Dugan and Stewart both have. He doesn't have Dugans' strength or Stewart's pace, but he is a better ball player than either of them. His silky skills may not be wanted at Origin, where NSW seem to prefer to have Gallen bash it up, followed by Bird, followed by Gallen, followed by Bird, followed by Ga....you get the picture. I don't think NSW want skill, they want toughness and speed, preferably both.
As for finishing 12th, if we assume we don't have too many injuries to key players, I will disagree with you. We have no reason to doubt Soward, he is a proven performer and even when he is average is better than most. The unknown is how the youngsters like DSW, Moylan and Korasaiu perform. They have only done it for one season, can they avoid second season syndrome? The core of the team is unchanged and if Peachey, Cartwright and Wallace stay uninjured, it will be like having three new signings. That will be enough for us to make the eight.
I think the eight will be, in no particular order: Broncos, Cowboys, Dogs, Manly, Panthers, Roosters, Souths, Storm.
This is the same eight as last year. I can't see anybody busting in and knocking those teams off.
Warriors - Win the comp or the spoon, who knows? Johnson and Tompkins are brilliant but the team can implode one week and smash the Premiers the next.
Eels - No Hayne is a massive hole in their team. Sandow looks fit and that will help, but they lost 50% of their firepower.
Tigers - New coach, is Taylor the real deal? Is the back office finally sorted? Brooks is a gun but there are too many unknowns.
Dragons - Having seen McGregor interviewed and looking at the forward pack, I think the coach and the forward pack are less than mediocre.
Canberra - Serious doubts about the coach. No real star players, lost their best player in the off season. No chance.
Titans - Massive question mark over their halves. Ageing marquee players in Myles and Bird. Back office issues. Is coach Henry any good? The jury is still out.
Newcastle - Hired a coach who wasn't recommended by Bennett (arguably the greatest coach ever), a CEO who used to play in the centres and has no experience. Dodgy coach, dogdy back office, ageing roster.
Sharks - They could be a smoky. A good roster with two brilliant signings in Barba and Ennis. But the roster is ageing and is injury prone. If Fifita and Barba fire up, watch out.
