There is only a few more sleeps until the 2012 NRL season kicks off and I for one can’t wait!!!!!!!!!!!
Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday will feature at least one NRL match, how good is that!!!!
I can picture it now, I wake up a little dusty on Sunday morning and leave my place at 10.30am and head over to Leichaardt and straight to a pub near the ground. I have a couple beers and soak up the atmosphere while watching the grand final replay between Manly and the Warriors on TV at midday. I take the short walk with the rest of the supporters down Mary St to the iconic Leicharrdt Oval, it is bathed in sunshine, the hill packed in sea of black and gold and white, a cracking atmosphere and a cracking game of attacking footy capped off with a Tigers win. A few celebratory beers at a pub in the city after the game, then perhaps a couple of proverbial night caps and see where the night takes me!!!!
First off let’s take a seat in in the light hearted lounge.
Souths will be going into round one with a rookie half back in Adam Reynolds which is kind of like having a one night stand with a fat chick-
In both instances you know they will be enthusiastic as they don’t know when it will be when they will get another opportunity.
They will probably be nervous and make some errors with their ball handling.
There is always a chance of sustaining an injury coming up against bigger humans than they are used to.
They may find some difficulties in finding a hole to hit!!!!!!!!! To far?????
It’s now time for me to give some predictions for 2012!!!! I believe it is ny impossible to predict who will win the premiership before the comp has even started, there are so many variables that can and do occur throughout the year such as injuries, loss of form, scandals, sackings etc. In fact it is hard enough to predict the winner at the start of the finals!!!!! Having said all that I have been pressed to give my top 8 and here it is.
1. Wests Tigers
2. Melbourne Storm
3. Brisbane
4. Manly
5. Bulldogs
6. Newcastle
7. Souths
8. Sharks
This means that the Warriors, Dragons, Eels, Cowboys and even Penrith don’t make the finals however I think any of these teams could make it and as usual the bottom 4 spots will have about 8 teams trying to fill it come the end of the season.
More importantly here are my predictions-
The Dragons will struggle somewhat this season-
By somewhat I mean not up to the high standards they have set themselves in recent seasons. Yes Bennett is a big loss but I believe Boyd is a huge loss in terms of their style of play, this is because he was so instrumental in their attack. A huge amount of their tries the last few seasons was Boyd coming around the back of back-line move and throwing the last pass of scoring himself. The Dragons play a basic, no mistake football but without Boyd and Gasnier, and with an ageing and slowing Ben Hornby (who is still a good organising player) and Jamie Soward who is not a runner I’m not sure where the tries will come from. They will still be a tough and strong team but I don’t think that will be enough to compete with the better teams.
The Sharks to improve-
Had they not lost Kade Snowden to the Knights and Luke Douglas to the Titans I would be saying definite top 8 team. So if solid new recruits Bryce Gibbs, Ben Ross and Jon Green can step up along with Andrew Fifita (which I doubt) they will be an outside chance. They have good halves in Carney who when not blind drunk can unlock any defence along with Wade Graham and Chad Townsend who both are young and have potential coupled with the experience of Jeff Robson if needed too. Another big season from talisman Paul Gallen will be vital too!! Their other X factor players is little full back Nathan Gardner and big man Sam Tagataese.
Souths to make the Top 8-
Assuming young half back Adam Reynolds is as good as they say he is they should make it fairly easy as they tick all other boxes. A injury free season from big Sam Burgess will make a difference, the same goes for Greg Inglis who when both fit are 2 of the best in the game in their positions. They’ve got power and size in Dave Taylor and Roy Asotasi and experience in Mick Crocker. Matt King is a good signing from Warrington in the Super League and will score tries and Nathan Merritt is a try scoring specialist. Perhaps their best acquisition is coach Michael McGuire from Wigan. Obviously time will tell but I think with the squad at his disposal he will get them over the line.
To the lookalike wall now and this edition features my colleague Geoff Willetts who is editor in chief of the only other official affiliated blog to us which is Loving Wickets with Willetts, our cricket based brother which will be launching very soon. We here reckon Geoff is a dead ringer to Wests Tigers gun center Chris Lawrence, or perhaps former Manly great Nik Kosef, you be the judge.
2012 Season Preview
The Titans have spent a lot on signings but I think they are in for a year of pain,
The knights however have signed sure fire success in Coach Bennett, first name Wayne.
The Roosters got rid of Todd Carney, if they are to do well it is because of this reason,
The Sharks have gained aforementioned Carney so they should improve on last season.
Souths as always will promise a lot although will start without a recognised half,
The Dogs will be confident of a big year because they poached Hasler and most of Manlys’ staff.
The Storm has mostly no names but also Smith, Slater and Cronk so don’t be fooled,
The Panthers are rebuilding with coach Cleary who was appointed by duke of Penrith Gus Gould.
After a very disappointing last season the only way is up for Canberra, the green machine,
After a huge last season making it all the way to the big one the Warriors will be keen.
Last year belonged to Manly and they celebrated for 5 minutes before it all fell apart,
The Dragons will be Bennett-less and I think they might fail the test of having a big heart.
Parra have arguably the best signings and hope that will equal good form like a button they could press,
Brisbane have lost the best in the game and it will be tough going for them in their new life being Lockyer-less.
The Cowboys will go well if Thurston and Bowen play a full season free of pain,
One of the big premiership heavy-weights is the club merger between Wests and Balmain.
Finally we are starting a Loving League with Lavers tipping competition through the fox sports website, the league code is- 13274-5145
If we get over 20 competitors Loving League with Lavers will provide an NRL jersey of their choice to the winner of the comp!!!!! To the person who comes last we promise plenty of abuse!!!!!!!!
Now it over to you folks, make your comments on your top 8, the lookalike wall, where you will be watching some league on the weekend or how good you are at tipping.
I'm Loving League with Lavers
Sensational as always mate.
ReplyDeleteDear Nathan,
ReplyDeleteI have skim read your note and am about to read it in more detail. Needless to say I was disturbed not to see last year's grand finalists and people's champions the mighty Auckland Warriors - or Wazzas as known by their affectionate fan base.
I can only assume you are doing this to stir up a bit of controversy and to raise the ire of the wazzas faithful. In which case it has worked. I look forward to you re-stating the top 8 prediction with the wazzas sitting squarely in 4th or 5th where they belong.
A number of things haven't gone well for the wazzas over the off season, including the loss of coach Ivan Cleary and a few injuries. We also haven't signed very well but also have not lost many good players either. Look out for Elijah Taylor this year - he is a star in the making!!
Well Geoff I certainly do think the Warriors can make the 8 however I'm not certain they will. They have lost coach Cleary which is a fair loss but the best thing about the Warriors is the talent in depth they have. They won the Toyota cup (U/20's) last year and will no doubt blood some of those players as done in round 1 with two debutants in their squad. You just don't know how they will go in first grade though and will usually be blooded for a few games then pulled back every few weeks, the other factor is how predictably unpredictable the Warriors are, they will not want to leave it late this season as they did last as that amazing run they had is very hard to replicate (look at Parra a few seasons ago when they made the GF). Look for Glen Fisiiahi when he gets an opportunity, he is an exciting player!!!!
DeleteThis is ridiccy..!!! Can you elaborate on why the Wests Tigers (your team) will finish top?
ReplyDeleteGood blog buddy. LLWL
The Wests Tigers are the bookies (ie TAB) favourite which is rarely a good sign, however with the addition of Blair the Tigers have even more of an edge in the forwards, throw in Ellis, Heighington and Fulton in the back row along with big Keiffy Galloway up front with young guns Woods and Groat and you have a great pack. An injury free Farah with superstar Benji directing play is up there with the best. There is question mark over fullback with debutant Tedesko and whether Molzen will gel at half back, but I think the big thing is the Tigers have been up there the last few years, knocked out with the last play last year and a game away from the GF the year before so with some luck with injuries they have the squad to do it definitely!!!
ReplyDelete