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> SMH EXPERTS TOP 8 PREDICTIONS
Coaches hold ticket to glory
Jacquelin Magnay | March 10, 2008
THIS top eight comes with an important disclaimer. I came last in the Herald tipping competition last season because I followed my heart, not my head (refusing to tip Manly and repeatedly, and stupidly, thinking St George Illawarra would, indeed must, turn around their woeful form).
In 2008, I am toughening up, switching tactics and following the coaches. There are three brilliant masterminds in the competition: Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy and Neil Henry. Tim Sheens is another but is hampered by Benji Marshall's fragility, which will restrict their top-eight chances.
This season the Sharks will be the big improvers with Stuart's exacting demands extracting the best out of his men, but they will fall a fair way short of winning the minor premiership.
That, of course, will go to current premiers Melbourne, who have lost a little in the way of personnel in the past three years but will once again dominate with stellar home performances and their explosive attacking flair.
Last year's grand finalists Manly will continue the recent hoodoo of top teams failing the following year as they are vulnerable in the halves and have lost Michael Monaghan.
Youthful enthusiasm and a touch of good luck will drive the Raiders, and their top-eight aspirations will be realised if they can win a couple of matches away from home.
St George Illawarra will stutter along clinging desperately to 10th or 11th spot, if only because everyone expects them to fail dismally.
If the players stay away from nightclubs the Eels will be strong contenders, as will the ever-improving Rabbitohs.
The Cowboys' fortunes depend largely on Johnathan Thurston's return from two shoulder surgeries. Either the Roosters, Tigers or Warriors will round out the eight.
MAGNAY'S EIGHT
1. Melbourne
2. Cronulla
3. Parramatta
4. South Sydney
5. Canberra
6. North Queensland
7. Brisbane
8. Sydney Roosters
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One key injury and it's over
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/one-k...4998282044.html
Roy Masters | March 10, 2008
THE NRL frigate, SS Salary Cap, is dumping cannon, making English Super League clubs stronger and Australian clubs weaker.
Every NRL team, including premiers, Melbourne, has a serious tactical weakness.
In past seasons, the Storm had specialist back-up for brilliant dummy-half/kicker, Cameron Smith, in Nathan Friend and James Aubusson, but they have moved to other clubs, leaving Matt Geyer - who has spent 11 years as a back - to fill in.
Smith's absence during the State of Origin series, or unavailability via a major injury, will blow out the Storm.
Parramatta gave the Storm a big scare at Telstra Dome in last year's preliminary final, mainly through the clever passes of centre Timana Tahu, who has gone to rugby union.
The Cowboys have perhaps the best all-round back-rower, Luke O'Donnell, back from a season-long injury but he merely turns a two-man team (Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston) into a three-man team.
Grand finalists Manly have lost their main playmaker, Michael Monaghan, leaving the front-running Matt Orford to get them home.
The Warriors, with an entire nation to draw upon, have lost the one player they could least afford, fullback Wade McKinnon, for the year with a knee injury.
No club can make the top eight without their best player.
Similarly, if Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah, is hurt, the club can book their end of season trip early.
Clubs without a sound 1, 6, 7 and 9 - the spine of a team - will struggle.
The Sharks have the best back row in the NRL and can defend strongly but without the playmakers they have limited attack. The Broncos and Titans will sneak into the top eight on the basis of home penalties.
MASTERS' EIGHT
1. Melbourne
2. Parramatta
3. North Queensland
4. Manly
5. Sydney Roosters
6. South Sydney
7. Brisbane
8. Gold Coast
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Only big three have a chance
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/only-...4998282041.html
Greg Prichard | March 10, 2008
MELBOURNE, Manly and Parramatta will be playing in their own competition and the remaining teams will be playing in another.
The most intriguing battle will be between the Sea Eagles and the Eels, to see who plays the Storm in the grand final. It is unusual in these days of the salary cap to see bookmakers put up such a clear premiership favourite, as they have done with Melbourne. But it makes sense. The club's management has held the team together pretty well, in the face of cap pressure. They lose several players from last year's premiership-winning side, but regain representative prop Antonio Kaufusi after he missed the second half of last season injured.
Manly may have been thrashed by Melbourne in last year's decider, but they were clearly the second best team over the course of the season. They will learn from that loss. The biggest test for them will be to handle the departure of hooker Michael Monaghan.
Parramatta were the team that troubled the Storm most towards the end of last season and it should be automatic that several of their biggest stars - Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo - will be even better, because they have played only 87 first-grade games between them and are still learning. If halfback Tim Smith has dealt with his off-field problems sufficiently well, even better.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has proved he can get week-in, week-out consistency from his team. So has Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler. The Eels produced several inexplicably poor performances last season, which was the difference between them finishing the regular season in fifth place instead of third or fourth. Should they find that consistency this season, they will push for a top-two spot going into the finals.
PRICHARD'S EIGHT
1. Melbourne
2. Manly
3. Parramatta
4. Brisbane
5. South Sydney
6. Sydney Roosters
7. North Queensland
8. NZ Warriors
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Coaches hold ticket to glory
Jacquelin Magnay | March 10, 2008
THIS top eight comes with an important disclaimer. I came last in the Herald tipping competition last season because I followed my heart, not my head (refusing to tip Manly and repeatedly, and stupidly, thinking St George Illawarra would, indeed must, turn around their woeful form).
In 2008, I am toughening up, switching tactics and following the coaches. There are three brilliant masterminds in the competition: Ricky Stuart, Craig Bellamy and Neil Henry. Tim Sheens is another but is hampered by Benji Marshall's fragility, which will restrict their top-eight chances.
This season the Sharks will be the big improvers with Stuart's exacting demands extracting the best out of his men, but they will fall a fair way short of winning the minor premiership.
That, of course, will go to current premiers Melbourne, who have lost a little in the way of personnel in the past three years but will once again dominate with stellar home performances and their explosive attacking flair.
Last year's grand finalists Manly will continue the recent hoodoo of top teams failing the following year as they are vulnerable in the halves and have lost Michael Monaghan.
Youthful enthusiasm and a touch of good luck will drive the Raiders, and their top-eight aspirations will be realised if they can win a couple of matches away from home.
St George Illawarra will stutter along clinging desperately to 10th or 11th spot, if only because everyone expects them to fail dismally.
If the players stay away from nightclubs the Eels will be strong contenders, as will the ever-improving Rabbitohs.
The Cowboys' fortunes depend largely on Johnathan Thurston's return from two shoulder surgeries. Either the Roosters, Tigers or Warriors will round out the eight.
MAGNAY'S EIGHT
1. Melbourne
2. Cronulla
3. Parramatta
4. South Sydney
5. Canberra
6. North Queensland
7. Brisbane
8. Sydney Roosters
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
One key injury and it's over
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/one-k...4998282044.html
Roy Masters | March 10, 2008
THE NRL frigate, SS Salary Cap, is dumping cannon, making English Super League clubs stronger and Australian clubs weaker.
Every NRL team, including premiers, Melbourne, has a serious tactical weakness.
In past seasons, the Storm had specialist back-up for brilliant dummy-half/kicker, Cameron Smith, in Nathan Friend and James Aubusson, but they have moved to other clubs, leaving Matt Geyer - who has spent 11 years as a back - to fill in.
Smith's absence during the State of Origin series, or unavailability via a major injury, will blow out the Storm.
Parramatta gave the Storm a big scare at Telstra Dome in last year's preliminary final, mainly through the clever passes of centre Timana Tahu, who has gone to rugby union.
The Cowboys have perhaps the best all-round back-rower, Luke O'Donnell, back from a season-long injury but he merely turns a two-man team (Matt Bowen and Johnathan Thurston) into a three-man team.
Grand finalists Manly have lost their main playmaker, Michael Monaghan, leaving the front-running Matt Orford to get them home.
The Warriors, with an entire nation to draw upon, have lost the one player they could least afford, fullback Wade McKinnon, for the year with a knee injury.
No club can make the top eight without their best player.
Similarly, if Wests Tigers hooker Robbie Farah, is hurt, the club can book their end of season trip early.
Clubs without a sound 1, 6, 7 and 9 - the spine of a team - will struggle.
The Sharks have the best back row in the NRL and can defend strongly but without the playmakers they have limited attack. The Broncos and Titans will sneak into the top eight on the basis of home penalties.
MASTERS' EIGHT
1. Melbourne
2. Parramatta
3. North Queensland
4. Manly
5. Sydney Roosters
6. South Sydney
7. Brisbane
8. Gold Coast
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Only big three have a chance
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/only-...4998282041.html
Greg Prichard | March 10, 2008
MELBOURNE, Manly and Parramatta will be playing in their own competition and the remaining teams will be playing in another.
The most intriguing battle will be between the Sea Eagles and the Eels, to see who plays the Storm in the grand final. It is unusual in these days of the salary cap to see bookmakers put up such a clear premiership favourite, as they have done with Melbourne. But it makes sense. The club's management has held the team together pretty well, in the face of cap pressure. They lose several players from last year's premiership-winning side, but regain representative prop Antonio Kaufusi after he missed the second half of last season injured.
Manly may have been thrashed by Melbourne in last year's decider, but they were clearly the second best team over the course of the season. They will learn from that loss. The biggest test for them will be to handle the departure of hooker Michael Monaghan.
Parramatta were the team that troubled the Storm most towards the end of last season and it should be automatic that several of their biggest stars - Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu and Feleti Mateo - will be even better, because they have played only 87 first-grade games between them and are still learning. If halfback Tim Smith has dealt with his off-field problems sufficiently well, even better.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy has proved he can get week-in, week-out consistency from his team. So has Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler. The Eels produced several inexplicably poor performances last season, which was the difference between them finishing the regular season in fifth place instead of third or fourth. Should they find that consistency this season, they will push for a top-two spot going into the finals.
PRICHARD'S EIGHT
1. Melbourne
2. Manly
3. Parramatta
4. Brisbane
5. South Sydney
6. Sydney Roosters
7. North Queensland
8. NZ Warriors
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