2017 an absolute lottery

[Disco]

Was reading the telegraphs write up for this year and predicted finishing positions and the one thing that struck me, is that I can't really form a clear top 8 in my mind.


Now obviously every season picking a top 8 is a minefield but I genuinely believe 14 teams are real shots at making the finals this year with only the Knights and the Dragons being also rans


I look at Cronulla and think they should sneak into the lower 8 or completely miss the finals, no Barba, no Ennis, Gallen, Lewis and Heighton all another year older


Most suspect the Titans will miss but Hayne with an off season, Proctor and Wallace joining and Elgy to return. It is a pretty strong looking spine


Roosters surely bounce back but replacing who?


Cowboys have lost Tamou and Hannatt, an injury to Scott or Taumololo and they could struggle


Can Melbourne continue into their mid-30’s?


I’m not impressed by the Broncos then again they could win the comp


If the Warriors register Foran and have RTS back…..


I don’t know, atm if I was predicting the top 8 I’d say Canberra and Penrith to make it and hopefully Manly turn things around and get there…………lord know what else will happen

 

[Freagle]

Yep, it is a really tight comp this year, you're right. I'm not sure about the Warriors' pack - getting older and slower, and not much size to it really...

Storm will always be strong while they're coached by Bellyache - he seems to scare average players into being really good...

Raiders look to be coming into their prime.

Sharks - may well struggle without Ennis the Menace, and Gallen likely to be injured a fair bit.

I think between the Warriors, Tigers, Bulldogs and Sharks for who drops out, and hopefully us to sneak into 7th or so...but hard to judge, very hard indeed.

 

[Top End Eagle]

Raiders and Panthers will be there. Titans might be top four but won't challenge for the title this year. Cowboys will make it roosters with Keary will be top 4. Manly, sharks, Broncos, Warriors,storm, eels dogs. Battle four the other spots. Think the dogs might drift but and the curse of TRex will probably cruel the Sharks chances.

 

[Nice Beaver]

Broncos will flop big time I think.

Parker is such a massive loss and Hunt is on the outs. Maguire is as popular as a pregnant nun and they lost that good bench forward to the coast.

They are stuffed.

 

[Loobs]

Is this about tonight's Powerball..?

 

[Deleted member 26876]

I doubt the roosters will return there, although you're spot on otherwise IMO. Sharks should really struggle without Ennis and to some degree with barba. Warriors pack as mentioned is a little old and will struggle for impact, dogs will slide, Broncos may even join them in doing so and I can also see the Cowboys struggling without the forward stocks and general depth they've had over the last few seasons. Also the Bunnies may improve heaps.. Or get worse hard to tell what farahs impact will be

I just think we'll look back next year and laugh at some of these but in the meantime they seem pretty good, hard season to predict

 

[Lord Eagleton]

Broncos will flop big time I think.

Parker is such a massive loss and Hunt is on the outs. Maguire is as popular as a pregnant nun and they lost that good bench forward to the coast.

They are stuffed.

And they recruited an old, slow, 5 years past his best Benji Marshall. Its a young mans game. I found that addition really surprising

 

[Go manly]

Not sure who will make it or what order but these will miss the eight
Knights
Dragons
Dogs
Tigers
Broncos
Souffs ( thank you lord )

 

[The Who]

Broncos will flop big time I think.

Parker is such a massive loss and Hunt is on the outs. Maguire is as popular as a pregnant nun and they lost that good bench forward to the coast.

They are stuffed.

The NRL won't let them miss the finals. Too big to fail, like our four major banks.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

The NRL won't let them miss the finals. Too big to fail, like our four major banks.

Way too valuable to the TV organisation that they be in the finals , Chan Nein will ensure they make it , along with Parramatta.

It's nothing but a conspiracy I tell you ( tin foil hat permanently on)

 

[bob dylan]

Just ring Todd he knows.

NRL need Warriors or Penrith.

 

[Mark from Brisbane]

Just ring Todd he knows.

NRL need Warriors or Penrith.

If you look back at the last 3-4 years it's almost like it's scripted!

I think it's more likely Chan Nein is the author , and Turdburger is purely the director.

One things for sure , Manly wont feature in any of those plans, as they think we've had our time.

 

[Cochrane]

Maybe we have. We had some great GF wins in the 70's, 80's and 90's and more recently in 2011, but how do you beat 40-0, the team we had, how we rolled through the finals and bitch slapped the Storm. A highlight that I may never see surpassed.

 

[Shnorky]

I s

Maybe we have. We had some great GF wins in the 70's, 80's and 90's and more recently in 2011, but how do you beat 40-0, the team we had, how we rolled through the finals and bitch slapped the Storm. A highlight that I may never see surpassed.

I see an opportune time for manly to start moving through some teams on the slide, I can't pick it but I'd say roosters will be back, storm won't go away and Des with still find something at dogs for a lower 8, manly to struggle early with 50/50 then find form. Jayne lion links in as mentor, top 4 finish

 

[Shnorky]

Sorry - Jamie Lyon

I s

I see an opportune time for manly to start moving through some teams on the slide, I can't pick it but I'd say roosters will be back, storm won't go away and Des with still find something at dogs for a lower 8, manly to struggle early with 50/50 then find form. Jamie Lyon links in as mentor, top 4 finish

 

[conanu]

Just ring Todd he knows.

NRL need Warriors or Penrith.

Parra is the selected golden children they need to shore up Mid Western Sydney,

 

[sheridanstand78]

I expect the panthers and raiders to feature at the back end. The storm will be there abouts and the cowpokes too. I think from position 5 to 14 could be any combination. It appears that the Dragons and the Knights are destined to struggle.

If Manly are any chance we MUST win more home games. That has killed us over the last 2 years and our defence must be 8 points a game average better if we are to threaten the top 8