Is the comp more even in 2025

[maxta]

Have seen in recent years aside from Penrith dominating, that by mid season it gets pretty obvious which 2 - 4 teams will fight it out ..... mainly Penrith who have dominated and though will no doubt again be in the mix, personally feel they may do it tougher than many pundits predicting they are again the team to beat.
I feel with all the off season changes, there's been a difference leading up to 2025 in this very area.
The strong teams have lost a few and the weaker teams have gained a few, making imo the possibility of a tighter competition, many upsets and a few "new" contenders.
Manly seem pretty much the same strength all round with a spice more experience up front, but have much improvement with young guns like Hoppa and hopefully Navale coming through.
Apart from Melbourne, who I feel with an injury free season are the yardsticks, most teams have multiple changes and the competition looks a little more level due to this fact.....well that's how I see it, but you just never know till it's game on.

 

[Brookie Bob]

Apart from Melbourne, who I feel with an injury free season are the yardsticks, most teams have multiple changes and the competition looks a little more level due to this fact.....well that's how I see it, but you just never know till it's game on.

Now without Christian Welch:

Welch announces immediate retirement

Melbourne Storm forward Christian Welch has today announced his retirement from rugby league with immediate effect.

www.melbournestorm.com.au

 

[Stewbojevic]

Have seen in recent years aside from Penrith dominating, that by mid season it gets pretty obvious which 2 - 4 teams will fight it out ..... mainly Penrith who have dominated and though will no doubt again be in the mix, personally feel they may do it tougher than many pundits predicting they are again the team to beat.
I feel with all the off season changes, there's been a difference leading up to 2025 in this very area.
The strong teams have lost a few and the weaker teams have gained a few, making imo the possibility of a tighter competition, many upsets and a few "new" contenders.
Manly seem pretty much the same strength all round with a spice more experience up front, but have much improvement with young guns like Hoppa and hopefully Navale coming through.
Apart from Melbourne, who I feel with an injury free season are the yardsticks, most teams have multiple changes and the competition looks a little more level due to this fact.....well that's how I see it, but you just never know till it's game on.

No doubt Melbourne stand out, especially seeing they played a lot of last year without Munster or with him at half fitness.

Hard to write off Penrith.

Outside of that, any number of teams could have good years and make a run for the top 4. Including Manly.

 

[Dion Johnson]

Melbourne have depth in the spine and its quality depth in Wishart, Pezet, Faalogo along with the highly promising Jack Howarth. They have a superior squad on paper.

Penrith they will be there and which youngsters will shine will be there surprise.

Donkeys have some good depth and on paper they should perform better.

Outside of these three the salary cap looks to be doing it’s job, the Panthers have had a lot of players go but they keep producing, the Storm well they could be running two books again and the Donkeys are not far off them there.

 

[double hoops]

Manly have the best squad on paper since they last won a comp. Arguably better perhaps than 2011. Field form is yet to be determined. But we should improve from last year. Should.

 

[manly al]

Could well be a relatively even comp this season and especially if the Tigers can step up a bit .
Not sure with the Warriors and the loss of Johnson and A F B but Fisher - Harris is a big in
Panthers maybe down a notch or so , bit unknown with the Eels .
Some differences with the Manly 2011 squad , Gifty offering quite a bit more as a 13 , maybe a slightly better rounded prop grouping then and a very reliable 9 in Ballin .
Rectify or largely rectify these area in 2025 and a regular good performing one and then could have the team to press real hard

 

[frank stokes]

I dont think so... Storm and Riff will dominate again I reckon...

Donkeys rely on a broken Reynolds (although Hunt as a backup was a good move), Sharks are flat trackers that do not have the spine to win big games, Roosters halves are not good enough, Cows lack depth in backline and Drinkwater is questionable, Faders are too young to be consistent and Manly have a quality backline but questionable forward depth/quality..

Bunnies have the talent to do something if they can stay on the park and the rest are just going around for fun imo...

I dont think 3 or 4 teams being capable of winning is a close contest.... all my opinion obviously...

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

I dont think so... Storm and Riff will dominate again I reckon...

Riff, I'm not so sure.
Nothing against their quality, simply a matter of them getting tired, I predict.
A long season with every single club trying to make some sort of statement by knocking off the 4 time premiers. An injury or 2 and their depth will be severely tested.
I think some of their main guns might just start to look a bit ragged by the end of the year, and I certainly won't blame them.
Limp into the 8 but won't make it to the GF.

 

[frank stokes]

Riff, I'm not so sure.
Nothing against their quality, simply a matter of them getting tired, I predict.
A long season with every single club trying to make some sort of statement by knocking off the 4 time premiers. An injury or 2 and their depth will be severely tested.
I think some of their main guns might just start to look a bit ragged by the end of the year, and I certainly won't blame them.
Limp into the 8 but won't make it to the GF.

Will be interesting to see SR8... a lot of your concerns probably applied when they were 3 time defending premiers... Luai being gone is their biggest concern but then they may be able to keep Cleary on the park this year...

Personally I reckon "limp into the 8" is a massive call...

 

[double hoops]

I see JFH as being a huge loss for the riff.

 

[SeaEagleRock8]

Will be interesting to see SR8... a lot of your concerns probably applied when they were 3 time defending premiers... Luai being gone is their biggest concern but then they may be able to keep Cleary on the park this year...

Personally I reckon "limp into the 8" is a massive call...

Well they're just about the greatest side ever, but... they're only human!
Will be worth watching, I agree

 

[Ryan]

Manly have the best squad on paper since they last won a comp. Arguably better perhaps than 2011. Field form is yet to be determined. But we should improve from last year. Should.

Backline is sublime.
Forwards / Hooker - sub-prime.