Been working on a season preview for a bit, this is what Ive come up with...
The strongest line ups are more of an indication of what id expect rather than what it will exactly be...
Brisbane Broncos
Prediction: 2nd
Strongest Team: 1 Karmichael Hunt 2 Steve Michaels 3 Brent Tate 4 Justin Hodges 5 Tame Tupou 6 Darren Lockyer 7 Shane Perry 8 Sam Thaiday 9 Shaun Berrigan 10 Petero Civoniceva 11 David Stagg 12 Corey Parker 13 Tonie Carroll -Reserves: 14 Michael Ennis 15 Ben Hannant 16 Brad Thorn 17 Dane Carlaw.
Strengths: Have more big game players than any other side, the likes of Lockyer, Hodges, Berrigan and Civoniceva have all performed brilliantly in big matches throughout their career. The backline boasts five internationals and all are genuine match winners, the forwards have their fair share of stars with six of the pack playing test football at some stage. They have the right blend of exciting young players with Hunt, Ennis and Michaels all expected to be in the 17, add to that the experience of Carroll, Lockyer and Civoniceva and they certainly seem to have the right balance. Getting over the end of season slump in 2006 was also a positive, Brisbane have always been a team that plays on confidence and this year will be no different.
Weaknesses: It’s very hard to defend the premiership in the modern era. Its been 9 years since the last time a team won back to back titles (Brisbane in 97 and 98) and doing it again will be tougher than that time around. The obvious loss is Shane Webcke, you can’t just replace a guy like that, in Sam Thaiday Brisbane have a ready made replacement but he’s an entirely different type of player. The squad overall looks like being one of the strongest but that doesn’t always win you football matches, this year they definitely need to play more as a team than they did during 06.
Key Player: Darren Lockyer, best player in the world now, did everything last year and there’s no way Brisbane can win the competition without this man at his best.
Look Out for: Dave Taylor, massive wraps on this guy, bigger, stronger, tougher and faster than Webcke at the same age, former Australian schoolboy who should make a big impact when he gets a chance in the top grade this season.
Top Tryscorer: Karmichael Hunt
Canberra Raiders
Prediction: 13th
Strongest Team: 1 Bronx Goodwin 2 Colin Best 3 Phil Graham 4 William Zillman 5 Craig Frawley 6 Todd Carney 7 Michael Dobson 8 Scott Logan 9 Lincoln Withers 10 Troy Thompson 11 Tom Learyod Lahrs 12 Glen Turner 13 Alan Tongue – Reserves 14 Michael Weyman 15 Josh Miller 16 Dane Tilse 17 Marshall Chalk
Strengths: This team has a lot of young future stars, there is a distinct chance that they could produce something similar to that Penrith did in 2003, guys like Todd Carney, Tom Learoyd Lahrs and Troy Thompson are all still quite young but have played enough first grade to be considered senior players now. While they easily have the most inexperienced team in the competition they could easily make a big impact based on youthful exuberance. Their forward pack is hugely under rated, when a guy like Neville Costigan will be fighting for even a spot on the bench you know you have depth, I’d rate their pack as one of the top five in the NRL. Their depth in general is quite good even in the backs, Dobson may lose out the halfback position to Andrew Dunemann but they are one of the few teams that could suffer an injury or two and have a ready made replacement in waiting.
Weaknesses: No real stars in their side. It’s going to be a big ask for Todd Carney to run the side at such a young age while the backline in general is lacking big names. Bronx Goodwin and William Zillman are both outstanding youngsters but could be caught out in defence at the top level. Jason Smith is a huge loss, probably more so than any of the other loses, Smith gave Carney guidance but now it’s up to Todd to run the side himself.
Key Player: Alan Tongue, was the heart and soul of this team in 06, made over 1000 tackles and will probably need to make that many more in 07. One of the real nice guys of the competition plays well above his weight and is likely to be given the captaincy, he’s an inspiration in this team and will need to play 24 games this season or the Raiders will certainly lack some punch in the pack.
Look Out For: William Zillman, scored over 30 tries in Premier League last season playing as a halfback, is likely to start this season in the centres and is a class act. His defence is questionable but he has speed to burn as well as excellent ball skills, we may see him play a number of positions throughout the season.
Top Tryscorer: Phil Graham
Canterbury Bulldogs
Prediction: 1st
Strongest Team: 1 Luke Patten 2 Hazem El Masri 3 Willie Tonga 4 Andrew Emilio 5 Matt Utai 6 Daniel Holdsworth 7 Brent Sherwin 8 Mark O’Meley 9 Corey Hughes 10 Willie Mason 11 Sonny Bill Williams 12 Andrew Ryan 13 Reni Maitua – Reserves: 14 Chris Armit 15 Kane Cleal 16 Dallas McIlwain 17 Ben Roberts
Strengths: Sensational forward pack, that’s not a pack you want to come up against when they are at their best, all of them except for Hughes have been internationals for a very good reason. SBW will be looking to have his first full season in the top grade after his injury plagued career thus far. The backs aren’t terrible either, there is a lot of tryscoring ability in the three quarter line. Daryl Millard will be pushing all of the outside backs for a spot so competition is fierce. Bulldogs also have the luxury of having the best goalkicker in the game, El Masri will win them three or four games at least off his boot and that’s a huge advantage when the competition is this close.
Weaknesses: Hard to see any, depth in the forwards is probably their only one. Around Origin time they could struggle to put out a solid pack but apart from that it’s hard to see any. Nate Myles move to the Roosters could cost them a lot too, his impact coming off the bench was outstanding and its now up to guys like Armit and McIlwain to do his job. Also the team is largely unchanged from 2006 and could be carrying some mental scars from their semi final loss to Brisbane, if they can get over this though it’s hard to see them finishing anywhere else but top three.
Key Player: Willie Mason, one of the top players in the game now, his attitude is under control and his performances do the talking now, on the days he turns up and plays his best hes unstoppable, too many performances similar to that his produced in Origin 1 last year could see him very close to a Dally M Medal.
Look Out For: Ben Roberts, Kiwi halfback turned centre made a few outstanding appearances in the top grade last season and is one for the future for both the dogs and NZ. Is likely to get a chance off the bench at the start if the season but could put the starting halves under pressure with some good performances.
Top Tryscorer: Hazem El Masri
Cronulla Sharks
Prediction: 9th
Strongest Team: 1 David Simmons 2 Fraser Anderson 3 Josh Hannay 4 Ben Pomeroy 5 Lee Hookey 6 Brett Seymour 7 Brett Kimmorley 8 Ben Ross 9 Kevin Kingston 10 Luke Douglas 11 Phil Leuluai 12 Lance Thompson 13 Paul Gallen – Reserves: 14 Richard Villasanti 15 Reece Williams 16 Craig Stapleton 17 Greg Bird
Strengths: New coach and new team. Ricky Stuart is the best thing to happen to Cronulla since E.T. He will bring fresh ideas to a team who looked clueless in the back half of 2006, a new look backline is likely with the departure of old heads Albert, Vagana and the possible omission of Adam Dykes. Ben Ross will be back after a year on the sidelines, the former Origin player will be a massive plus to their pack. Brett Seymour playing 5/8 outside Kimmorley should do well, I’m expecting similar performances to those that saw him finish 9th in the Dally M’s in 2005. You’d also hope Stuart will realise Luke Covell is barely a park footy standard player and drop him from the top side, Josh Hannay is almost a like for like replacement, just ten times better.
Weaknesses: Could take the new look team a little while to gel, also how well can Kimmorley adapt to a new style of play, he had his worst year in first grade last year and the axe is still hanging around should he start the season poorly. With the likes of Dykes and Kearney putting pressure on him his spot certainly isn’t assured. They have lost some experienced players like Phil Bailey but the players in to replace them aren’t the worst, there’s every chance they could surprise and finish top four and on the other hand they could easily come bottom four.
Key Player: Brett Kimmorley, he’s under massive pressure, he needs to start the season well or his career with the Sharks is over, he’s generally responded well to pressure in the past, you don’t win competitions and play for Australia if you are completely hopeless, the addition of Seymour will help his game too, both have excellent kicking games and the team will be better off with them in the halves.
Look Out For: Fraser Anderson, former Broncos winger or centre who is in the mould of Lote Tuqiri and Wendell Sailor. Just didn’t show enough to get another contract with Brisbane but he will be a good addition to the Sharks backline, hes big and fast and can sniff out a try, he is definitely the type of player Cronulla have been lacking in recent times.
Top Tryscorer: Lee Hookey
