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| Can the boys from the Eastern Suburbs find their 2013 form again? |
South Sydney – Prediction 4th
A really
poor year for the Rabbits in 2016, and they’ll be looking to make amends. They
have a refreshed feel to them this year with Robbie Farah coming in, and with
the Burgess brothers now all settled down with wives and kids, they should keep
focussed on footy and out of the social pages.
A lot of
eyes will be on how Farah fits into the system, but I think it will be more
intriguing to see how the rest of the squad already there recovers from last
season. Inglis and Reynolds both need to step-up, not to mention the Burgess’
brothers. All are premiership-winning players and need to hit the reset button
on their enthusiasm because they’re the ones who drive the culture of the club.
Predicting
Michael Maguire to take his side back to the upper-etches of the NRL ladder and
into September. For me, they’ll make the top four.
St. George-Illawarra Dragons – Prediction 16th
A club in
complete disarray. What more can be said? They’ve been on the slide since Wayne
Bennett left years ago, and they’re direction and recruitment has to be
questioned. Club legend Paul ‘Mary’ McGregor has been left to clean up the poor
decisions of others and made to look like a fool.
Outside of
Dugan and Frizell they have no real high-quality players and the use of Dugan
at right centre is mind-boggling considering he was once mentioned as the ‘next
Billy Slater’ while emerging at Canberra. He must play fullback and he needs to
return to his running-game strength that made him a star in the lime green.
McGregor
moved on Benji Marshall last season which was a bold but needed decision, and
was planning on using NSW Cup winning halfback Drew Hutchinson only for him to
do an ACL in the preseason. Would be using this year to blood a heap of
youngsters like Newcastle did last season and look towards a big 2018.
Sydney Roosters – Prediction 2nd
The Roosters
will be the most-improved side in 2017, mark my words. After 12 months of
horror, Mitchell Pearce will have a burning desire to help the Chooks back
towards success. He is the player with the biggest point to prove in the NRL
this year, and will reach his best form since they won the comp in 2013.
Connor
Watson has already placed a heap of pressure on Luke Keary to steal the
five-eighth position, but will likely be used in a utility role off the bench.
Their core bunch of players are very experienced and have played together for a
number of years, so I’m expecting big things from the Tri-Colours this season.
Look out for
Latrell Mitchell, Blake Ferguson and Shaun Kenny-Dowell to cross the white line
more often than a school-crossing supervisor.
Wests Tigers – Prediction 13th
A make or
break year for the Tigers this season, and with their swagger of stars
off-contract at the end of the year, it could be a make or break on the
upcoming future of the club. The trio of Moses, Brooks and Tedesco have played
enough NRL games now to handle the pressure and gone will be the young and
learning tag.
Jason Taylor
will be under tremendous pressure from the fans if they get off to a poor
start, and if that’s the case it could make the re-signing of their big names a
distraction and hamper their season.
Don’t have
the cattle up front to be able to knock over the best clubs on a regular basis,
and will struggle to match it with the bigger sides. Could surprise though and
with a bit of momentum I wouldn’t be shocked if they went on a run.