NRL 2024
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we skipped ladder predictions, and now we get to cheat having seen 4 teams play
Penrith enter the season looking for 4 on the bounce. They've lost a few guys again, and Luia is off at season's end. Surely the losses are starting to take a toll? Spencer Leniu might be the loss that finally pulls them back (He's already a loss to the Roosters too lol), their prop rotation was relentless, and Leniu from the bench was a key in big finals. They lost their backup half as well. Will still win an awful lot of games, but surely, surely, they can't go the well again? Surely.
The Broncos were my early pick but they, according to the weekend, are still working out how to replace the guys they lost to the Dolphins. Still a loaded side though, will win heaps of games at Suncorp, and should be at the pointy end. I think they live and die by how many Reece Walsh and Ezra Mamm hero plays come off, and how many become nothing more than dumb errors at dumb times.
Melbourne. Why won't you fucking die? They finished 3rd last year despite being dogshit most of the season. They were a mile off the top 2 sides, but so were everyone else. Bellamy won't let them finish any worse than 6th by virtue of pure rage alone.
Cronulla looked good all year then collapsed. They've lost a little depth and stability. Is their spine any good? Are their middles> I think they are a chance to fade out
Newcastle rode a wave home, but that doesn't look sustainable. Ponga is a freak though. They will have to replace Young's huge number of tries. Out of the 8
The Raiders get worse every year, but hang around because the team is as stubborn and grumpy as their coach
The Roosters will not be that bad again, and that bad was a miracle play from a prelim. But i still question their two midget halves. Cheese looked twice the player he was last year in their R1 game which is a massive boost. Losing Leniu to a probably long suspension is not helpful.
Souths can't defend, and actually have some plodders in the backline while their injuries are around. Latrell is the best guy int eh comp to watch, but is simply not fit enough to play fullback all season in a team with championship asperations.
Manly will rise, Brooks is a good buy, not least because it ends the Schuster at 6 experiment. Again, as every year, does Turbo stay fit?
Everyone else sucksTo the Warriors
Good year last year, thus expectations have been raised. So, history tells us, 6 win season coming up
But maybe not? We have a calm, settled, organised coach who appears to have the boys playing hard for him, and what stood out last year was the repeated efforts, and the belief to come back when things go wrong, where in the past we just folded. Big question mark is, is this actually sustainable?
Will Shaun Johnson's Indian Summer go another year? Is this relaxed, happy, confident Shaun here to stay? Who partners him in the halves to take some of the slack? Do we have have the edge players to take advantage of what was last year a great set of middles? Can Capewell and Harris exist on teh same field? And can they last the year? Did rugby ruin RTS or did it round out his skills? Can the soul glow enigma again score more than he lets in?
The complete lack of chat from inside the camp, and the absence of "fittest ever" headlines etc is certainly heartwarming. A few pundits here pushing us for a big year. I'm not sold, i think we finish 5th or 6th.The entirely wrong ladder
Penrith
Roosters
Brisbane
Melbourne
Warriors
Manly
Souths
Cronulla
Cowboys
Eels
Newcastle
Gold Coast
Raiders
Tigers
Bulldogs
Dolphins
St George -
@mariner4life said in NRL 2024:
and the absence of "fittest ever" headlines etc is certainly heartwarming.
Great write up, but I actually think there was an interview with Webster where this was mentioned - so that does feed into your early 6 win predictions.
From the trial I've watched rugby has improved RTS's defence.
Ever the pessimist/nationalist (in a sports sense
) I'm concerned our somewhat Oz journeyman starting pack aren't going to be up to it, especially if we have a disinterested AFB who wants to be back in Sydney. -
goddam it Webbie
know your history
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Well, I've had no time to watch the games so far, so my attempt is probably going to be worse, however here is my attempt at the entirely wrong ladder.
Biggest failure from last year.. faiders.
Biggest improver from last year...Eels (better draw, no impending suspensions currently)
*assumes Turbo plays only half a season, else top eight.
Yes I think the Warriors can make the eight regardless. Egan's HIA count for me the biggest watch out here, one of the best hookers currently in the game when fit.Penrith
Brisbane
Cronulla
Melbourne
Roosters
Eels
Warriors
Newcastle
*Manly
Souths
Cowboys
Gold Coast
Bulldogs
Raiders
Dolphins
St George
Tigers -
So Spencer Leniu is alleged to have called Ezra Mam a “monkey’’ in Las Vegas. Apparently that's racist and no audio exists to substantiate the allegation.
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@antipodean Well he's admitted it now.
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@African-Monkey said in NRL 2024:
@antipodean Well he's admitted it now.
Should have played it safe and just called him a fluffybunny
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Sticky clearly didn't like what I had to say about the Raiders. Think last night said more about the Knights though than the Raiders. Still good start for them
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nothing about that game gave me any confidence in either side
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@mariner4life Always hard to get a gauge on sides early on but yeah, 2 middle of the pack sides right there.
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Warriors tonight v Cronulla. In a horrible turn of events, we're heavy favourites (sportsbet has us at $1.50 to the Sharks at $2.60)
No CNK at the back so we have a rookie. Metcalf gets the 6 jersey, Roger is in the centres. Capewell given an edge. Be very nice to bag 2 points against a team aiming for the same area of the ladder. -
@mariner4life I always get worried when we are at short odds against another decent team. Should be a relatively even match, but at home we should have an advantage.
Both of our halves have a history if injury issues but hoping they stay fit as when on form, both looked really good last year
hoping for 2 points, but not certain
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@bayimports said in NRL 2024:
@mariner4life I always get worried when we are at short odds against another decent team. Should be a relatively even match, but at home we should have an advantage.
Both of our halves have a history if injury issues but hoping they stay fit as when on form, both looked really good last year
hoping for 2 points, but not certain
I still prefer Martin to Metcalf, he's a great ball runner but I don't think he's a better 6 than Martin. Hopefully he proves me wrong like Egan did.
As it's the Warriors I'm always pessimistic ... we were so high last year that I'm scared of a big drop.
Annoyingly first game in Sydney isn't until 6 April.
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Warriors kit is so good
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FFS ,, that aint good .. could be a broken jaw,... sure the bunker will say play on
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Wahs looking and playing sharp
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Great questions of the ref by Harris... like to see that
