General 2016 NRL Top 8

[Iafetas Kickstand Wang]

There are a lot of things that have to go right to turn a mentally weak team with a soft club culture into a high flying contender in the space of a single off season...i think your points are valid and sadly prophetic.

We have a couple of fantastic signings no doubt, but at the moment it looks like the same defensive frailties are going to haunt us in the same old positions....fullback and hooker weren't defensive soft points before Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck signed, so i'm not seeing much of a difference there.

It all comes down to McCrappin and whether he can pull his head out of his ass, or at least listen to someone who has a clue.

Tomkins tackled as well as Barbie. Lots of plastic, had a filthy looking dress, but once you lifted it up you were ultimately disappointed.

 

[Jordan G]

I don't think Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is the defensive upgrade that people think he is, especially when he's going to be covering for our defensive line compared to the Roosters more organised and less likely to concede easy line breaks defensive line.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck probably won't make 200+ metres a game, but he won't be too far off IMO. So much of what he does starts from fullback, I don't see why that would change all of a sudden.

Not overly concerned about new combinations. We're essentially plugging two internationals into a Kiwi team that has a strong representation of Kiwi internationals.

The Shaun Johnson coming back from injury is a valid thing. We simply don't know what he's going to produce early on especially. That's going to put a bit more emphasis on whoever gets the job partnering him in the halves initially,.

For all the what if's my biggest concern remains the basic handling errors and diabolical defensive ability of our outside backs. The rest is theory, this is something that's been proven on far too many occasions.

 

[Vancent]

Top 8
Broncos
Manly
Roosters
Souths
Warriors
Melbourne
Sharks
Bulldogs

Raiders, Dragons close, Parra and Cowboys close but a Thurston injury to cruel their season 6-8wks in.

Titans, Tigers, Knights and can't remember who I forgetting (!) but add them to the first paragraph.

Edit - Panthers, add them as per above, nearly but no.

 

[mrblonde]

There are a lot of things that have to go right to turn a mentally weak team with a soft club culture into a high flying contender in the space of a single off season...i think your points are valid and sadly prophetic.

We have a couple of fantastic signings no doubt, but at the moment it looks like the same defensive frailties are going to haunt us in the same old positions....fullback and hooker weren't defensive soft points before Luke and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck signed, so i'm not seeing much of a difference there.

It all comes down to McCrappin and whether he can pull his head out of his ass, or at least listen to someone who has a clue.

So no McLennan, Kearney or Lowe then....

Top 8 definitely. Not sure about 4 at this stage. 5 or 6 gives us a Week 1 Home Final and I'd be happy with that...

He says, sticking a fork into his North Queensland Dolls and Brisbane Dolls etc...

 

[Far Away Fan]

I think that Cappy is going to muck around with Leuleui in the halves for half the season which is going to be a mess.

This and potentially consistently poor edge defence are my biggest concerns for 2016. Sort those out and we'll be top four.

 

[Inruin]

if Manu and Konnie are injured and out for a large number of weeks and neither of the TL's are played in the halves we make the Top 4. Assuming no one else goes out injured for more than a week or two

 

[Sup42]

if Manu and Konnie are injured and out for a large number of weeks and neither of the TL's are played in the halves we make the Top 4. Assuming no one else goes out injured for more than a week or two

So you got Robson at Six.
Who do you replace Hurrell and Manu with ?

 

[brightman]

So you got Robson at Six.
Who do you replace Hurrell and Manu with ?

well assuming we've run out of rookies then 2nd rowers with bung knees would have to be next cab off the rank, surely?

 

[Iafetas Kickstand Wang]

well assuming we've run out of rookies then 2nd rowers with bung knees would have to be next cab off the rank, surely?

So Ivan is coming back?

 

[Inruin]

So you got Robson at Six.
Who do you replace Hurrell and Manu with ?

Ayshford and Allwood. Maumolo. Wright. Fusitua.

To be honest, my comment was tongue in cheek. Just highlighting that we still will have two players in the backline who cant defend and who are error prone. I don't believe we can carry both of them in the team. Perhaps not even one of them. Though looking at the replacements, they aren't exactly masters of the basics either.

And yes Robson in the halves with Shaun Johnson.

 

[ryno]

For us to have a successful year the combinations on defense of Manu and Kata and Hurrell and Lolohea (If thats the combination they go with) have to really step up and sort their shit out.

No use having the best spine in the world if we let through easy points on the fringes.

If we can sort that then we will be top 4 material. If we cant then we will be fringe 8 more likely 9 - 12.

 

[facefacts]

For us to have a successful year the combinations on defense of Manu and Kata and Hurrell and Lolohea (If thats the combination they go with) have to really step up and sort their shit out.

No use having the best spine in the world if we let through easy points on the fringes.

If we can sort that then we will be top 4 material. If we cant then we will be fringe 8 more likely 9 - 12.

I think Lolohea defends very well on the wing, he's made some very good defensive decisions, and he has the acceleration and footwork to not only keep up with his opponents but to also recover from a mistake...his center defense is very poor, but to be fair there aren't too many rookies that master the position straight off the bat, if ever.

Kata really impressed me, mainly in his effort which was fantastic all season...sure he got owned numerous times but he kept coming all game, which is pretty rare from one of our juniors.
Unfortunately he will continue to get beaten by bigger men, and centers and wingers will only keep getting bigger and faster.
He would be a hooker for mine.

Hurrell has everything except the mental strength to use what he's got...he may do enough to get by for a few years, maybe even a full career, but effort will never be instinctive like it is in the Mannerings and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's of the world...we will never be able to bank on him to do whatever it takes to win.

Manu is free points to the opposition, always has been, always will be, as long as he plays on the wing.

 

[Far Away Fan]

For us to have a successful year the combinations on defense of Manu and Kata and Hurrell and Lolohea (If thats the combination they go with) have to really step up and sort their shit out.

Let's be honest, how likely is that to happen?

 

[jonno]

Manu is a confidence player...

When he's feeling good he's unstoppable.

But I don't think even he knows how to get himself in the mood.

This whole team relies on feeling right before they can achieve their potential...

So that's the real test for Cappy and Doyle this season IMO if they want top 8 glory...

How to turn these guys into hard men?

 

[Nahz]

1.Broncos
2.Cowboys
3.Manly
4.Roosters
5.Storm
6.Panthers
7.WARRIORS
8.Bulldogs

 

[OMG]

This is the way i see the regular season going.
1.Cows- if any team can go back to back its the Cows
2.Dragons- far better squad than last year, great depth, looks like most under rate them like last year, the big movers IMO
3.Broncs, same as Cows but the loss of Hodges is bigger than what most think,
4.Warriors-it would be fair to say they need a season but the squad is just too good, it would be disappointing if they dont hit the top 4.
5. Melbourne- a full off season will have the old dudes humming.
6. Panthers, cruelled by injury 2015, they've recruited well, I could see a similar start to Te Maire's career as Shaun Johnson's, stuck behind a has been until mid-season.
7. Canberra-good recruitment, they have been in dire need of someone with a kicking game.
8. Doggies,Sharks, Roosters and Bunnies to fight out the last spot, with a slight edge to the doggies as they haven't had to rebuid their spine.

 

[Far Away Fan]

An interesting article just published on theroar.com.au has the Warriors losing to the Broncs in the Grand Final! After we finish at no.8!

https://www.theroar.com.au/2016/01/09/your-teams-nrl-tarot-card-prediction-part-1/

 

[Defence]

8. Doggies,Sharks, Roosters and Bunnies to fight out the last spot, with a slight edge to the doggies as they haven't had to rebuid their spine.

U got some big teams missing out ( roosters, bunnies, Sharks)
What's the thinking there?
Hopefully you're right.

 

[OMG]

U got some big teams missing out ( roosters, bunnies, Sharks)
What's the thinking there?
Hopefully you're right.

Combinations bro, Bully is a massive loss for the Bunnies and the other 2 have near brand new spines.
You could sort of say that about us but the Kiwi connection trumps that and then some.
It will be absolutely heart breaking if they don't top 4 because we not only have a top 4 team on paper, our squad is amazeballs, the best in the NRL easily.

 

[snake77]

I'm finding this year harder to pick the 8 than most years. Usually there are a few teams that are in the top 8 year in year out but the last 10 years usually 1-4 of the previous years top 8 don't make the 8 the following year.

At the moment it is easier to pick the 3 teams most likely to struggle in the Knights, Tigers and Titans. The other 13 sides are a big chance of making the finals, some will need less disruption to their top sides due to injury and suspension than others.

Usually I'd pick the sides that have their shit together first either due to a great roster, been consistent over the years, coach who should get them playing consistent over the 26 rounds. At the moment I'd lean towards the Broncos, Cowboys, Roosters.

I wouldn't be surprised to see either the Storm, Bulldogs or Souths miss the finals. Storm should make it with their 3 superstars and their forward pack. The big 3 could be getting close to one year too many. The Bulldogs have made the finals every year under Hasler but I don't think they have been to impressive the last few years, they will be consistent enough to be in the hunt. Souths it will be interesting to see how they cover for Luke's absence. Have the released too many players to get Burgess back? Then we have all of the rumours about their coach being to intense. Have they got over their premiership hangover and ready to climb the mountain again?

Cronulla are interesting. They have added some exciting players to their roster or developed some exciting players who now have some first grade time behind them. I probably won't fall asleep as often on Saturday nights when games are coming out of Shark Park.

Penrith I would have picked for a return to the 8 and written off 2015 due to the injuries. The change in coach throws a spanner in the works.

The big improvers I like our recruitment (yeah sure I'm biased but we still recruited well) and Manly's incoming players should help freshen up their roster.