General 2022 Ladder Predictions

[Gizzyfan]

I think Panthers, Roosters and Manly are certainties for the 8. Losing Reynolds will affect the Bunnies, how much I do not know, Latrell will be a big in but I just don't see it. Eels may also have had their time. Newcastle have problems as well and will struggle IMO same as the Raiders..

Warriors, Broncos, Titans, Sharks, and maybe the Dogs are the teams that can make dents in the 8 if key players hold together.

I don't see the others as being contenders, generally one team over performs so we shall see.

As long as we can avoid an injury epidemic this is the Warriors team with the best depth overall for a long time.

 

[Dunedin warrior]

Long way to go at this stage but here goes

1) Panthers
2) Storm
3) Eels
4). Roosters
5) Manly
6) Souths
7) Warriors
8) Raiders
9) Titans
10) Dragons
11) Tigers
12) Broncos
13) Sharks
14) Knights
15) Bulldogs
16) Cowboys

I think if the Eels are going to do well, this has to be the year for them. Reynolds will improve the Broncos but not by a huge amount. Knights have got issues and will slide.

Sharks have being getting a bit of hype, but I don’t particularly like their recruitment and highly rated assistants don’t mean much (see Kearney. S) I’m tipping them to be poor this season.

 

[Wheels]

1) Storm
2) Panthers
3) Souths
4). Warriors
5) Roosters
6) Manly
7) Eels
8) Titans
9) Bulldogs
10) Broncos
11) Raiders
12) Sharks
13) Tigers
14) Knights
15) Dragons
16) Cowboys

I have been very optimistic and picked the Warriors to make the Top 4. Although there is wishful thinking involved I think they have a really balanced side outside of an experienced center and loose forward while Harris is out! The team overall has plenty of talented younger players who could ignite the team and a good base of experienced players in key positions and with a pre season under their belt I am picking them to be a contender but not a premiership winner!!!

 

[matiunz]

Will break it down into tiers I think teams are in

1.Panthers- best team of last couple of seasons but desire will be a question mark.
2. Rabbitohs -Similar squad, will there be a WB factor?

3.Storm -Lost a few players, surely they can’t keep replacing them year after year? Wonder how Redcliffe will effect their recruitment.
4.Rooster- there or there abouts

5. Manly- obviously the Turbo factor varies their fortunes.
6.Sharks- similar squad with a couple of gains
7. Warriors- Might be wishful thinking but why not.
8.Titans- probably the most over hyped team at the moment but think they may get another year of momentum before they crash
9. Broncs- will go better with Reynolds but still seem to lack that killer instinct.
10. Raiders- seems to be a bit of unrest

11. Eels- lost some players and half the playing group doesn’t seem to want to be there
12.Dogs- just on recruitment alone.
13.knights- No Pearce and likely Ponga waiting for the Dolphins, nothing else really to get excited about.
14. Dragons- ultimate Vanilla team

15. Tigers- glad to have a bigger basket case than us
16. Cows- seem in a mess, back to their dark days

 

[Wrighty]

16. Cows- seem in a mess, back to their dark days

Can you make a post with your analysis of why the Cows will be dire in 2022?

 

[Toookey]

1. Panthers
2. Roosters
3. Storm
4. Manly (If Turbo plays 15+ games)

5. Sharks
6. Eels
7. Rabbitohs
8. Warriors
9. Broncos
10. Titans
11. Raiders
12. Doggies

13. Knights
14.Cowboys
15. Dragons
16. Tigers

Maaaan, that 5-12 really could be anything. 1 or 2 key injuries to any of those teams and that’s going to change drastically, I reckon about 4 wins will seperate 5 and 12

 

[eudebrito]

1. Panthers
2. Roosters
3. Manly
4. Storm
5. Eels
6. Rabbits
7. Raiders
8. Titans
9. Broncos
10. Sharks
11. Warriors
12. Knights
13. Bulldogs
14. Tigers
15. Dragons
16. Cowboys

Think the raiders might go ok if Ricky isnt being a psycho behind the scenes, strong pack, fogerty was a good pickup.

Not sure about the sharks, not buying that the roosters are some sort of supercoach factory and doubtful about Hynes as lead playmaker.

throw a blanket over broncos, titans, warriors, knights, bulldogs.... if canterbury and brisbane (and us) had better coaches they'd be more of a threat

 

[Chief]

Bit of a pig in a poke really. Be an interesting first few rounds but one thing is for damn sure - everyone on here will be brushing off the calculators with 8 weeks to go to figure out how we can somehow mathematically (and magically) make the eight to which the coaches and owners will call that a success if somehow we do.

 

[matiunz]

Can you make a post with your analysis of why the Cows will be dire in 2022?

Going off last season they finished second to last. The team below them have strengthened their squad significantly whereas I think the cows squad has gotten worse.
They’ve only gained 3 players of note- the over payed and busted Chad, Hiku could be good but he’s also likely on the fade and Jamayne Tounua-Brown who didn’t kick on last year. Masters,Grieg,McGuire,Morgan and O’Neil have left in the same time as well as there being question marks over highly paid Taumalolo playing and Val Holmes performing.
Payton looked out of his depth last year and I can’t see it turning around.

 

[Wrighty]

Going off last season they finished second to last. The team below them have strengthened their squad significantly whereas I think the cows squad has gotten worse.
They’ve only gained 3 players of note- the over payed and busted Chad, Hiku could be good but he’s also likely on the fade and Jamayne Tounua-Brown who didn’t kick on last year. Masters,Grieg,McGuire,Morgan and O’Neil have left in the same time as well as there being question marks over highly paid Taumalolo playing and Val Holmes performing.
Payton looked out of his depth last year and I can’t see it turning around.

Fantastic analysts

I think their backs will be good but weaker in the forwards

Best move is for them to go full bluey and try to score 35 or more points each week as they will definitely give up 30 each week.

 

[Dunedin warrior]

I think we will know pretty quickly regarding our chances. Dragons, Titan, Tigers, Broncos and Cowboys are our first 5 games. If we are going to have a good season realistically we need to win 4 from 5. Anything less means it’s probably going to be another long year.

 

[Defence]

I think we will know pretty quickly regarding our chances. Dragons, Titan, Tigers, Broncos and Cowboys are our first 5 games. If we are going to have a good season realistically we need to win 4 from 5. Anything less means it’s probably going to be another long year.

problem is we're a bit undermanned to start the season- no lodge, harris or walsh- 3 key players.

 

[Worried2Death]

problem is we're a bit undermanned to start the season- no lodge, harris or walsh- 3 key players.

Hopefully the Johnson factor gives us another dimension we didn't have last year tho, if he's ready to go round 1.

 

[Wrighty]

problem is we're a bit undermanned to start the season- no lodge, harris or walsh- 3 key players.

This is my worry too
If only we were missing Walsh for one game
Our backline in the first two games will be one of the weakest in the entire competition unless Arthars plays centre and secondly he turns out to be the goods
Best possible back line

1 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
2 Pompey
3 berry
4 Arthars
5 Montoya
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
7 Johnson

Yeah that backline isn’t beating many teams even with Shaun Johnson
A backline with Reece Walsh improves by an order of magnitude all the way up to Mediocre

1 Walsh
2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3 berry
4 arthars
5 Montoya
6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
7 Johnson

The other wild card that would improve our chances of winning those first two games without Reece is if Rocco berry kicks on.
He was pretty useless offensively if we are to be honest about how he played last year. He was solid defensively but ineffective ball in hand.
If he can break though and be all that he can be that would be extremely helpful

The final wild card I will put in the mix is Luke Metcalf. If we can have halves if Johnson and Metcalf instead of our other options then things look more pallatable

Dunedin warrior says we will know after 5 games. If we lose or lay an egg in the first game we will know right there it is not our year even if we try to console ourselves we were missing Kents

 

[Dunedin warrior]

problem is we're a bit undermanned to start the season- no lodge, harris or walsh- 3 key players.

Definitely, but if we are going to make the 8, we are going to need to win games under strength.

If you are not going to beat the Dragons with a weakened lineup you are going to struggle against the good teams with a strong lineup.

 

[Wrighty]

Definitely, but if we are going to make the 8, we are going to need to win games under strength.

If you are not going to beat the Dragons with a weakened lineup you are going to struggle against the good teams with a strong lineup.

round one St George predicted team according to sporting news round one:

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS​

1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Cody Ramsey
3. Moses Suli
4. Zac Lomax
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Talatau Amone
7. Ben Hunt
8. Blake Lawrie
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Jack de Belin
11. Jaydn Su’A
12. Tariq Sims
13. Jack Bird

14. Moses Mbye
15. Francis Molo
16. Aaron Woods
17. Tyrell Fuimaono

2022 gains: Jaydn Su’A (Rabbitohs), Francis Molo (Cowboys), George Burgess (Wigan), Moses Mbye (Tigers), Moses Suli (Sea Eagles), Aaron Woods (Sharks), Jack Gosiewski (Sea Eagles), Tautau Moga (Rabbitohs)

 

[Wrighty]

My Analysis of Gold Coast's Round one starting line up as posted in sporting news

GOLD COAST TITANS​

1. Jayden Campbell - He is awesome
2. Corey Thompson
3. Patrick Herbert - worst centre in the NRL
4. Brian Kelly - Pretty poor centre but he is experienced so makes few errors
5. Phillip Sami - Both Titans wings are in the bottom quartile or even bottom decile
6. AJ Brimson - Will be a poor mans Ash Taylor
7. Toby Sexton - Real Good
8. Isaac Liu - Big signing
9. Erin Clark - Should have kept Mitch Rein
10. Moeaki Fotuaika - Budget prop
11. Kevin Proctor - Flatters to deceive. Doesn't give away many penalties but when he does they are at crucial back breaking moments.
12. David Fifita -Best second rower in the NRL maybe
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Best lock in the NRL maybe at least the best up and coming lock anyway

14. Tanah Boyd - useless
15. Jarrod Wallace - Not worth writing home about
16. Sam Lisone - Playing well for Titans
17. Jaimin Jolliffe

How did these kents beat us by 40 points in round 25?
2022 gains: Isaac Liu (Roosters), Paul Turner (Warriors), Aaron Booth (Storm), Will Smith (Eels)

2022 losses: Jai Whitbread, Sam Stone (both Centurions), Tyrone Peachey (Wests Tigers), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Ash Taylor (Warriors), Mitch Rein (Eels), Jonus Pearson (unsigned)

Titans team news​

Jayden Campbell is expected to start the season at fullback, with AJ Brimson moving to the halves alongside Toby Sexton.

 

[Ever Hopeful]

The comp should even out a bit this year... to a point.

1. Roosters - I really like the steel in them last year, and the squad depth. They are very well coached.
2. Panthers - Losing Burton and Capewell stings a bit, but they are still a well-balanced team with a great half, and an astute coach, and the guys are tight and at peak age for the modern game.
3. Souths - Reynolds is big, Gagai was great last year, Marshall off the field, Bennett is a loss, but I was really impressed with the team as a unit last year. We have seen time and time again that that is a huge factor in success. I think they can hold their momentum for another year.
4. Manly - Much the same as this year. Bullemor will probably go well for them. Schuster another year older.
5. Storm - every year since Slater retired, then Cronk, then Smith people have expected them to drop off. Superb coaching staff, club culture and systems, and canny recruitment has come to the fore. However, I think this is the year when the cracks start to appear. I'm looking forward to seeing how Meaney goes.

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6-12 interchangeable

6. Titans - It will be strange to see a Titans without the Don. I think last year's signings have bedded in and they will come out stronger this year. Half and hooker is not strong, but realistically it is not for the majority of teams. I think this will be their last okay year before crashing again in 2023.
7. Sharks - Still middle of the road, but some of their signings might work out for them and be quite astute. I think Fitzgibbon will go okay.
8. Raiders - They looked done last year with potential for a mass exodus, but recruitment in/out hasn't been too bad. In the logjam of teams that are too hard to separate. Surprisingly, I think Havili will be a big loss for them.
9. Warriors - Pretty good on paper to be honest. I just have the feeling that Shaun Johnson, Egan, Lodge and Taylor will miss a few and they can't afford to. We're still missing a couple of good signings, and Tohu Harris is out for too long. They will get no favours from the NRL top brass and playing away from a supporter base will cost. If Shaun Johnson is fit and firing and our rookie centres develop well we'll push for the 8.
10. Eels - Yeah, I know, low. My gut feeling is that they have lost a lot of unity and are cooked. The decidedly average Rein was probably a good get for them in the end. After all of these years Arthur still fails to convince one way or the other. A good number of players seemed to be looking for a way out, but re-signing RCG and Gutherson stopped the exodus to a point.
11. Dragons - Another gut feeling, I'm aware I have them too high, but everyone loves a bolter. I think they are potentially the over achievers this year. They are a new look side that will have a few bright periods. There is potential for some of their young guns to have that 'breakout' season. Is the coach brave enough to elevate some of them above stale 'names' at the end of their career?
12. Dogs - Who knows? I think it will take them a while to gel and 2023 is more their year. Their cleanout has been good (albeit shady at times). For me their strength is who they have lost rather than who they have gained. It may come down to whether someone like Pangai Jr fires or not.

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13. Knights - There are some quality players in this team...just not enough of them. They have a forward pack that could still take them places.
14. Broncos - I don't see what others are seeing with the Broncos personally. They finished the year well, have a more controlling half (towards the end of his career), and looked a bit more tight knit. However, I think they still lack a strong, well-balanced squad.
15. Tigers - Potential to be marginally better?
16. Cows - The Dearden/Townsend contracts are suicide. A whole bunch of average in this team. Hopefully for their sake they have some wonderkids coming through as is sometimes the case in the north of Qld.

 

[Defence]

My Analysis of Gold Coast's Round one starting line up as posted in sporting news

GOLD COAST TITANS​

1. Jayden Campbell - He is awesome
2. Corey Thompson
3. Patrick Herbert - worst centre in the NRL
4. Brian Kelly - Pretty poor centre but he is experienced so makes few errors
5. Phillip Sami - Both Titans wings are in the bottom quartile or even bottom decile
6. AJ Brimson - Will be a poor mans Ash Taylor
7. Toby Sexton - Real Good
8. Isaac Liu - Big signing
9. Erin Clark - Should have kept Mitch Rein
10. Moeaki Fotuaika - Budget prop
11. Kevin Proctor - Flatters to deceive. Doesn't give away many penalties but when he does they are at crucial back breaking moments.
12. David Fifita -Best second rower in the NRL maybe
13. Tino Fa’asuamaleaui Best lock in the NRL maybe at least the best up and coming lock anyway

14. Tanah Boyd - useless
15. Jarrod Wallace - Not worth writing home about
16. Sam Lisone - Playing well for Titans
17. Jaimin Jolliffe

How did these kents beat us by 40 points in round 25?
2022 gains: Isaac Liu (Roosters), Paul Turner (Warriors), Aaron Booth (Storm), Will Smith (Eels)

2022 losses: Jai Whitbread, Sam Stone (both Centurions), Tyrone Peachey (Wests Tigers), Jamal Fogarty (Raiders), Ash Taylor (Warriors), Mitch Rein (Eels), Jonus Pearson (unsigned)

Titans team news​

Jayden Campbell is expected to start the season at fullback, with AJ Brimson moving to the halves alongside Toby Sexton.

Think you’re underselling a couple of them.
Sami and brimsom were both carry injuries all last year- both gun plays- apparently Sami has been killing it at preseason and is back to full speed- I reckon those two will surprise u and moe is a very good prop but otherwise a pretty fair assessment.
I’m backing them to make the 8 because of Holbrook- I think he’s a great coach.

 

[Defence]

round one St George predicted team according to sporting news round one:

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS​

1. Tyrell Sloan
2. Cody Ramsey
3. Moses Suli
4. Zac Lomax
5. Mikaele Ravalawa
6. Talatau Amone
7. Ben Hunt
8. Blake Lawrie
9. Andrew McCullough
10. Jack de Belin
11. Jaydn Su’A
12. Tariq Sims
13. Jack Bird

14. Moses Mbye
15. Francis Molo
16. Aaron Woods
17. Tyrell Fuimaono

2022 gains: Jaydn Su’A (Rabbitohs), Francis Molo (Cowboys), George Burgess (Wigan), Moses Mbye (Tigers), Moses Suli (Sea Eagles), Aaron Woods (Sharks), Jack Gosiewski (Sea Eagles), Tautau Moga (Rabbitohs)

A very experienced forward pack although I’m not sure that’s as much of an advantage these days as it was in days gone by- in fact it could be a weakness as they’re all at the wrong end of their careers.