General 2023 Wooden Spoon Prediction

[KPWarrior]

We are nowhere near due. I'm going with the Knights for the spoon, just edge out the Titans. Spoon is harder to predict than the bloody premiers!

 

[Mr Brownstone]

We have definitely improved and I like the direction that Webster is taking us however there are so many ifs with our team. Others have mentioned it but we have weaknesses and are a few injuries away from disaster.
I also think almost every team has improved at our rate or greater and can’t see any of the top 8 from last year falling out.
I think with recent dragons injuries we are both neck and neck for the spoon.
Our one hope is that our Defence improves dramatically. If we do we will avoid the soon but only just.

I think we’re quite a bit better than the Dolphins. If we finish below them then I’d be shocked.

 

[Sky Waka]

I think we’re quite a bit better than the Dolphins. If we finish below them then I’d be shocked.

I'd rather have Bennett as my coach than Johnson as my halfback.

 

[Damo]

I'd rather have Bennett as my coach than Johnson as my halfback.

That's not the whole picture though is it?

 

[Mullayo]

For me there are tiers
17 Dolphins
16-14 (Dragons, Titans, Manly - minus Turbo)
13-9 (Wahs, Tigers, Knights, Bulldogs and Broncos)

Although we have a horrible first half of the draw and are a Shaun Johnson or Addin Fonua-Blake injury away from chaos.
Dragons, Manly, Tigers are the same if they lose Hunt or Douehi or Turbo.

 

[Mullayo]

Just watched the Broncos and Dolphins trials.
Brocos looked like a bunch of showpony kids, while the Dolphins looked like the dreary Dragons of yesteryear.

Big bodies, short 10 and slow as molasses gang tackles that need a traffic cop to sort out.

Typical ugly Wayne team, slowing the play the ball and dragging the game back into the 80s.

Going to get penalised until the refs give up. Keep the scores down, at least.

The decrepit Dragons came 10th, it's ugly but effective enough when you have a huge talent deficit.

We need to protect Shaun Johnson and Addin Fonua-Blake, lest we get sucked down into the spoon race. Especially with our hellish first half draw. Every win before June will be a stay of execution.

 

[Tragic]

I'd rather have Bennett as my coach than Johnson as my halfback.

I would rather have Webster as coach than Bennett.
I would rather have Shaun Johnson as halfback than o'sullivan.

 

[Warriorshopeful]

Has to be the dragons doesn't it? Cody Ramsey out for their season Amone likely out for a long time too, they're struggling to pick their spine.
Also Lomax and Hunt are terrible with errors and defense. Lomax had most errors last year while Hunt had most missed tackles. Unless they improve a lot can't see them winning too many games this year.

 

[Mullayo]

Has to be the dragons doesn't it? Cody Ramsey out for their season Amone likely out for a long time too, they're struggling to pick their spine.
Also Lomax and Hunt are terrible with errors and defense. Lomax had most errors last year while Hunt had most missed tackles. Unless they improve a lot can't see them winning too many games this year.

I had the Dragons down around there last year, but they came 10th. Albeit, they beat us and the injury-ridden Rabbitohs twice... Should not happen again,

But what they do is they drag teams down to Woolongong (despite trying to drop Illawarra from their name) for multiple games and ambush them.
They also slow the game down and pack the field with big, chunky bodies. It's ugly, but works.

This year though, it does feel like their damned dragon luck has truly run out. They truly deserve the spoon for the way they've constructed their crappy roster.

If I could assign the spoon, which only V'Landys can, I'd give it to them. There is also the narrative the NRL won't let the Dophins get it, as they would have egg on their face for the debacle. I have grave doubts the refs will let us beat them.

 

[Up the guttz]

Seen the Dragons team list for the trial?? Gees if that’s their best 17 they have to get the spoon. Has to be one of the worst NRL line ups I’ve ever seen!!

 

[Canonball]

Seen the Dragons team list for the trial?? Gees if that’s their best 17 they have to get the spoon. Has to be one of the worst NRL line ups I’ve ever seen!!

yeah, apart from hunt they're not good

 

[Mullayo]

I'm

I think the Titans roster is decent, it’s the coaching that’s the problem - Holbrook along with O’Brien shouldn’t be anywhere near coaching first grade.

I'm suspicious that we can add Sheens to that list. He may be past it. Bennet is old, but his cobbled together patchwork team fought to the bitter end, and their props are a great foursome who play fundamental football.

The Kittens we played looked like a disorganised rabble. If Sheens' is trying to recreate the fast and loose 2005 vibe, maybe the game has evolved beyond.

On the other hand, Api is too wily, Klemmer and Papalii too energetic, and Douehi too good at scoring to let them slide too far. I also see Bateman as a distraction.

 

[Warriorsitsouryear]

Dragons 17th / Dolphins 16th / 15th Titans / 14th Knights

 

[Five&Last]

Dragons are the value bet. Bent Hunt is the only thing keeping them from being runaway spoon favourites. If he misses any significant time they are a shoe in for the spoon.

All teams healthy, Dolphins have the least amount of talent, and it’s not particularly close, so should be spoon favourites for now. I don’t believe the in Wayne Bennett factor, you still need a base level of talent to be competitive every week.

However, health/injuries usually play the biggest role in who comes last

 

[Five&Last]

Has to be the dragons doesn't it? Cody Ramsey out for their season Amone likely out for a long time too, they're struggling to pick their spine.
Also Lomax and Hunt are terrible with errors and defense. Lomax had most errors last year while Hunt had most missed tackles. Unless they improve a lot can't see them winning too many games this year.

Bent Hunt was also arguably the best player in the entire comp last year.

 

[Mullayo]

Dragons are the value bet. Bent Hunt is the only thing keeping them from being runaway spoon favourites. If he misses any significant time they are a shoe in for the spoon.

All teams healthy, Dolphins have the least amount of talent, and it’s not particularly close, so should be spoon favourites for now. I don’t believe the in Wayne Bennett factor, you still need a base level of talent to be competitive every week.

However, health/injuries usually play the biggest role in who comes last

Will V'landy's let the Fins fail?

Their four props are good, the pack is strong, they play hard fundamental football. They have no star to worry about, maybe Sulli or Marshall-King....

I think team culture/ mental strength in the face of adversity decrees who comes last. Sone teams fold, but the Dolphins and Dragons are ornery.

Broncos fold, Bulldogs fold, Warriors under Uncle Fester folded... I hope we don't again with our tough first 10 rounds, because afterwards we can make up some points.

Dragons' without Hunt are just a grumpy retirement villa.

In previous years, I would say the Sea Eagles without Turbo super suck too, but Seibold to his credit has overhauled their rubbish roster on the cheap where he could.
It's an interesting watch out there. Wonder what style they'll play now?

 

[Mullayo]

Bent Hunt was also arguably the best player in the entire comp last year.

Arguably.
The argument against begins with he missed the most tackles. in the NRL (Yes, more than Reecey Spoon).. But TBF, he was a one-man team and targeted to death.
Plus, he was a one-man team and the most important thing is to protect himself.

That's how Shaun Johnson has always seen it too, he used to be right.

 

[Five&Last]

Arguably.
The argument against begins with he missed the most tackles. in the NRL (Yes, more than Reecey Spoon).. But TBF, he was a one-man team and targeted to death.
Plus, he was a one-man team and the most important thing is to protect himself.

That's how Shaun Johnson has always seen it too, he used to be right.

Yeah I don't put any weight into that. If you watch the games, he had the most influence on team wins of any player in the comp last year. He literally dragged them to pretty unlikely wins despite how bad the rest of his team was. I don't think Hynes wins Dally M if Hunt plays on a team that has more wins.

I actually have money on Dragons for the spoon, but if Hunt plays every game this year I don't think he'll let them come last. He's too good, even by himself.

 

[Five&Last]

Will V'landy's let the Fins fail?

Their four props are good, the pack is strong, they play hard fundamental football. They have no star to worry about, maybe Sulli or Marshall-King....

I think team culture/ mental strength in the face of adversity decrees who comes last. Sone teams fold, but the Dolphins and Dragons are ornery.

Broncos fold, Bulldogs fold, Warriors under Uncle Fester folded... I hope we don't again with our tough first 10 rounds, because afterwards we can make up some points.

Dragons' without Hunt are just a grumpy retirement villa.

In previous years, I would say the Sea Eagles without Turbo super suck too, but Seibold to his credit has overhauled their rubbish roster on the cheap where he could.
It's an interesting watch out there. Wonder what style they'll play now?

Yeah I don't see this good Dolphins forward pack people mention, I think their key forward signings are washed up. Their bench forwards are throwaways from other teams. And I just don't see where their points are going to come from aside from the odd Hammer individual piece of brilliance.

 

[Beastmode]

Dragon finished 10th last year. Pretty much the same squad on paper, yet some thing they are deadest woodspooners?

Makes no sense to me…

Plus they took our raging bull BMM