Brisbane Broncos
With the Brisbane based side regularly getting around the 15-16 wins per season, it is likely that they will reach those numbers again. With a new coach at the helm and the usual flow of terrific young forwards to replace old heads lost, there is potential for solidity in the running game. If players like Jack Bird and Matt Gillett can produce bounce back form as seen in past seasons, then the Broncos could even elevate further. Halves pairing of Anthony Milford and Kodi Nikorima need to consistently perform at a high level to compete with the elite bracket of teams, but finals footy is a given.
Prediction: 5th
Canberra Raiders
No one is more frustrating to be a follower of than the Raiders. One weekend they are unstoppable world beaters and the next week they can’t string a play together. This inconsistency has regularly lead to them missing out on September football. Last year the Raiders were the second highest point scoring side across the 24 regular season games and expect this to be similar again. Points concession is where the Raiders will be let down. The inclusion of Josh Hodgson from round 1 this year will be a big plus in Canberra’s structural play which was lacking last year. Despite being a flamboyant thrill-driven style of play team, structure is key for a finals push. Unfortunately this change doesn’t happen that quickly and it is likely they miss finals again.
Prediction: 9th
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
The hard truth to the Bulldogs is they didn’t do themselves any favours in the offseason for their squad. If anything, their squad has only gone backwards over the last year, and is now possibly the worst in the league. Despite some star power in the fragile Kieran Foran and Will Hopoate, the Dogs have shed David Klemmer, Moses Mbye, Josh and Brett Morris, Moses Suli and Aaron Woods in the last 12 months. Attacking threat is also a big issue with only 4 players in 2018 scoring more than 5 tries, with none entering double figures. A reliance on rookie Lachlan Lewis in the halves to pull the strings is a tough ask. Although he is talented, his surrounding regiment might not give him any favours should he not put in a regular match-winning performance.
Prediction: 16th
Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks
A swap of top tier talent in Cronulla is the key to the Sharks winning this season. Despite having become a perennial finals team, the loss of gun Valentine Holmes has hit the squad hard as positional shifts are required. The injection of Shaun Johnson is the big question. If he clicks he will steer the Sharks to more victories than Holmes did in the past. The side immediately becomes a top 4 threat if this Johnson form occurs, with very talented pieces spread all over the park. Matt Moylan sliding into fullback, the inclusion of new recruit Josh Morris at centre and the ball handling talent in the forward pack of Andrew Fifita, Matt Prior, Wade Graham and Kurt Capewell. If all players gel and work as a unit, the past has shown they are good defensive side. Finals is a given but if offensive effectiveness increases, a premiership tilt is even on the cards.
Prediction: 6th
Gold Coast Titans
Some serious potential is in the Titans squad, but yet again there are plenty of teams ahead of them when it comes to winning games in 2019. Ash Taylor, AJ Brimson and Tyrone Peachey have big careers ahead of them, along with the destructive power of Jai Arrow. However last season’s baggage of falling away at the back end of the year, only winning 2 games from their last 9 is concerning. This could transition over to this upcoming season. Along with very poor home field performances, only recording 3 wins on the Gold Coast in 2018, a bottom 4 finish looks the most likely.
Prediction: 13th
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Manly had a torrid time in 2018. Big name and big money recruitment is a thing of the past along with the mystique of fortress Brookvale. Des Hasler has returned at the helm, bringing a quick end to Trent Barrett’s reign as head coach, and he will be looking to instill some lessons of the past in the new youthful set-up on the Beaches. Although the league has changed since Hasler’s last stint at Manly, an emphasis on home form is needed. If Manly can flip the record at home from 2018 where they only won 3 games in 2019 to only allow a maximum of 3 losses if not less, the Sea Eagles will be in healthy position to re-join the top 8 again. A reliance on Tom and Jake Trbojevic producing heroics needs to change with the likes of Martin Taupau, Jorge Taufua, Curtis Sironen and others providing valuable injections of form that has been seen in the past by them. Additionally the hot and cold brilliance of Daly Cherry-Evans is a bit concerning. He needs to be more effective on a regular basis. Tries and try assists each game is a better formula for Manly to win games than grabbing 5 try assists and 2 tries in one blow-out victory then going dark for the next 3 gamedays.
Prediction: 12th
Melbourne Storm
The post Billy Slater era will begin in 2019, but for the last 2 years Slater's injuries have given the Storm a good insight into what they need to do to stay viable. Being one of the leagues heavyweights, the Melbourne based side’s roster looks strong. Cameron Munster can take another jump to super-stardom this season along with him taking a more leadership role alongside field general Cameron Smith. Free flowing try scorers across the back line in Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr scored and played below par for their expectations for portions of 2018. If they jump back to former try outputs, dismiss Melbourne as a threat at your own peril.
Prediction: 3rd
Newcastle Knights
On paper, Newcastle look to be contenders for a top 6 finish in 2019, but unfortunately things don’t turn around that quickly. With a ton of new recruits all over the park, the first 5 rounds will be interesting to see if they have unified or need more time to bond. Despite new inclusions, Kalyn Ponga is still the best thing going for the Knights and if he is to be sidelined again like last year the season could spiral out of control. An improvement on both home and away win records is required for a finals push. They will be close, but another season of mediocrity is what looks likely in 2019.
Prediction: 11th
North Queensland Cowboys
Like the Storm, the Cowboys are starting 2019 in an icon-less new era, post Johnathon Thurston. Michael Morgan however has stepped up in Thurston's absences in the past. His 2017 form should be looked at closely. A destructive forward pack of Jason Taumalolo, Josh McGuire, Jordan McLean and Coen Hess can be considered one of the best in the league and with the trickery of Jake Granville out of dummy-half, the Cowboys are an ominous threat to anyone. A little more flamboyancy would be nice to see with the Cowboys in 2019, being 2018's 4th lowest try scoring team due to a very time consuming, rigid offence.
Prediction: 7th
Parramatta Eels
It is going to be a fight at the bottom for the Eels this season. Not appearing to be that much better than last season, a few additional wins could be on the cards. Recruiting some size in the front and backline in the likes of Junior Paulo, Shaun Lane and Blake Ferguson, the team’s success will still ride on Clint Gutherson improving further in his second season back from his knee reconstruction. The halves pairing of Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses doesn’t put fear in any opposing side and their 2018 away form of 0 wins from 12 fixtures gives good incentive for clubs playing Parramatta on their own turf to go into the game with nothing but victory mindsets.
Prediction: 15th
Penrith Panthers
Depth is a great thing, and Penrith have buckets of it. Bringing in a new coach, even if it is the second go around for Ivan Cleary, looks a smart move, but decisions need to be made early on by Cleary regarding the fullback position - Dylan Edwards, who is returning from injury or New Zealand captain Dallin Watene-Zelezniak. Edwards has started at fullback in the trials with DWZ injured, but it remains to be seen how he will cope with the demands of the NRL after such an extensive injury lay off. With 15 wins in 2018, that number looks like a good bet to be reached again, but they still have a way to go in order to catch up to the top teams or become premiers themselves. There will be plenty of highlights out of Penrith this season but upper mid-table looks the most probable.
Prediction: 8th
South Sydney Rabbitohs
With the Rabbits not far off the Premiership in 2018, the appointment of Wayne Bennett could push them over the line in 2019. A high of 9 straight wins in 2018 drove South Sydney to a title push but slip-ups at the business end of the year cost them. The side yet again looks spectacular and the most prolific scoring club in 2018 has learnt and grown as a unit even further. Damien Cook, despite not winning the Dally M Medal, was the consensus best player in the league last season and seems set to continue on his form run. Adam Reynolds and Cody Walker in the halves could have their best seasons if they stay fit. This being said, injuries could be the only factor in Souths not being the best team in the league. Look for Cameron Murray to possibly become one of the best forwards in the NRL in 2019.
Prediction: 1st
St George Illawarra Dragons
The form of Corey Norman and Ben Hunt are big “what if” situations. With Gareth Widdop in his last season in Australia, he will be looking for a big send off. The opening 3 fixtures will test out the squad’s abilities. Up against the Cowboys, Rabbitohs and Broncos, a bad start could send things plummeting. A good start however could spark hope of something big ahead. The Dragons forwards are solid and hard-runners but need to perform at expectation every game the get the offence going. Additionally, to get the offence going they need to be tough in defence, as in 2018 the Dragons conceded 80 tries. In comparison, the minor premiers conceded 54, so the Dragons need to plug a leaky defence to close the gap to the benchmark.
Prediction: 10th
Sydney Roosters
Defending a title is always harder than winning. Drop-off is expected but the Tri-Colours have the talent to rid the premiership hangover quickly. If they match what they did in 2018, they will obviously be hard to beat. James Tedesco is on a trajectory to become an icon player and is the pre-season front-runner for the Dally M medal. Handy pick-ups in Angus Crichton and Brett Morris solidifies Trent Robinson's starting 13 side and provides even more outlets of ball handling, pace and scoring ability. If similar stats to last season in tries conceded, points against and points scored can be achieved, don’t bet against a title retention, despite how hard winning back-to-back premierships have been in recent times.
Prediction: 2nd
New Zealand Warriors
Last season the Warriors returned to finals footy, and this year the New Zealand based side should consolidate their position and push for a top 4 finish. The loss of Shaun Johnson is a big down point but a star studded backline, headlined by last year’s Dally M Medalist Roger Tuivasa-Sheck can cover. If the renaissance form of Issac Luke continues and the forward pack presses on without Simon Mannering, which both can occur, the Warriors can be deadly. Despite two big game player losses, the starting team doesn’t lack experience. Tohu Harris and Adam Blair can lead from the front and the powerful running wide men of Ken Maumalo and David Fusitu’a strike fear into oppositions. If the injury gods are kind this season, it doesn’t look like the Warriors will be a one-season wonder. In the past they have shown that they can be an up and down team, but this season looks to buck that trend. Additionally, if they can make the trip across the ditch a fortress, top 4 is achievable.
Prediction: 4th
Wests Tigers
In 2018 the Tigers defended admirably, however their attack was an issue in them winning games. Only 61 tries were scored across the course of the season, which was 5 fewer than the wooden-spooners. This output calls for alarm. However, Moses Mbye has had a full season to get comfortable with the environment and Luke Brooks has a new contract – meaning both should be settled and raring to go. The question marks over whether Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah have stayed on too long and if Ben Matulino and Russell Paker still can have that impact they once had will remain all season if the Tigers don’t show positive signs early on. Despite some intriguing assets in Esan Marsters and Ryan Matterson, the Tigers don’t look likely to make it back to September, continuing their spell without finals football – the longest current stretch out of any team in the NRL without a finals appearance.
Prediction: 14th
So, with it all previewed and analysed, here is the table itself as to what we at WFC believe the NRL will look like come the end of the regular season.
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