1st blog guys, so go easy.
Eels V Brisbane. As for the Eels, plenty said on this site already - we were competitive in most aspects on the weekend - expect a top 8 finish. Broncos are the real deal again; well drilled, good defense with plenty of points in them and depth to burn. Expect top 4 finish.
Sea Eagle V Bulldogs. Expect Sea Eagles to do better than this game but will they struggle to make the 8 this year. Sea Eagles are reminiscent of the Eels last year; new coach, youngish roster and maybe a lack of depth will challenge them. Bulldogs were surprisingly good; high tempo football, organised, dominant forwards, good defense, lots of depth with more juniors coming through. Expect top 8 finish.
Raiders V Panthers. Who know what to expect from a Ricky Stuart team, a good start but will his intensity and the lack of an established ½ pair bring them undone - a miss for the top 8 for me. Expect Panthers to improve on last year, young team, good coach with a number of exciting prospects coming through - maybe just making the top 8.
Tigers V Warriors. Top 17 players look good, motivated with top-line spine and exciting prospects coming through. Expect a better season than last year but wonder whether they have the defence to be competitive over the course of a season - a miss on the top 8 when depth challenged. Warriors have possibly out-recruited the Eels complimenting a already solid team. Will need to learn to win away from home expect top 4 finish.
Cowboys V Sharks. Cowboys have a great roster. Every team they play will lift against them this may weary them and challenge their depth over the course of the season just like it did for Souths last year - top 8 finish. Sharks have a good roster, strong forwards, a coach the players want to play for, expect top 4 finish.
Roosters V Rabbits. Roosters have over-delivered for the past couple of years and lost some real talent (thanks for Jennings :-) ). Now have a young roster, Pearce on the side-line for 8 weeks, a lack of squad depth will challenge them and expect them to just miss the top 8. The Rabbitohs keep producing young guns ready for 1st grade; Cody Walker, McInnes and Turner. Organised, good defence and plenty of points in them - expect top 4 finish.
Titans V Knights. Both of these teams lack depth, one could imagine them picking up a few wins here - a miss for both on the top 8 when depth challenged.
Melbourne V Dragons. Melbourne just keep turning up; great coach, great spine with the uncanny ability for each player to play to their potential. Age has to be a factor either with injury or form at some point, expect these guys to fight hard to make the the 8 this year. Dragons are hard to predict, arguably over-delivered last year but can they build on that? A miss for the top 8 for mine.
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Nice one DD, good blog and some pretty fair assessments there, cheers
6 weeks i heard
Dragons look fair to be honest, were very competitive in almost upsetting Storm. Raiders would've been a lock-in for top 8 before there halves got injured. Ditto Souths. No Reynolds for 6 weeks and Sutton most of the season, should still make the 8 pending Reynolds return. Panthers looked ok, but a lot will depend on when Moylan comes back. Segeyaro is a huge loss to a long term injury. On current form, There is NO way Warriors our top 4. Matulino now out to long term injury and there defence leaked in tries in both the trials and round 1. Tigers usually start there season well, and always play well against Warriors at Campbelltown. Too early to tell, but promising signs without Farah and Brooks in round 1. Dynamic back-line with Moses running the show, but a lack of forward depth may cruel them. I agree with your assesments with Manly, Bulldogs, Sharks, Cowboys, Storm. It will be with much pleasure to see Manly and Roosters miss the 8 this year.