Eels Blogs

The season is almost upon us, and I think it's time for a hardcore footy blog to take us away from all the political talk we've recently. Here are my thoughts for all of the 16 clubs. Every year without fail there are teams that come from nowhere and charge into the finals, while other teams spectacularly fall from the sky. On average between three and four teams fail to make the finals after doing so the previous year. Do not rely on reputations and past form lines; it’s a new year and anything can happen. Who will rise and who will fall this year? I encourage you all to make some bold predictions of your own.

Manly

Manly’s age of dominance is over. The time for rebuilding begins. I don’t know whether Geoff Toovey really deserved to be sacked but the club’s management deemed it necessary to completely overhaul the coaching ranks within the first grade squad. Out of all the clubs, I would say that Manly is the most insular and it is interesting to see that they have turned to someone ‘not of Manly’ to take them forward. Trent Barrett, though highly rated, is an unknown so it is hard to gauge how their season will unfold. They have been very aggressive in their recruitment for this season and have acquired some very handy purchases. I don’t know how they’ll use Dylan Walker but I’m sure he’ll be an asset no matter what position he plays. Lewis Brown should improve their attack down their edge, while Apisai Koroisau (or Matt Parcell) is a necessary replacement for Ballin. But more than anything else, they still need strong middle forwards. Myles will give them experience, but he is definitely not the panacea. Much of their hope is being placed on Taupau as well as Lussick’s return. Marty should give them great thrust and punch which they sorely lacked last year, but I’m more hesitant on Darcy. He was inconsistent and downright lazy on many occasions for us, but if they can extract his best he could prove a great buy.

Expected Finish: Hard to say. Barrett’s appointment will need to be validated given that the club was pretty harsh on Toovey. If they continue to go backwards there will be some questions. But in any case, Manly has quite a number of allies in the media such as the Johns brothers, Dean Ritchie, and Richard Hinds, so I don’t think there will be too much pressure. There seems to be a lot of hope that they’ll return to the finals but they’ll get away with 10th. 

Realistic Finish: I seem to be one the few who hasn’t been swept up in the hype regarding the recruits Manly has made for this year. Manly fans certainly think that they’re headed back to the top but they’re going to have to be patient. This is going to take time. Their backline is aging (assuming Walker plays in the halves) and their depth in this area will be tested. They shouldn’t have released Hiku on top of Gutherson. The loss of Foran is also a huge blow. All of the pressure is now on DCE to pretty much do everything. Game management, creating points, coming up with the big plays at key moments, it now all comes down to him. In fact, their season depends on how he performs. If he can cope with being the primary playmaker without Foran alongside him, I think they’re a good chance to make the finals. But if their attack stalls, they’ll struggle to make the eight. It’s very hard to call. I might be being a bit harsh here, but I think there are just too many other teams in a better situation than Manly right now, so I’ve got them down at 11th.

Warriors

How many times have we all tipped the Warriors to finally get their act together and produce a good strong season? Since their grand final appearance five years ago the Warriors have been the biggest underachievers (I haven’t forgotten how bad the Eels were during this time). There is something terribly wrong with their culture. I know they had some bad injuries but the way they fell apart toward the end of last season was alarming. This club is wholly relying on their stellar recruits to get them back on track. Issac Luke will improve them enormously and will add toughness to their forward pack, and I think he will be a strong contender for buy of the year. Meanwhile, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will form a lethal combination with Johnson and I can certainly envisage many coaches being terrified at the prospect of trying to stop those two. This is a scary team. If their forwards gain momentum their halves and backline will tear opposition teams to pieces. But, as always, consistency will be their biggest problem, and I still think they have a serious cultural issue that needs addressing. They are just so soft in the head.

Expected Finish: There can be no more excuses for the Warriors. This is the best team they’ve produced in a very long time, maybe ever. They must have a strong season. I think they will be expected to push for a top four finish; scraping into the finals won’t be good enough. At least 6th.   

Realistic Finish: Every time I tip them for a good year they disappoint me. Surely with their superstar roster they will finally fulfill their potential, won’t they? You can never be sure with this mob. A hesitant 4th.

Roosters

What a disastrous off season the Roosters have had. It was bad enough that they lost so many players to create cap space but when Pearce decided to engage in sexual practices with a dog, everything fell apart. Pearce has single handedly wrecked their season. If you think I’m overreacting, think again. Pearce was their captain and their halfback; his status within the team cannot be understated. Not only do the Roosters now all of a sudden have to learn how to play without their dominant halfback, but this very public issue is also a huge distraction to the rest of the players. If the NRL does allow Pearce to return this year, his comeback will be severely scrutinised by the media and it will take a significant amount of time for him to return to form. Make no mistake, Pearce’s confidence has been shattered and he’s terrified that he’s possibly lost the respect of his teammates, which is by far the most important thing to any footy player. He’s pretty fragile right now, and it’s more than likely that Robinson will not recall Pearce unless the team is performing very well. It would be too much for Pearce to handle otherwise.

Aside from the Pearce incident, the Roosters have lost a great deal of talent with the departures of RTS, Maloney, and now recently Jennings. That’s a lot of strike power gone right there. With an ugly domestic violence case hanging over SKD’s head, the Roosters will be praying that their backs aren’t decimated any further. Fortunately for them, however, they have held onto their incredibly powerful forward pack led by the ever impressive Jake Friend. Their forwards alone will ensure that the Roosters remain competitive, but it will still be challenging for Robinson to keep his players focused in light of the recent dramas.

Expected finish: If you believe the bookies, the Roosters are still in line to compete for the top four. I’m stunned by this. I suppose their success in recent years still has a lot of people expecting big things from them. They’ll be forgiven if they miss the top four, but the pressure will be on to still make the finals.

Realistic Finish: Before the Pearce scandal I would have said that a top four finish is a fair call, but not now. Even if they overcome the loss of talent they’ve suffered, it’s been a very disjointed off season and I think the players will find it difficult to remain focused. If they don’t start the season well, things could just snowball. Losing Boyd Cordner and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for an extended period also won’t help matters, not to mention that they’re going to start the season with a new and very young halves pairing. The fact that they still command perhaps the best forward pack in the comp is the only reason I have them in my top eight, just. 8th.

Bulldogs

What are the Bulldogs doing? They’ve fumbled and bumbled their way into the finals for the past three seasons and have never really looked like taking out the premiership. Something had to change, and it has taken form in a new look halves pairing. I can understand why they got rid of Hodkinson, as he never could tear opposition teams apart despite the forward pack he had. But I don’t think he was their problem. Hodkinson is one of the best game management type halfbacks. He knows how to control a game. What he needed was a good partner who could slice through opposition defences and create points. Reynolds is okay but he is way too erratic and too inconsistent; he’s the one they should have gotten rid of. I think the Bulldogs would have won the comp by now if they had a more complete halves pairing. Someone like James Maloney, for example, would have been a great partner for Hodkinson.

The pressure is on Mbye to become the dominant half and deliver success for this club. This kid is talented, but I think it is way too premature to label him as the next big thing as some people have. Mbye and Reynolds could prove to be a great partnership but the Dogs fell away in last year’s finals when these two were at the helm after Hodkinson got injured. Their forward pack is still powerful (though why did they get rid of Pritchard? He was good for them), so I am wary of the Dogs nonetheless.

Expected finish: The Dogs will be expected to once again feature prominently in the premiership race. A lot of pressure in particular will be placed on the Reynolds/Mbye combination which needs to validate the departure of Hodkinson. Top five and a very strong finals showing.   

Realistic Finish: This is a tough one to call. It all comes down to whether their new halves combo fires or sputters. If it works then they’ll do well and challenge for the title. If it fails then I think they’re a real chance of missing the eight. If they do start to struggle, I can so easily envisage Reynolds becoming more sporadic and wild as he desperately tries to deliver for his team. This is their danger and where they’ll lose all composure with no Hodkinson to guide them. Their kicking game will need to be spot on, too, as they don’t have the strike power in their backline to score quick points (the Morris twins are quality but are both past their best nearing on 30 and are injury prone). Their goal kicking could also be a problem which, as we all know, will prove very costly if not fixed. I’ve got the feeling that the Dogs are falling behind a bit in terms of overall team strength. They’ve held onto their imposing forward pack but have fallen behind in other areas. The Dogs have been in a premiership window for a while now, but I think it’s starting to close. 9th.

Raiders

Ricky Stuart is building this team nicely. The Raiders are quietly going about their business and are putting themselves in a good position to challenge for the finals. They have an impressive array of talent and strong forwards. Adain Sezer is a huge signing for them and there is no reason why this team shouldn’t continue to make improvements. Their defence, however, was pretty sloppy last year and it should be a real priority for them this year. Whether Stuart proves to be a success at the Raiders in the long-term remains to be seen (and it’s becoming clear that he’s paying huge overs to build his team and putting the club’s salary cap in jeopardy), but he’s doing a good job so far after his disaster at the Eels.

Expected finish: To make the finals. The Raiders have already stated that the finals is their mark for a successful season, and now they need to back that up. It doesn’t matter where they end up finishing just as long as they make a showing in the finals.

Realistic Finish: I think the Raiders are flying under the radar a bit and I like their chances of making the finals. They did an okay job last year and with an improved squad they should go better. If they do go backwards then yes, we can all finally say beyond doubt that Ricky Stuart is an awful coach who should go away and never come back. As much as I’d like that, I’m still going to say 7th.

Titans

Where do you begin with this club? The Titans really are the NRL’s problem child and I’m surprised we’re still persisting with having a club on the Gold Coast. It’s just not working. After failing to make the finals since 2010, the Titans need a broom swept through its playing ranks and they need to start from scratch. They have zero elite players and now they’ve lost Sezer, Myles, and Roberts. Ouch. Losing Myles isn’t a big blow but they could’ve built a team around Sezer and Roberts. Their recruits aren’t particularly impressive either. There is sentimentality in Nathan Friend’s return but it’s a signing you’d hardly gloat about, while Tyrone Roberts is a bit like clutching at straws after failing to sign Cherry-Evans. Chris McQueen is not bad either but his form has dropped a bit over the past season or two and really needs to improve if he wants to play Origin again. Their most promising signing appears to be young Ashley Taylor who will likely partner with Roberts after Elgey’s season ending injury. There is some potential here but putting a young halves pairing in a struggling team is a pretty big risk (though in reality this is their only real choice, such is their predicament). I hope they can handle to pressure for their sake.

Despite all the Titans’ problems, however, this team has a dogged fighting spirit about them and they have an uncanny ability to dig in and clinch the most unlikely victories (they showed this in the Nines). This ability is what may save them from the spoon. But even allowing for this, I think the Titans are in for a tough season and Neil Henry may come under pressure.

Expected finish: Not much. They have a poor team overall and they are constantly distracted by off-field dramas. 15th or 16th.

Realistic Finish: Even when I try to look for the positives I still can’t see them getting out of the bottom four. They are just way behind the other teams in terms of playing talent. I think 15th or 16th is spot on.

Knights

The only way is up for the Knights. Receiving the wooden spoon last year should have been the wakeup call they needed to realise that they have a big cultural issue that needs addressing. Nathan Brown for coach is an interesting choice but the main feeling I get is that the Knights have gone with the safe option in selecting him rather than take a risk by choosing a young up and comer (like what the Eels and Manly have done) to completely rebuild the team and take them forward. I’m not sure what Brown’s plan is, but it looks like he’s relying on the club’s talented young players (of which they have plenty) to dig them out of their hole. If he can build a foundation with these players this may work in the long-term. But for this season, Brown is playing a dangerous game. Young talent is great but the Knights are badly lacking in leadership, experience, and toughness. Their forward pack is also one of the weaker ones in the comp. The fact that they were so eager to sign Pauli is not a good sign as he is precisely what the Knights do not need right now. A tough old head to replace Beau Scott is what the Knights should be looking for to help lead the team through this transitional period.

Looking at their halves, Hodkinson has been bought to unshackle Mullen. Mullen has always struggled to lead the team around, so the signing of Hodkinson should help him immensely. I can see potential here. The only concern I have is that people keep saying Mullen could easily be an elite half if only he knuckles down and fulfils his potential. What I would point out is that Mullen has been around for about a decade now and if he hasn’t fulfilled his potential yet then he isn’t likely to as he approaches 30. Still, only time can tell how this new halves combo will fare.

Expected finish: There won’t be much pressure on the Knights in 2016. Brown is in his first year and he will be given time to reform the team as he sees fit. Just as long as they don’t finish last again the Knights will not be subjected to relentless criticism.

Realistic Finish: If the Knights could acquire some quality big men to complement their quality backline they would have a pretty decent team. But aside from attaining the necessary talent, Nathan Brown really needs to focus on building a strong culture that instils toughness and a willingness to compete. At the moment this culture is a very long way from being realised. 13th. 

Sharks

Cronulla are a funny team. They play with speed, hunger, aggression, and really enjoy getting in the faces of their opposition. Rather than open up teams with skill and finesse, they bash their opponents and win ugly, and they do it well. The key for them is their experienced forward pack, which I am surprised to see is still ticking over. I thought by now they would’ve had to phase out their older players and build a new team. How much longer can they last? Overall I think there is plenty of upside for the Sharks from a future standpoint, but they have to make it work. They can build a team around Holmes and Bird, but they need to very carefully manage their salary cap and bring in new players to replace their large contingent of aging players. It would be just like the Sharks to stuff it all up and pay overs to keep their young stars. The rebuilding needs to start immediately if it hasn’t already. 

For this season, the Sharks still have a reasonably strong team but their new halves combo is a huge point of difference to last year. Maloney is their new general and will be the dominant half. This is a big step up for James. At the Roosters it was clear that Pearce was the one in charge and when he got injured around the time of the finals they lost their rhythm and composure. This is the area that Maloney will need to improve, and bears even greater significance due to the grinding and controlled nature of the Sharks style of play as opposed to the fast and explosive style he was accustomed to at the Roosters. I have my doubts whether Maloney will fit into the Sharks, which is why I think they should have held onto Robson as a fall back option. Robson was never that good, but his steady and conservative style fitted in well at the Sharks, and the Sharks suited Robson. It was a good match. Don’t get me wrong, Maloney’s a far better player than Robson is, but don’t underestimate the effect that this change could have on how the team performs.

Expected Finish: Their surprisingly good year last year means that the Sharks will be expected to once again produce a strong season and challenge for the top four. 4th or 5th.

Realistic Finish: It’s very hard to say. The way they play isn’t pretty but it gets the job done. That said, the Sharks do look vulnerable when they are forced to play up tempo and fail to drag their opponents into a grinding and dour style of game. They were totally blown away by the ultra fast and rampaging Cowboys in last year’s finals. Still, you can’t ignore the good mixture of talent, experience, and toughness this team possesses. It’ll be a bit up and down, but I’ll say 5th.

Tigers

After a disastrous first year as coach, Taylor needs his young team to rebound and show that they’re heading in the right direction. The Tigers have some serious talent, led by Tedesco who I believe is the best young fullback in the game (yes, I would prefer him over RTS or Holmes). What they lack is experience and the ability to remain resilient in the face of adversity. After losing a wealth of experience with the departures of Richards and Galloway, Farrah will be leading this young crop of kids on his own. Don’t be fooled by Woods being the new captain; Farrah’s still the one in charge. If Farrah’s toxic relationship with Taylor breaks down completely and he does end up leaving, these Tiger cubs will be left to fend for themselves. It shouldn’t be like this. Young careers are destroyed this way (it’s already happening with young Moses). Their salary cap has been shot to hell and they haven’t been able to bring in anyone who can ably replace those who have gone. Even comp? Not in the slightest.

Expected Finish: Pressure is mounting on this club. After finishing a lowly 15th last year, Taylor is without doubt the coach most under pressure leading into the new season and the vultures in the media are circling. This club needs time, and probably won’t improve much at all until their salary cap gets fixed and they can start to properly rebuild. Unfortunately for them, the media, with its negative centric culture, is far from patient. It will demand an improved season or otherwise Taylor will be made public enemy #1. It also doesn’t help when idiots like Andrew Johns say that the Tigers will be a premiership force within five years due to their young stars coming through. That pressure is totally unnecessary at the moment and does nothing to help their development.

The worst thing for the Tigers is that the media is very much aware of the rift between Farrah and Taylor, and if the Tigers do start to struggle they will immediately use it against them to create as much drama as possible and portray the club as bitterly divided. The word ‘crisis’ is already overused by the media but this is exactly how every Tigers loss will be described. Taylor could well be gone by round 8 if they don’t start the season well. The Tigers need to get out of the bottom four and challenge for the finals to keep the wolves at bay. 10th.

Realistic Finish: This team has lost more than it has gained from last year. I’m stunned that they got rid of Taupau; his explosive and aggressive style suited the fast paced nature of their game. Given that their forward pack was never brilliant to begin with, I think they’ll miss him. That said, the Tigers should not be underestimated. Some of their wins last year were outstanding and they looked very lethal. I can see what Taylor is trying to build and I have no doubt that the Tigers will out enthuse a number of teams this year and spring some upsets. But despite this, it is a long year and they will struggle to remain consistent. Bottom four and a good chance of the spoon.

Cowboys

They finally did it. What a wonderful achievement and fairytale premiership for Jonathan Thurston in the twilight of his career. The Cowboys have managed to hold onto their grand final winning team and should be well poised to once again challenge for the title. The only things that could derail them are injuries or a lack of desire to compete. But, as is usually the case with the Cowboys, they will likely have a slow start to the year that could be exacerbated as they recover from a probable premiership hangover. This is in addition to the players being a bit underdone due to their limited pre-season. The origin period and flyaway rounds will determine whether the Cowboys feature strongly in the finals.

Expected finish: Top four and another crack at the title.

Realistic Finish: This is my big prediction for the season: the Cowboys will miss the finals. They don’t deserve this sort of disrespect, but I believe the Cowboys will suffer greatly from a lack of intensity. It was so emotional for them last year; it will simply be too difficult for them to maintain such a high standard of focus and desire to compete week in week out. Also remember that the Cowboys so frequently last year were forced to play catch up and come from behind to win. They won’t get away with it this year. I’m making a big call on this. 10th.

Broncos

The team to beat. As soon as the Broncos lost the grand final last year I immediately knew that they would win it this year. Bennett has improved them out of sight and he will have them well prepared to get the job done this time round. The acquisition of Roberts makes them even more formidable and their halves pairing of Milford and Hunt will continue to get better.

Expected finish: To win the premiership. It might be harsh but anything less will be seen as a failure.

Realistic Finish: The Broncos are my tip to finish 1st and to take out the premiership. I’m supremely confident they’ll win it. Bennett won’t lose two years in a row.

Dragons

After proving they’re no pushovers, the Dragons are looking to continue their good work under Paul McGregor. This team was hurt after being called soft and weak up the middle at the beginning of last year, and they responded by clawing their way into the finals. It was very clear that the players wanted to make a statement and played with great commitment, spirit, and determination. I think the Dragons have showed that you don’t need a star studded roster to be competitive; you just need heart and courage. Well done to them. But that was last year. This year will be far more challenging.

If the Dragons think that they’ll do well if they just show the same attitude as last year, they’re going to be bitterly disappointed. They will need far more than that. The big concern I have with them is that they haven’t developed their roster. Their depth has improved, but it’s very much the same as last year minus Merrin. Packer and Lafai are their only notable recruits, and I don’t think either of them are good enough to transform this team. They’re going to have to change the way they play if they want to improve, or otherwise it will be the same old results. Their attack was pretty bad last year (second worst in the comp) so the pressure is on McGregor to extract the very best out of his players. If I’m honest, I don’t think the Dragons will have a good year. It’s just so hard to maintain a high standard of intensity and win games through grit rather than talent. Look at the Roosters, they could fade in and out of games all the time and yet they still usually won comfortably. They could afford to do that. A team like the Dragons can’t.

Expected Finish: As one of the big Sydney clubs, the Dragons are always heavily scrutinised. The pressure is on to make the finals again. Not only that, they need to improve their consistency and avoid extended losing streaks like the ones they suffered last year. 7th or higher. 

Realistic Finish: I will be so impressed if the Dragons match their feats from last year, but it will take a herculean effort to do it. With little roster development, I just think they’re far more likely to go backwards rather than remain steady, especially if injuries strike. 14th.

Storm

This club just continues to amaze me. I thought for sure that the Storm were starting to decline but then they went and grabbed fourth spot last year, without Billy Slater. I’ve decided that it’s pointless to expect the Storm to fade away before their superstars retire (or move elsewhere). As long as they have Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, and Slater in the team, the Storm will be competitive. That said, the Storm could be doing more to phase in new players who will eventually replace their aging superstars. Munster looks like a keeper, but they need to bring in more players to make the transition as seamless as possible.

Expected finish: A strong finals showing. If Bellamy does retire at season’s end as the rumours suggest, the Storm will be expected to make one big final push for another premiership to farewell their beloved coach.

Realistic Finish: If the Storm remain injury free then I think they’re a great chance to make the top four. No team is mentally tougher than the Storm and they just continue to compete week in week out. 2nd.

Panthers

Potentially a dark horse of the competition, the Panthers are primed to bounce back from a disastrous campaign last year which astonishingly saw Cleary getting the sack. I didn’t see that coming, as the players still fought hard and defended well (top eight in defence) last year despite the team losing. This makes me question the vision that Gus Gould has for the club, as he cited Griffin’s appointment for his ‘ability to develop young players’. This seems to be a primary focus for Gus, as he has on more than one occasion said that his main goal for the Panthers is to transform juniors into good players and into good young men. He has even described the Panthers as an enormous junior club that also just happens to participate in the NRL. This is a huge difference from when he initially said that he would turn the club into Australia’s largest sporting franchise. I think Gus has finally realised that the Panthers simply do not have a big enough profile to be one of the heavyweights in the comp alongside the Broncos and Souths. Silly Gus, but I digress.

For this year, the Panthers have produced a team that is full of talent and possesses, in my view, the most agile forward pack in the league. They have some very fast and skillful forwards in Peachey and Cartwright, while Segeyaro is a constant danger out of dummy half. What they do lack, however, is grunt and size. They could do with a few more big men as well as some more experienced forwards. Nevertheless, I think the Panthers will benefit the most from the reduced interchange rule, with the signing of Merrin a deliberate move to attain forwards who can play long minutes.

You can’t ignore their backline, either. With players like Whare, Mansour, and Watene-Zelezniak, you have to take notice. The biggest question mark is their halves. I will be surprised if they stick with Soward and Wallace, both of whom are too predictable and lack flair to trouble opposition defences. Surely it is inevitable that Moylan will move to the halves sooner rather than later.

Expected finish: It’s interesting that a lot of people overlook the Panthers when determining the likely top eight teams. Considering the amount of talent that Penrith possesses I am puzzled by this, but it may be due to the Panthers simply being a low profile club. No one likes talking about the Panthers other than their fans. The media hardly touches them. Despite their ability to fly under the radar, the Panthers will still be expected to bounce back from last year. I’m not sure whether that means making the finals, but they’ll need to show that they can challenge for finals honours at the very least. 10th minimum.

Realistic Finish: With the strike power they have I think it’s impossible to ignore the Panthers. They deserve to be considered as a top eight threat. The only point of uncertainty lies in their halves but that will sort itself out soon enough. 6th.

Souths

It’s make or break for South Sydney. Souths have wasted no time in trumpeting the return of Sam Burgess who is being heralded as their savoir and the one to lead them back to the top. The reality is, however, Souths have had to cull a lot of players to facilitate his comeback, which, if you believe the reports, has caused a substantial amount of player unrest. Burgess is seen as Russell Crowe’s golden child and it appears that Crowe doesn’t care who he upsets just as long as he has Sam in the team. There is no doubt that Burgess is a fantastic player but you’re blind if you can’t see that sentimentality has played a large role in getting him back. In addition to this, there is talk about Michael Maguire’s coaching style. Maguire is the most intensive coach in the comp. He always looks like he’s going to explode. He’s worse than Bellamy. Could he be the real issue? 

Adopting an analytical approach, Souths have gained Burgess as well as some minor signings but have lost Luke, Walker, McQueen, Stewart, plus a few others. I understand that the departure of Walker was perhaps due to an unrelated matter but now their backline doesn’t strike a lot of fear as it once did. You’re a fool to ignore Inglis but he is so injury prone and the rumours of him jumping ship next year to go to Brisbane won’t go away. Losing Luke might not be as bad as people think. He was their hooker for near on a decade and a new young player, whilst not as good in direct comparison, could actually benefit Souths and freshen them up a bit. Overall, though, Souths have lost more talent than they have gained. This means that a lot of pressure will be applied to their young rising players, such as Cody Walker, to make up the difference.

Expected finish: There is enormous hype surrounding Burgess’ return. He will be expected to immediately transform Souths into premiership contenders again. At least 6th if not top four.

Realistic Finish: It’s unfair to assume that the players are unhappy just because of some media reports. But when the spat between Crowe and Keary became public knowledge, that should be enough to suggest perhaps there is some truth to these rumours. The general vibe from Souths isn’t a good one. Aside from this, their team is not as strong as it was last year. Sam Burgess is a boon but will he be enough? Again similar to Manly’s context, Souths have a decent side that could easily make the finals but there are too many other teams around them in a better situation right now. 12th. 

Eels

This is a huge year for the club. We’re entitled to be excited with the arrival of Foran, but there’s also enormous pressure on us to succeed. I think we can all feel that most eyes are on us and are watching to see what we’ll do. This year is also significant from a coaching standpoint. This is the first time since Brian Smith that we’ve got a coach who’s been with us for more than two years. That in itself is amazing. The pressure is well and truly on BA to produce success.

Getting straight to the obvious talking point, our recruits are key for a successful season. Scott has been bought to stiffen our right edge defence, which still looked quite fragile (same with our left side) even after Sandow went walkabouts toward the end of last season. Don’t judge Scott on his attack. We didn’t buy him for that. Judge him on how much he improves our defence. Gordon, whilst really only a stop gap solution, is a huge upgrade on Robinson and we can once again incorporate our fullback in attacking raids. His experience and organisation in defence are also major bonuses. In what is a massive coup for the club, Jennings immediately turns us into a legitimate top four threat and finally adds genuine strike power to the centre position for the first time since Tahu did way back in 2007. His partnership with Radradra will inspire fear in any opposition, and his defence will be equally as impressive.

But all of that pales compared to what Foran will bring. He is our biggest hope for turning this club around and making it a mainstay competitive force. Kieran will improve us in every facet that we lack. Leadership, game management, organisation, direction in play, creativity, toughness, defence, self-belief, mental fortitude; all of these will improve with his arrival. His fast and direct style of play will fit perfectly with our attacking structures. Our game will be based on speed and explosive power down both edges of the ruck. Simple, but very effective. That said, this team still needs to be developed in terms of personnel and playing ability. Our forward pack can compete with any other in the competition, but I remain doubtful in our ability to dominate other teams.

The big question is how much and how fast will Foran be expected to transform us? He’s coming to a new club and the pressure is intense. Also remember that Foran is transitioning from a strong culture at Manly to one that is still in its infancy. It would be most unwise to assume that we’ll instantly emerge as one of the top teams of the competition due to his acquisition. There is still so much we need to work on. Norman must continue his improvement and become more selective with his playmaking, and we need to rapidly learn how to close out games. We lost six games last year that we should have won if not for our inability to remain composed and play smart. If we had won those games we would have finished around 4th. I truly believe we’ve been afraid to win when victory was there for the taking. This problem has plagued us for years and it all comes down to a fundamental lack of mental strength and no belief to win. This needs to be fixed. Fast. If it’s not then we’re not going anywhere this season.

Expected Finish: Finals. We have to get there, no excuses. We can’t go seven years straight without making the finals. It’s that simple.

Realistic Finish: The top eight is within our grasp. For me it all depends on if we shake off our mental demons and finally learn how to play smart football at key moments and show the ability to grind out wins. If we can do this, we’ll compete for the top four. If we don’t, we’re fringe top eight at best. We’ve got the talent, now we need to utilise it. Of course, our season could also be undone by off-field dramas and injuries, as was the case last year. It’s a long year, and it’s hard to believe that the club won’t be able to stay away from the spotlight brought on by boardroom bungles or familiar attempts by the media (e.g. the war between BA and Anderson, Radradra wanting out) to manufacture chaos and encourage instability. But despite all of this, I think we’re in for a good year. I’m making a big call here. 3rd.