1. Tigers to win the premiership
Tim Sheens has the best pack of forwards in the competition with Storm recruit Adam Blair, Keith Galloway, Robbie Farah, Gareth Ellis and Chris Heighington leading the charge. Throw in Liam Fulton and rookies Aaron Woods and Matt Groat and it’s an unbelievably strong unit. They’ll give Benji, Chris Lawrence, Lote and turncoat Tim Moltzen the momentum and foundations to work their magic.
The Tigers were just one dropped ball and a couple of minutes away from beating the Warriors and qualifying for the grand final last season. They’ve lost Robert Lui, big Bryce Gibbs and the promising Andrew Fifita but have picked up Blair, who will be one of the buys of the year. With crafty old Tim Sheens at the helm, it’s no surprise the TAB have installed them as early favourites.
2. Brian Smith to be first coach sacked
The Roosters hired Brian Smith to repair their image and rebuild a respectable club culture.
Mission accomplished.
Willie, Todd, Nate and the rest of the baddies have moved on. Trouble is, they no longer have the talent – or the coach – to win a premiership.
Nick Politis will not tolerate another year of under performing. He’s got a long track record of sacking coaches – Graham Murray, Ricky Stuart and even the club’s favourite son Freddie Fittler.
Smith will be flat out lasting any longer than July if the Roosters struggle again.
3. Best new talent
You could almost throw in the entire New Zealand Warriors grand final-winning Toyota Cup team. None will stand out more than Konrad Hurrell, the centre who was unstoppable in Toyota Cup.
They say the new Souths halfback Adam Reynolds will be something special. Sharks back-rower Tyson Frizell was Toyota Cup lock-of-the-year and has great potential.
The Roosters have a Greg Inglis lookalike in Tautau Moga, who is only 18 but is expected to play in the centres in round one. The Bulldogs also have an outstanding young forward in Dale Finucane who is certain to get a first grade jersey under Des Hasler.
4. Biggest question
Nathan Hindmarsh: It’s going to be a tough season for Eels coach Stephen Kearney trying to lift last year’s biggest flops…and even tougher when it comes to making a call on the future of skipper, club stalwart and legend Nathan Hindmarsh.
Hindy’s contract is up at the end of the season. He’s 32 and his battered body has copped heaps of punishment in recent seasons. How long can he keep going?
There were signs last year that he’s nearing the end of a truly wonderful playing career.
He’s still the same old workhorse but lacks the punch and explosiveness of the younger back-rowers.
Telling Hindy he’s not wanted is a potential public relations disaster. His negotiations will need to be handled with class and care.
5. Wayne Bennett to clash with Nathan Tinkler
Wayne Bennett always gets what Wayne Bennett wants. Nathan Tinkler always gets what Nathan Tinkler wants.
Seriously, this pair could be a train wreck waiting to happen.
Ask anyone in the horse racing industry and they’ll tell you the ruthless Tinkler has sacked more than half a dozen trainers and finished up in court with at least one of them, Anthony Cummings.
Bennett has always demanded total control of his footy sides. He left the Broncos in 2008 because he’d lost his influence in the boardroom.
Tinkler has poured $15 million into the Knights. He’s expecting a premiership and nothing less.
6. Buy of the year – Chris Sandow
Parramatta haven’t had a decent halfback since the legendary Peter Sterling. Tim Smith, Brett Finch, Jeff Robson, Stu Galbraith, Tulsen Tollett, John Simon, Paul Green … the list goes on and on.
All handy players but not good enough to steer the Eels to a premiership. Step in Chris Sandow. On his day, the former Souths halfback is as good as Thurston, Cronk, Prince or Cherry-Evans.
If he can find some consistency in his performances, Parramatta will give the premiership a shake and he’ll be the buy of the year.
7. League to win the war in Sydney’s west
THE AFL hopes Kevin Sheedy will be one of their trump cards in the battle for the hearts and minds of sports fans in Sydney’s west and the legendary coach is waging a personal crusade to make the new GWS Giants a success.
So committed to the cause, the charismatic Sheedy recently grabbed a bunch of membership brochures from the club’s offices and declared, “I’m going to the pub” And he has become a regular on the streets of Parramatta, introducing himself to people in cafes, hotels and restaurants and engaging them in talk about AFL footy.
Still, Sydney loves a winner and the Giants are near certainties to win the wooden spoon. I think they’ll struggle for wins – and fans.
The NRL clubs in Sydney’s West – Parramatta, Penrith, the Tigers and Canterbury have had good off-seasons and are all capable of making the finals in 2012.
8. Blues to finally beat Queensland
Darren Lockyer’s retirement is a massive result for Blues fans.
He’s the man more responsible than any other player for Queensland’s five-year dominance.
The Blues will field their best backline in years. Chris Lawrence will add pace and power in the centres. Brett Stewart will play fullback after missing the last couple of years. At his best, he’s only a length behind Billy Slater as a fullback.
Ricky Stuart did a tremendous job last year to install passion and pride into the Blues jersey. Paul Gallen is a wonderful leader.
The Blues to win 2-1.
9. Warriors to be the big sliders
The Warriors have the best junior nursery in the game but it’s a huge blow to lose Ivan Cleary to the Panthers. First-year coaches in Auckland traditionally struggle and Brian McClennan will be no different. The Warriors over-achieved last year and were lucky to get past week one of the final after being slaughtered by the Broncos. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see them miss out on the top eight.
10. Phil Gould to attend an NRL conference
Harder to find at an official NRL function than wanted murder suspect Malcolm Naden in his bush hideouts.
Hasn’t been sighted at a chief executives meeting since the Doodlegate scandal but surely Phillip Ronald can move on and find the time in 2012 to join the game’s key decision makers.
Gus has been David Gallop’s fiercest media critic for a number of years but now has the opportunity express his thoughts and views in an open forum.
11. Todd Carney to stay out of trouble, maybe
Surely even this guy can appreciate the Sharks are his last hope in the NRL. He’s been sighted at shire haunts Fusions, Carmens and the Sting Bar but has so far kept well clear of Northies, which is a good sign.
Shane Flanagan says he’s training the house down at Shark Park and is unbelievably fit for a kid who can knock himself around on the grog.
He’ll need to be in top shape because he’s up against Benji Marshall in round one and Keiren Foran in round three – the best in the business.
12. Biggest improvers
The Bulldogs will benefit enormously from signing Des Hasler as head-coach and he’ll turn the premiership’s most inconsistent side into finals contenders.
On results over the last decade, he’s the number one coach in the game with a superior record over to Wayne Bennett, Craig Bellamy or anyone else over that period.
He’s the sort of coach who will ensure the likes of Frank Pritchard and Josh Morris player to their enormous potential more often.
Look for English Test forward James Graham to make a big impact at Belmore. It normally takes a Pommy forward time to settle in but this guy’s tough and has got a big engine.
Replies
Biggest problem I have with is #11. you can't say that Todd Carney is going to stay out of trouble then say maybe.
Mm. We went from 12th to 14th after terrible recruitment.. not unexpected. Granted, we were 2010's biggest flops.
Titans went from 4th to 16th. Roosters had a team full of rep players and didn't make the 8.
I hope he's right with #6.
LOL at NSW to win!!
L...O...L!!
Sandow is going to be in the halves with Thurston for the Indigenous allstars and then if he is in form for the start of the season I have no doubt he will be in the Qld halves with Thurston. Even if he's not, Cherry Evans will be.
If he honestly thinks losing Lockyer will change the strength of the current Qld line-up when it has that much talent waiting in reserve; then he has blue coloured glasses on. Unless they get themselves a new coach willing to field their best team this year, NSW has already lost.
13. Rothfield to cheat on his wife with another man. This guy talks garbage!!