Who is your pick to sneak into 8 that not expected and a team that will fall. The top sides have all lost players including Parra but reason I think Parra will struggle for top 4 (I think 5th or 6th again) is the increased strength of the bottom sides. We struggle against teams we should beat and with improved squads at lower teams they are the ones we struggle against.
I think Titans will surprise people and improve lot more than other side's like the Bulldogs but it depends on Foran staying fit.
Titans made finals 2 years ago then they moved AJ Brimson to half and didn't play the same spine in consecutive games many times last year. Brimson is back to fullback this year where he starred. Sam Verrils is massive improvement for Titans at hooker but biggest difference could be David Fifitas potential being unlocked by Foran. Also Fifita childhood friend he played plenty of footy with Tanah Boyd in halves which will also help Fifita get involved. If Foran stays fit, Fifita will be put in 1 on 1 situations with AJ in support plenty of times. If Shouppe is on the same edge they will be extremely dangerous and score plenty of points. Scoring points will boost their confidence which in turn will see some improve in their defence. The other big factor is big Tino Fa’asuamaleaui, another year older and close to one of best forwards in the game.
As for team that will disappoint I think Melbourne will struggle with their foward pack decimated and their backline minus the halves don't strike fear into opposition like years past while papenhuyzen is injured.
Their middle defence and wrestle won them plenty of games and it will be interesting to see how they go without the bromich brothers and kafusi. Welsh comes back but both NOS and Kamikamica are impact players who will struggle play big minutes and maintain defensive effort from previous storm teams.
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I agree with both of those predictions. Titans roster is very good and they should win more games than they have previously. Storm will still be a quality outfit but beatable. I also think Penrith come back a few steps without Api Koriseau.
Surprises for the media will be the Bullldogs still being garbage despite all the media hype. The Roosters not living up to the hype either and finishing in 5-8th.
Sharks to go close this year on the back of Hynes having a stellar season.
I agree re the roosters - I don't have them finishing top 4 despite clearly being in excess of the cap spend. I don't think their halves will be good enough to get them there.
Both Andrew John's and Freddy Fitter tipped Roosters to win premiership this year. I disagree
Of course they did. Guaranteed to get an invite onto Uncle Nick's yacht and connected to all his wealthy mates. If I was a journo I'd spend all year giving the Roosters big wraps as well. It's not what you know it's who you know.
The Roosters on paper have a great team, but are thin past that. Added is they have been a very injury prone team for close to a decade.
Hi Fake and hope you're well.
Look I think Parra will be ok. We have a better DH who's experienced and he needs to stay fit but like all DH I think.
As for who will get better...maybe The Tits but I can't see them making a dent - think C'bury may be close to 8, but I think the 8 won't change much.
Parra will need to use last season as good experience and also some motivation.
Stuff the rest I say.
There's always one team that climbs and one that falls. The Storm certainly look more likely to fall than ever before. I'm not worried about the forwards they've lost, it's that Ryan Papenhuysen is out for basically the first half of the season, and he tends to be a slow starter when he gets back from injury.,
I guess the Titans might surprise, but their defence is still their Achilles Heel, and they've done nothing to address that. But they might score enough points to win 10-12 games.
I think Manly, as much as I hate to say it, will finish top 8 and maybe even top 4.
I see Roosters around bottom of the 8
Top 4 similar to last year with Souths making it.
Dolphins I reckon do alright, around 10th-12th.
Manly I think so ok also.
I think the storm will slide, possibly even missing the top 8.
The tigers will be the biggest improvement going from last to probably just missing the 8
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