Ladder Prediction 2023

[Western Sharkie]

I'll go with last year's ladder, but the Cowboys slip out of the 8 for mine. They can't keep scoring off kicks forever, origin will take its toll, and to start the year they are down 3 back rowers so Coen Hess is playing on the left edge. Good luck in defence Tommy Dearden!

Uncle Wayne's Dolphins will provide some nuisance value. I'll pop them in at 10th.

Also - if Tanah Boyd is playing halfback I've got the Titans in 17th and David Fifita signing elsewhere for 2024.

1. Panthers
2. Sharks
3. Eels
4. Storm
5. Roosters
6. Rabbitohs
7. Raiders
8. Broncos
-
9. Cowboys
10. Dolphins
11. Dragons
12. Sea Eagles
13. Bulldogs
14. Knights
15. Warriors
16. Tigers
17. Titans

I’m liking this ladder.
Liking the Cowboys demise even better.
Less chance of Todd Payten trying to hijack the Dally M’s by giving a 300 min speech

 

[bort]

A few reasons. I've been watching him since he was 17.

For starters, he has just never been that good. As a junior he was really good at running the ball, but never really had a great passing or kicking game. He just got lucky that he played next to Fifita for both school and club. His two moves were running the ball or "pass it to Dave and watch him run over 6 blokes". It was easy to look good playing next to Fifita against 17yo kids, and carrying that combination in to rep teams made it all the better for him.

He and Paix were the golden boys in the Broncos system, but Paix was always the better player. They even got special permission for Boyd to play Q Cup at 17 (and he was terrible). Seibold came to his senses and shipped him off to promote Dearden, then suddenly he is playing NRL for the Titans despite never putting 2 good games together in the Q Cup. Whenever the Titans sent him down to Burleigh he was diabolical. Last year I think they won almost every game Boyd didn't play in, but lost nearly every game he did.

The Broncos turning Paix into a hooker to make way for Dearden is also a bit of a travesty imo, but that's a different story.

Boyd did actually play a couple of good games in the NRL at the back end of last year, and these days he is an ok squad player. I just don't see him as the guy to push a team around the park for 25 weeks. It's a Kyle Flanagan situation. Over-hyped and given a million opportunities, but imo he didn't earn them (with form I mean. By all reports from people I know he works his ass off, so that is a positive).

Perfect bloke for Titans half

 

[BurgoShark]

Perfect bloke for Titans half

Except these days it is "look to pass it to Dave. **** where's Dave?"

 

[Sparkles]

I'll go with last year's ladder, but the Cowboys slip out of the 8 for mine. They can't keep scoring off kicks forever, origin will take its toll, and to start the year they are down 3 back rowers so Coen Hess is playing on the left edge. Good luck in defence Tommy Dearden!

Uncle Wayne's Dolphins will provide some nuisance value. I'll pop them in at 10th.

Also - if Tanah Boyd is playing halfback I've got the Titans in 17th and David Fifita signing elsewhere for 2024.

1. Panthers
2. Sharks
3. Eels
4. Storm
5. Roosters
6. Rabbitohs
7. Raiders
8. Broncos
-
9. Cowboys
10. Dolphins
11. Dragons
12. Sea Eagles
13. Bulldogs
14. Knights
15. Warriors
16. Tigers
17. Titans

But Chad T is setting PB's in the pre-season testing!

I reckon that table is worth an each way bet.
Perhaps the Eels slip and the Roosters and Rabbits climb. The Bulldogs should give the 8 a nudge. The Dophins could genuinely finish anywhere in that bottom 8, but I can't see them challenging the lead pack.

...I'll just write one...

1. Panthers
2. Sharks
3. Roosters
4. Rabbitohs
5. Eels
6. Storm
7. Raiders
8. Cowboys
-
9. Broncos
10. Sea Eagles
11. Bulldogs (9,10,11 just about decided by F/A and if Tommy stays fit)
12. Dolphins
13. Dragons
14. Knights
15. Warriors
16. Tigers
17. Titans

 

[Tiger Shark]

Back on the Cowboys -

Nanai is going to be marked more this year so high chance his impact his affected.
Can JT have as huge a season as he did this year ?
Will Chad be still as motivated as he was last year to prove the haters wrong ? I feel he was highly motivated his first year so that might slip

 

[Proud Shark]

A few reasons. I've been watching him since he was 17.

For starters, he has just never been that good. As a junior he was really good at running the ball, but never really had a great passing or kicking game. He just got lucky that he played next to Fifita for both school and club. His two moves were running the ball or "pass it to Dave and watch him run over 6 blokes". It was easy to look good playing next to Fifita against 17yo kids, and carrying that combination in to rep teams made it all the better for him.

He and Paix were the golden boys in the Broncos system, but Paix was always the better player. They even got special permission for Boyd to play Q Cup at 17 (and he was terrible). Seibold came to his senses and shipped him off to promote Dearden, then suddenly he is playing NRL for the Titans despite never putting 2 good games together in the Q Cup. Whenever the Titans sent him down to Burleigh he was diabolical. Last year I think they won almost every game Boyd didn't play in, but lost nearly every game he did.

He's basically the anti-Jamal Fogerty. One had years of dominating the Q Cup and they refused to give him an NRL opportunity. One had a short stint of ineptitude in the Q Cup and was promptly called up to the NRL.

The Broncos turning Paix into a hooker to make way for Dearden is also a bit of a travesty imo, but that's a different story.

Boyd did actually play a couple of good games in the NRL at the back end of last year, and these days he is an ok squad player. I just don't see him as the guy to push a team around the park for 25 weeks. It's a Kyle Flanagan situation. Over-hyped and given a million opportunities, but imo he didn't earn them (with form I mean. By all reports from people I know he works his ass off, so that is a positive).

Appreciate the run down. Given he's young, and you said seems to work hard, do you see him being around the nrl long term? Sounds like this could be a make or break few months for him.

 

[bort]

Back on the Cowboys -

Nanai is going to be marked more this year so high chance his impact his affected.
Can JT have as huge a season as he did this year ?
Will Chad be still as motivated as he was last year to prove the haters wrong ? I feel he was highly motivated his first year so that might slip

You'd think he can't keep scoring like he did, that's like some Menzies ****
I guess someone has to be the next Menzies but certainly no guarantee it is him.

Teams will switch on better he is a target for kicks, that might open up slightly better chances for his outside men instead, but would still reduce his tries

 

[Gumby]

Been trying to do this for the last few weeks.
Don’t remember there being a season of footy where it’s so wide open. The gap has definitely minimised with the dolphins entering the comp and the storm/Penrith losing key players. Anyways here’s my ladder prediction.

1. Roosters
2. Sharks
3. Penrith
4. Storm
5. Canberra
6. Souths
7. Cowboys
8. Eels

9. Broncos
10. Tigers
11. Bulldogs
12. Manly
13. Titans
14. Dolphins
15. Warriors
16. Knights
17. St George

Honestly I feel there are 13 sides who will be all close to making the 7 & 8 spot on the ladder. The premiership is wide open also.

Predicting a Sharks Vs Roosters grand final.

 

[Sutty]

It will be a real hotly contested bottom 9 with Knights/Dragons/Warriors/Tigers/Dolphins/Bulldogs/Manly/Brisbane

 

[Six Again]

Sharks 4th & the others can pick their own spots . Dragons have already put their hand up for 17th .

 

[Flanno]

1. Panthers
2. Souths
3. Roosters
4. Storm
5. Sharks
6. Eels
7. Manly
8. Raiders
9. Cowboys
10. Dogs
11. Broncos
12. Tigers
13. Dolphins
14. Knights
15. Warriors
16. Dragons
17. Titans

Hard to predict because so much depends on luck with injuries, suspensions, etc

 

[Gumby]

Although I’ve tipped the warriors to finish 15th, I actually think they have a pretty decent squad. Could be the surprise packet of 2023.

 

[Gumby]

Changing my ladder prediction putting Canberra back to the bottom half of the ladder.

 

[Sutty]

Changing my ladder prediction putting Canberra back to the bottom half of the ladder.

Nah Ricky never cares about trials

 

[Thresher]

Dolphins are my pick for wooden spoonies

 

[Capital_Shark]

Dolphins are my pick for wooden spoonies

They're essentially everyone else's depth & soon to be retirees. From a comp without enough talent already. If they miss bottom 4 it'll be a good year.

 

[Thresher]

They're essentially everyone else's depth & soon to be retirees. From a comp without enough talent already. If they miss bottom 4 it'll be a good year.

Will take a while before they're in synch too

 

[HaroldBishop]

Will take a while before they're in synch too

Gold Coast are still waiting.

 

[djhabib]

1. Sharks
17. Dolphins

 

[BurgoShark]

Appreciate the run down. Given he's young, and you said seems to work hard, do you see him being around the nrl long term? Sounds like this could be a make or break few months for him.

Tbh I reckon whoever is play 7 for the Titans this year is just keeping Weaver’s seat warm. He will be Foran’s partner before the end of 2024.

For Boyd, I think you are right that this is a big few months for him coming up. They have finally sorted out the rest of their spine, and have some exciting finishers. No excuses for the bloke in #7.

I think he will stick around a few years. Plenty see the potential, and I think in a more limited role he can be a good player. He’s just not a starting NRL halfback imo.

Real mixed bag for him in the trial tonight. Had some errors, some poor kicks, and some forgettable moments in defence - but a couple of fantastic runs leading to tries. Also almost never passed the ball to Fifita.