Prediction: Sharks Finishing Position 2021

[Gards]

I think we will have a good year all things considered - everything should be better player and coaching wise bar the injury to SJ and losing The Adonis to Penrith

Hooker depth a concern as is which Moylan we will get. Tolman is a massive bonus as will be a fit and firing Fifita. We will have better support coaches and motivators in the club. Young guys another year of experience under their belts. Hunt will come back fresh after the injury lay off and Woods playing for a contract where he typically steps it up. A proper pre-season training under last seasons rule changes. Coach should know what is required by now.

But 6th on the table for mine. Slow start, good middle season and bit of a late fade as per usual to scrape into the finals. Will win our first elimination final and from there I don't know might even get to the following week

 

[Blair]

I think Moylan, Woods and Dugan all plying for contracts will definitely work in our favour.

 

[Sparkles]

Another way to look at it is who from the top 8 from last year do you believe will miss out this year?

I think the below all definitely make it, barring injuries

Penrith
Storm
Roosters
Souths

Probably make it

Knights
Canberra
Parra....although could easily miss out


I think Manly make it IF Turbo and Foran stay fit. That's a bloody big if though.

I also expect the Titans to give the 8 a serious nudge as well.

Surely Melbourne are going to slide this year...

A good way to look at it, HB. Who is your smokeys list? Gold Coast, Warriors...? Canterbury? Even the Broncos? That 6-10 finish looks like it'll be decided by teams who either have players click for them or fail to fire (through poor form or injury). Feels like a lot of teams are in that position this year

 

[bort]

I think Moylan, Woods and Dugan all plying for contracts will definitely work in our favour.

Agreed, especially (as we constantly say) if Moylan can actually say on the field.

Woods is looking pretty fit too, I thought.
Well, his upper body is. His lower body still looks like he's only heard of leg day in myths and old wives tales, but it's always like that.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I think Moylan, Woods and Dugan all plying for contracts will definitely work in our favour.

I just don't think the game will suit Woods, and even Duges to an extent.

Surely Melbourne are going to slide this year...

A good way to look at it, HB. Who is your smokeys list? Gold Coast, Warriors...? Canterbury? Even the Broncos? That 6-10 finish looks like it'll be decided by teams who either have players click for them or fail to fire (through poor form or injury). Feels like a lot of teams are in that position this year

Can't see Canterbury doing much mate, don't forget they don't have JAC or Burton until next year. Their spine is bog average.

Don't see Brisbane improving much either, would love to see them finish last again.

It doesn't look like a particularly strong comp this year apart from a handful of teams.

 

[CHOGM]

We often fielded one of the youngest sides in the comp last year, so that has to pay dividends in 2021, especially considering how well they all went last year.

Our team has belief, competition for spots, and appears to be a pretty tight group.

We’ll finish 7th, and win the first week of the finals.

 

[Bundy Shark]

I hope I’m wrong but I feel by the time SJ is back the amount of wins we would have accumulated will be sweet F’ A.
I don’t have much confidence in the 6 & 7 pairing who will more than likely be Moylan & Townsend.

I’ll see it as a win if Chad can be just solid without throwing in some of his customary shockers.
Collectively, from the halves, I think our overall kicking game will be poor, very few if any 40/20’s, inability to roll the ball in the in goal & ping the other team in there for repeat sets. will be problematic.

Our lack of length for our clearing 4 & 5 tackle kicks will put our D under the pump more, even if Moylan can be a miracle & stay on the field he has a tonne of mistakes in him & lacks composure & pulls the trigger on plays he needs to hold the ball on.

I don’t see Townsend creating enough opportunities on his side & whaever Moylan does create won’t outweigh his mistakes.

Hoping like hell our D has improved cause our points for will be ordinary.

Anticipating a vert tough & frustrating season ahead.

 

[Tiger Shark]

I hope I’m wrong but I feel by the time SJ is back the amount of wins we would have accumulated will be sweet F’ A.
I don’t have much confidence in the 6 & 7 pairing who will more than likely be Moylan & Townsend.

I’ll see it as a win if Chad can be just solid without throwing in some of his customary shockers.
Collectively, from the halves, I think our overall kicking game will be poor, very few if any 40/20’s, inability to roll the ball in the in goal & ping the other team in there for repeat sets. will be problematic.

Our lack of length for our clearing 4 & 5 tackle kicks will put our D under the pump more, even if Moylan can be a miracle & stay on the field he has a tonne of mistakes in him & lacks composure & pulls the trigger on plays he needs to hold the ball on.

I don’t see Townsend creating enough opportunities on his side & whaever Moylan does create won’t outweigh his mistakes.

Hoping like hell our D has improved cause our points for will be ordinary.

Anticipating a vert tough & frustrating season ahead.

You know Chad and Moylan were halves partners for a whole season.

 

[HaroldBishop]

I hope I’m wrong but I feel by the time SJ is back the amount of wins we would have accumulated will be sweet F’ A.
I don’t have much confidence in the 6 & 7 pairing who will more than likely be Moylan & Townsend.

I’ll see it as a win if Chad can be just solid without throwing in some of his customary shockers.
Collectively, from the halves, I think our overall kicking game will be poor, very few if any 40/20’s, inability to roll the ball in the in goal & ping the other team in there for repeat sets. will be problematic.

Our lack of length for our clearing 4 & 5 tackle kicks will put our D under the pump more, even if Moylan can be a miracle & stay on the field he has a tonne of mistakes in him & lacks composure & pulls the trigger on plays he needs to hold the ball on.

I don’t see Townsend creating enough opportunities on his side & whaever Moylan does create won’t outweigh his mistakes.

Hoping like hell our D has improved cause our points for will be ordinary.

Anticipating a vert tough & frustrating season ahead.

Our short kicking game will probably be OK but I'm very concerned about our long kicking game. Both Chad and Moylan are below average in this area.

Wade has a big boot so we may turn to him a bit. Blayke hopefully kicking more from dummy half as well

 

[Mr Ryan]

Obviously fitness of players will play a huge role, but you could say that about any of the 16 clubs.

This time last year, Moylan, Fifita and Dugan would have done no running. This year they’ve got miles in their legs.

Johnson, Moylan and a young guy that could be anything(Brailey) is a pretty decent spine, that a lot of clubs would kill for.

A pretty good pack that includes Graham, Fifita, Uele, Rudolf, Tolman, Woods.

A couple of legitimate tryscorers in Katoa and Mulitalo.

Only Johnson’s injury stops me from picking top 4.

Will have a pretty good year.

 

[Gards]

Similar to last year. Between 7th-10th.

massive difference between making the 8 and finishing 10th - make a call mate

I just looked at the draw. Is there any team who plays in so many different locations? Melbourne, Townsville, Brisbane, Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, Sunshine Coast, Central Coast, Newcastle, Canberra, Auckland

Just 5 games in Sydney in 4 months of footy from April through July.

Might be a tough year boys. I'm predicting another 8th place finish and another first weekend exit.

well it's a season that either makes or breaks us. if we have a shocker probs give it a few seasons and we will be back in the mix with significant roster changes. make the 8 and we keep that sharkies momentum of playing finals going and probs don't have to recover from so far back. either way interesting times ahead.

Gotta agree that we'll just miss the 8. My guess is 9-10.

A lot comes down to how we handle SJ, Moylan and Dugan being off contract, and Fifs if he's playing on one leg.

I won't mind missing the finals if we make the right contract decisions for the future.

I mind, SJ injuriy or not Ill be dissapointed if we dont play finals. the hack frauds need to step up

I think our chances will depend on how these 3 go over the first quarter of the seasons opening rounds (especially Moyza).
If they all stay fit and play to somewhere near their ability and keep us in the hunt (until SJ takes the field) I think we could be fighting for a middle of top 8 spot (somewhere from 4th - 6th)

If they play busted or not at all, then more likely bottom half of the ladder with maybe a push for 8th at best if we get a few lucky wins but more likely slip out of finals contentions.

We can't give away a big lead to the top teams in the early rounds otherwise it is too much to try to pull back in the later rounds.

yep fair take

Said Pre The Draw- 10th, now i'm thinking 11th. Any higher a Bonus. We have a disjointed roster. Not enough tough gritty Defenders.
Really enjoyed the style of Footy last yr, hope we keep it up, but tighten the D.

we have tolman, he will make a difference in the middle , especially defensively

I think Souths, Penrith, Melbourne and Roosters are a step above everyone else at the moment, that’ll probably be the top 4. The rest of the ladder is up for grabs. Could be quite a close old logjam from 5th to 11th for most of the season.

I don't think the chin combo can back it up. expect them to fall down the ladder a bit but still be competitive and perhaps make a late finals push and cause some trouble in the play offs

Obviously fitness of players will play a huge role, but you could say that about any of the 16 clubs.

This time last year, Moylan, Fifita and Dugan would have done no running. This year they’ve got miles in their legs.

Johnson, Moylan and a young guy that could be anything(Brailey) is a pretty decent spine, that a lot of clubs would kill for.

A pretty good pack that includes Graham, Fifita, Uele, Rudolf, Tolman, Woods.

A couple of legitimate tryscorers in Katoa and Mulitalo.

Only Johnson’s injury stops me from picking top 4.

Will have a pretty good year.

i predict some typically heart breaking losses but also some gutsy epic wins and at one point might even look like the team to beat

 

[Super Impose]

Between 6 and 10 for mine.

Just to many variables to narrow it down any further ...

 

[CHOGM]

I think Souths, Penrith, Melbourne and Roosters are a step above everyone else at the moment, that’ll probably be the top 4. The rest of the ladder is up for grabs. Could be quite a close old logjam from 5th to 11th for most of the season.

There are good arguments for this not being the case though.
South’s started terribly last year, and their 6 is yet to prove he can deliver on the big stage.

The chooks are counting on a young half delivering, captain America is one concussion away from retirement, JWH and Friend are ageing.

Melbourne minus Smith come back to the field big time. I don’t care how good a first season Grant had.

We don’t know yet how good Penrith really are. They may slump, or they may get better.

It was a weird season because of Covid and the 6 again rule, and it made some teams look better than they are and some teams look worse.

I think two of the above don’t make the four.

 

[Go Nulla]

There are good arguments for this not being the case though.
South’s started terribly last year, and their 6 is yet to prove he can deliver on the big stage.

The chooks are counting on a young half delivering, captain America is one concussion away from retirement, JWH and Friend are ageing.

Melbourne minus Smith come back to the field big time. I don’t care how good a first season Grant had.

We don’t know yet how good Penrith really are. They may slump, or they may get better.

It was a weird season because of Covid and the 6 again rule, and it made some teams look better than they are and some teams look worse.

I think two of the above don’t make the four.

We will finish 10th.

 

[HaroldBishop]

There are good arguments for this not being the case though.
South’s started terribly last year, and their 6 is yet to prove he can deliver on the big stage.

Melbourne minus Smith come back to the field big time. I don’t care how good a first season Grant had.

Re Souths, Walker doesn't need to deliver on the big stage though for them to finish top 4.

Re Storm, I've been saying this for years. First when Cronk left, then Slater. I know Smith is a massive loss but they're just too professional. They may not be good enough to win it, but they'll be top 4 again.

Hope I'm wrong because it would give me great satisfaction to see them slump.

 

[Blair]

Re Souths, Walker doesn't need to deliver on the big stage though for them to finish top 4.

Re Storm, I've been saying this for years. First when Cronk left, then Slater. I know Smith is a massive loss but they're just too professional. They may not be good enough to win it, but they'll be top 4 again.

Hope I'm wrong because it would give me great satisfaction to see them slump.

Yeah... hard to see Storm going too far backwards. Munster went to another level in origin. Little Paps is a superstar. Grant killed it and if he fails Brandon Smith will play 9. Hate to say it, but they’re still going to be the team to beat. Xxxxing hate Melbourne.

 

[CHOGM]

Re Souths, Walker doesn't need to deliver on the big stage though for them to finish top 4.

Re Storm, I've been saying this for years. First when Cronk left, then Slater. I know Smith is a massive loss but they're just too professional. They may not be good enough to win it, but they'll be top 4 again.

Hope I'm wrong because it would give me great satisfaction to see them slump.

Good point about Walker. I’ve just always seen the bunnies as brittle, but they do make top four a lot.

As professional as the storm are, I just think they win games because of Smith. Journeyman players can play well in that system because they have simple jobs to do, because Smith does all the hard stuff. The complex stuff.

Who’s doing it now?

Anyway I’m very much looking forward to watching the storm without him. It’s going to be fascinating.

 

[bort]

As much as I hate C Smith I’d love to see him do a Tom Brady and sign for GC. Try prove coach and system are great but it’s him who deserves the most credit.

Interested to see how storm go without him but would be even more interested to see how he’d go elsewhere.

 

[Gards]

Re Souths, Walker doesn't need to deliver on the big stage though for them to finish top 4.

Re Storm, I've been saying this for years. First when Cronk left, then Slater. I know Smith is a massive loss but they're just too professional. They may not be good enough to win it, but they'll be top 4 again.

Hope I'm wrong because it would give me great satisfaction to see them slump.

No Cam means the Storm halves will have the most pressure and responsibility on their shoulders for over 15 years. Cam was a hooker but also like a 3rd halfback, did alot of organizational work on and off the ball

As much as I hate C Smith I’d love to see him do a Tom Brady and sign for GC. Try prove coach and system are great but it’s him who deserves the most credit.

Interested to see how storm go without him but would be even more interested to see how he’d go elsewhere.

He would still be good in a pleb team and elevate that squad but his stats and overall effectiveness would suffer with less quality around him. agree would be interesting to see

 

[stormshark]

As much as I hate C Smith I’d love to see him do a Tom Brady and sign for GC. Try prove coach and system are great but it’s him who deserves the most credit.

Interested to see how storm go without him but would be even more interested to see how he’d go elsewhere.

This year their last short term "Successfull " season. Bellamy, Smith gone, New Coach,Lessons learned by investing in Jnrs that leave to go back home, AFL CEO appt that doesnt understand League,Additional Qld entering Comp/Close 2 -2022 will be their big Dip.