Set of Six: Bold predictions for the 2017 NRL season

With two weeks to go until the NRL kicks off again Jarret Filmer puts his Steedens on the line and makes some bold predictions for the new season.

1. The Broncos will miss the finals
The Broncos have only missed the finals four times in their existence but it’s looking like 2017 could be the fifth. If they are to challenge for the finals Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford will need to return to their 2015 form, something that is far from a given. The loss of long-time stalwart Corey Parker will hurt as will the impending defection of Hunt. The Broncos major off-season acquisition was Benji Marshall, a questionable move given that it seems likely he will be asked to play a new position in his 14th season. Coach Wayne Bennett is still considered a master motivator but there’s definitely a question over whether he’s still operating at the peak of his powers. If the Broncos flounder then it will be interesting to see how long Bennett sticks around Red Hill long term.

2. The Warriors will make the finals
Betting on the Warriors to succeed has proven time and again to be a recipe for disaster – despite boasting a line-up full of rep stars and NYC standouts the Auckland outfit have missed out on finals football for the last five consecutive seasons. But this year the return of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and the addition of Kieran Foran gives new coach Stephen Kearney an all-Kiwi spine and fans are once again uttering their catch-phrase: “this is our year.” And this time, they might just be right.

3. The Knights won’t retain the Wooden Spoon
The boys from the Hunter are staring down the barrel of another miserable season, but there are indications that it might not be quite as awful as last year. Trying to recover from the salary cap crater left by Nathan Tinkler has meant rebuilding from the ground up, almost as though they were an expansion club. The addition of solid veterans like Jamie Buhrer and Rory Kostjasyn will help set the tone for the host of young players the Knights hope represent the future. The Knights face a long slog back to contention but 2017 might give them reason for optimism.

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4. Matt Moylan will win the Dally M
The Penrith Panthers are a chic pick to follow up last year’s unexpected success by pushing for a Premiership. Given a roster loaded with young talent and topped up with astute purchases such as former Cowboy James Tamou there is plenty of cause for optimism at the foot of the Blue Mountains. The biggest question mark facing the Panthers is the talented but inexperienced halves duo of Nathan Cleary and Te Maire Martin – if they are to live up to their potential then the influential Moylan will need to take a strong hand. And if the Panthers do succeed then Moylan has a good chance to be collecting some hardware come September.

5. Cameron Munster will play more games at fullback for the Melbourne Storm than Billy Slater
Craig Bellamy is faced with the difficult task of moving on from a club icon in 2017. Munster’s form in Slater’s absence gave the Storm a glimpse into the future – a future they may be tempted to make their present if Slater struggles to regain his form this season. Slater is a champion but given his age and the nature of his injury there is no certainty that he will ever return to anything resembling his best. If Bellamy is determined to make the most out of the waning years of Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk’s careers he might be forced to bring the curtain down on Slater. If he can handle the transition deftly then the Storm should push for another Grand Final appearance.

6. Jason Taylor won’t make it through April as coach of the Wests Tigers
A tough draw coupled with a young and thin roster means the Tigers could struggle to put together more than a couple of wins on the board over the first two months of the season. Aside from the brilliance of James Tedesco, the grunt of Aaron Woods and the potential of halves duo Mitchell Moses and Luke Brooks, the cupboard is close to bare at Leichardt. Given Taylor’s brash temperament and the ongoing uneasiness at board level, it wouldn’t be surprising to see Wests throw him overboard – especially if a prolonged slump puts into doubt their ability to re-sign any of the ‘Core Four’ long term.

7th tackle! The Bulldogs will win the Premiership
Despite last year’s limp finals exit, the Bulldogs boast several of the key components for a Premiership winner. They’ve got one of the best coaches in the comp, a classy backline and a formidable forward pack. The big question mark for the Dogs is the quality of their halves – if Josh Reynolds can focus on making plays rather than tripping opponents and Moses Mbye can capitalize on the flashes of potential he has shown then the Dogs definitely have the quality across the park to go deep. Des Hasler is reportedly under pressure to keep his job but it wouldn’t be ridiculous to suggest he’ll silence his critics by bringing a title to Belmore.