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.
Comments on RugbyPass
Always reluctant to blame a coach when losses rack up, but Penney must go. The backline is dysfunctional and the coach must carry the can. No cohesion, no idea and in many cases, minimal skill. The trains out of Roma St depart faster than the ball from Crusaders’ set pieces. Wouldn’t be surprised if the forwards went on strike.
1 Go to commentsAdding to earlier comment. Cullen Grace has been playing great at no6. Lio-Willie , who was on fire a few weeks ago, had a bad game. I think Cullen should have been moved to 8 earlier, Dominic Gardiner on earlier. Feel for Quinten Strange , put in a big shift .
4 Go to commentsWe dominated the scrums Ben Curry was all over pitch again .Surely James Harper got to be one of best English tightheads
1 Go to commentsRoos is a better option at 6 than 8 for the boks. Needs to work on his windgat though.
1 Go to commentsThe Sharks’ 2nd team maybe?
1 Go to comments‘radical’
1 Go to commentsCome back to Christchurch Robbie, please!
1 Go to commentsI think there is zero chance Sam Cane will be selected for another Test. There is simply no point except sentimentality. Razor is not sentimental- ask Wyatt Crocket. Razor is a ruthless selector
4 Go to comments> It would be best described as an elegant solution to what was potentially going to be a significant problem for new All Blacks coach Scott Robertson. It is a problem the mad population of New Zealand will have to cope with more and more as All Blacks are able to continue their careers in NZ post RWCs. It will not be a problem for coaches, who are always going to start a campaign with the captain for the next WC in mind. > Cane, despite his warrior spirit, his undoubted commitment to every team he played for and unforgettable heroics against Ireland in last year’s World Cup quarter-final, was never unanimously admired or respected within New Zealand while he was in the role. Neither was McCaw, he was considered far too passive a captain and then out of form until his last world cup where everyone opinions changed, just like they would have if Cane had won the WC. > It was never easy to see where Cane, or even if, he would fit into Robertson’s squad given the new coach will want to be building a new-look team with 2027 in mind. > Cane will win his selections on merit and come the end of the year, he’ll sign off, he hopes, with 100 caps and maybe even, at last, universal public appreciation for what was a special career. No, he won’t. Those returning from Japan have already earned the right to retain their jersey, it’s in their contract. Cane would have been playing against England if he was ready, and found it very hard to keep his place. Perform, and they keep it however. Very easy to see where Cane could have fit, very hard to see how he could have accomplished it choosing this year as his sabbatical instead of 2025, and that’s how it played out (though I assume we now know what when NZR said they were allowing him to move his sabbatical forward and return to NZ next year, they had actually agreed to simply select him for the All Blacks from overseas, without any chance he was going to play in NZ again). With a mammoth season of 15 All Black games they might as well get some value out of his years contract, though even with him being of equal character to Richie, I don’t think they should guarantee him his 100 caps. That’s not what the All Blacks should be about. He absolutely has to play winning football.
4 Go to commentswhat’s happening to Ian Peel?
1 Go to commentsAs a Crusaders fan , so disappointed , again.But I think Fergus Burke was all class for the Crusaders in his first game since October last year. Fletcher Newell , was so good at prop. Johnny McNicoll has been gold since returning from Wales. Noah Hotham brilliant , in a coming of age second season for the Crusaders.Jone Rova did really well at centre. The end of the game was tough.Sevu Reece , what a game/season in tough times.
4 Go to commentsFellas a balloon
3 Go to commentsBlues B team on display and made no race of it. By far the best team in SR with the Hurricanes barely getting past the winning post. Up the Blues 💙
7 Go to commentsWould be amazing to have Servette Genève reaching this level
3 Go to commentsThe Crusaders can't buy a win this season. Surely Penney's contract won't be renewed. There's still enough talent in the squad that they oughta be winning more.
1 Go to commentsABs captain for 23 seasons. Decent record. Surely nobody will surpass it. Legend. But alas a typo…
4 Go to commentsJust FYI Rugbypass, I for one am tired of your clickbait titles and thumbnails and will be clicking them no longer. Good day.
1 Go to commentsI think Farrell despite all of the stick he gets in the media is still one of if not the best fly half in the world. He is literally the full package. He can kick one of the best in the world, probably has the best defensive game of a fly half in the world and if he wants to he can run, take contact and find an offload to keep the pace of the attack. I dont know why he isnt spoken more about still being one of the best in the world with the likes of dupont. Farrell is the ultimate captain and team leader and is experienced- he has been in nearly any situation you can think of. I still believe due to these reasons that he is England’s best ever player and is still one of the best players in the world.
48 Go to commentsBlues are dominating up front and that’s been a long time coming. They have won the up front confrontation which is where canes, hilanders and act brumbies are also strong.
7 Go to commentsJust watched brumbies v safas game sadly not a show in he’ll thryr anywhere near quarters or semi contention. Admittedly some issues around new comers bot what stands out for me is coaching management, poor game planning and accuracy.
5 Go to comments