| League Freaks 2010 National Rugby League Season Preview |
 You want to know why there is such a huge buildup to the 2010 NRL season? Just take a look at how many really strong teams there are this year!
By my count we have 9 teams that have enough talent to be unquestionable finals teams. Too bad there are only 8 places. Beyond that you have a handful of sides who only miss out because they are not consistent.
I only see one really dud team this year, and sorry to say it, but its the Sharkies.
So I know you don't want to be waiting around reading this part.
So in no particular order:
Canterbury Bulldogs
See how thing turn around when you clear out all the dickheads from your club? The Bulldogs didn't add much over the off season, but a few of their players will be better for last years run.
The Good
Jamal Idris should really step up this year and break into State Of Origin and possibly the Australian side. Look for Ennis to continues his fantastic form as well. I think they need to get something from their juniors in the forwards, but they are one of the best clubs to be able to come up with the goods.
The Bad
I worry about age wearing them down. Kimmorley is old and Pattern, while he is one of the most reliable players I have ever seen, is no spring chicken himself. Will the wear and tear finally get to these two?
Can They Win It?
They defiantly can, but I feel as though they need to find an extra game breaker to really be a favorite.
Prediction
Very solid all year, very dependable. Their lack of an extra attacking edge is what gets them at the end of the day and they lose in the second week of the finals. If only there was some way to clone that Morris kid....oh wait.....
Wests Tigers
They have gone out and bought a lot of new players into the club, including signing a 30 year old Lote Tuqiri for twice as much than he is worth. They have a heck of a lot that looks good about them though.
The Good
They needed tome grunt up front and Jason Cayless should help provide some of that. If anything Tuqiri provides depth in the backs and Moltzen should be better for having another season under his belt. I think Robbie Farah will have a blinder this year and Benji Marshall will continue his amazing form. Throw in what has to be the best, most experiences coaching staff in the history of the game...its a good combination!
The Bad
I think Tuqiri's signing could be a big mistake. Thats a lot of money for an old rugby union player. I still worry that they have to rely a bit too much on fancy stuff to win them games, I don't think they can grind out wins.
Can They Win It?
They can, however they need to fix a few issues they have had in the forwards. If they have been able to do that over the off season, they are a big chance.
Prediction
They start off a little slow as combination's settle, but by August they are on fire and finish in the top four. They narrowly get beaten in the Semi Finals in front of a sellout crowd of 80,000.
Cronulla Sharks
Last year was a dog of a year with bad new on and off the field just killing the club. I look at this years team, I see less things to like about their lineup, I see many of the same problems from last season, but they were always going to get worse before they got better.
The Good
You know I've found good things about every other team, but for the Sharks, I'm really struggling to find something good to say. I guess you could say that expectations are low, so what every they do should be a bonus....right?
The Bad
They didn't really add anyone worthwhile, Trent Barrett is finished, they have no one that is even remotely dangerous, their supposedly toughest player spent the off season whinging like a bit and their coach will invest so much emotional energy into trying to make them a winner that it will just about kill him.
Can They Win It?
I see no reason why they can't. Oh, hold on, I should have deleted that first bit, I copied and pasted it from another team. Nah, the Sharks have no chance!
Prediction
They play hard and really take it up to opposition clubs, but the lack of quality players shines through and the Sharks have yet another terrible season. Wooden Spooners.
New Zealand Warriors
Funnily enough when they brought the White Ant back (Stacey Jones) anything good the club had went missing and the smokey for the 2009 Premiership had a terrible season. After Steve Price lost the captaincy and whinge about it, will more problems scuttle the Warriors this season?
The Good
Stacey Jones is gone, never to return, and not a moment too soon. The Warriors have a few good youngsters who should make an impact this year, and getting Brent Tate back will improve them a hell of a lot. They don't spend all their salary cap money, which is a good thing, this lineup isn't worth it, but that could help they get some mid season help or event see them sign a big name or two for next year.
The Bad
I can't think of anyone thats left who can really play in the halves. By bringing back Jones last year the Warriors took a dump on their halves from the previous season and they all moved on. Couple that with injury problems and it doesn't look good.
Can They Win It?
Unless they pull about 7 top quality junior players out of their arses early in the season and go on some ridiculous roll, no, they are no chance. So no....they are no chance.
Prediction
Very much a typical Warriors season. Some surprising wins, a lot of pathetic losses, they finish near the bottom of the ladder, Cleary is fired before seasons end and Fairleigh takes over....and is not up to the job.
Melbourne Storm
They are the National Rugby League Premiers and probably the best team I've seen in my lifetime. What they have achieved over the last few years is amazing and hardcore football junkies like me love the way they just keep getting up to do all the hard things every year.
The Good
No team in the game has a core as good as the Storm. Cronk, Smith, Inglis and Slater, you add them four to the worst side in the competition and you are making the finals. The Storm cover the loss of players better than anyone in the game. Look for unheralded players to perform very well under Craig Bellemys coaching, they just get the job done and the stars do the rest.
The Bad
Their preseason has been ruined by the World Club Challenge, as it always is for the previous years NRL Champions. Staying on top of your game from February to the first weekend of October is impossible, so look for the Storm to have some rough patches this year. They should cover most of their personnel losses over the off season but I do worry about the workload the likes of Inglis, Slater and Smith have been under over the last few years. At some point all that football becomes too much.
Can They Win It?
To win the Premiership you have to beat the Melbourne Storm. Right now for me, they are the clear cut best team in the competition. Their regular season form will not be all that important, in fact I'd be a little worried if they dominated all year. Leave that to the likes of the Dragons, this Storm team has learnt from past lessons and they know what is really important, being the best team during the last four finals games of the season. That is their goal.
Prediction
I think they will finish the Minor Premiership in the top three, pushing for at least a top two finish which gives them a lot of advantages in the finals system the NRL uses. Look for them to step up a few weeks out from the finals and take their game to another level. I think the Storm will win the Grand Final again in 2010, the first back to back Champions in over a decade.
St George/Illawarra Dragons
Lets make no bones about it, last season the Dragons choke when it mattered most. Its been a common problem for the Dragons over the years and as much as they don't like talking about it, its still the Gorilla in the room.
The Good
Wayne Bennett has had a year with these players now and he knows better than anyone what needs to be done. he knows who he can rely on and who he can't Nathan Fien will be a bigger part of the team this year which will help in a big way and last years experience will have taught them a lot. Jamie Soward started last year as a fringe first grader, he now has a very valueble year of experience to draw upon.
The Bad
They didn't really add anyone that would knock your socks off and the fact is, they still have the same problem that was their downfall last year. They don't have a real halfback, an organizer, someone who can play whats in front of them. They are great off set plays, but when things don't go their way, the Dragons are stuffed, they lack ideas and they leave everything up to young Soward to do. Fien should help a bit out of hooker, but this is a major problem that has not been addressed.
Can They Win It?
They are a very good, very well coached group of players and there is no doubt they will go well, probably the favorite to win the Minor Premiership again this season. However when the big moments comes, the points of the season that really matter, you can't have any confidence in the Dragons. You get the feeling that in big finals games, when they come up against similarly great teams but who have great stars who stand up when it counts, the Dragons are the type of team that could get slaughtered.
Prediction
A great regular season, very consistent and everything going along great. It will look a little wobbly nearing the conclusion of the regular season but Bennett will draw it together just in time. They will go a bit better in the finals this year but once they hit a proven performer, its all over. They are not winning the Grand Final in 2010.
Gold Coast Titans
The Titans took a step up and joined the big boys in 2009 and so expectations for this season are raised. Close enough is no longer good enough and if you follow natural progression, the Titans really should get closer to the top this year.
The Good
On pure a football basis aloe, Greg Bird is just what they needed. A tough player who doesn't mind getting stuck into the rough stuff, a strong defender and a strong ball runner on the edges.
The Bad
The Titans aren't stupid, they know what their problem was last year. If things go a similar way it wouldn't take much for them to get disheartened and start to fall away. You also have to wonder about how some of their more injury prone players will hold up. Rogers, Bailey and even Scott Prince all sit out a lot of games every year. You get the feeling it wouldn't take too much for their season to fall apart.
Can They Win It?
If everything went their way, injuries, a few youngsters stepping up, Bird plays great, they finally find some toughness, they are an outside shot. Problem is, I think they are soft, and when they hit the likes of the Storm or even Parramatta or the Bulldogs in the finals, those teams will go through them like a buzz saw.
Prediction
A good start to the season, they will look great. Injuries will set in, they will fade a little and just about manage to get everyone back by finals time. Problem is by then, they are coming home with a wet sail and when they hit the hardened finals sides, it will be all over.
Manly Sea Eagles
This time last year the Sea Eagles were on top of the world, yet in the space of a week, their season came crashing down before it had even started. Even now the team is still dealing with the repercussions of last years season launch, and I think it will have a big baring on their 2010 season and possibly beyond.
The Good
They lost Matt Orford but he was a choker. Consistent in the games that didn't matter, but a world class choker when the games did matter. Kieran Foran will be asked to step up this year, and while he may not be as consistent just yet, he will prove to be a game winner for Manly.
The Bad
They didn't add anyone that great to a side that wasn't good enough last year. The Brett Stewart thing is hanging over their heads too, and that might get worse as the courts do their thing. The big problem will be if they continue to play Jamie Lyon at five-eight. He is not good enough, its as simple as that.
Can They Win It?
Des Hasler is a great coach that can get a lot out of his lineups. This is going to be a tough ask this year though. I think they will put in a solid effort, maybe just miss top 8.
Prediction
A so-so start to the year with a solid mid season run isn't enough to get them over the line to make the finals. I think this Brett Stewart stuff won't hurt them early in the season but once the courts get on top of this, I think it could be a big hammer blow to the club.
Brisbane Broncos
With a new coach in 2009 the Broncos has a schizophrenic season that saw them look like world beaters, then egg beaters, then world beaters again. I get the feeling after testing the coach, then giving his a decent sized contract extension, the club has its sights set firmly on rebuilding.
The Good
Forget Karmichael Hunt, in a competition full of great fullbacks and with a heap of options, I have no doubt we'll be talking about the great young fullback the Broncos have unearthed in a few months from now.
The Bad
Where to start? Hodges won't be back for months, Israel Folau looks to have stagnated, if not taken a backwards step, Lockyer is looking very old and not capable of dragging them to wins. They lost Taylor and Clinton from a pack that was already atrocious and didn't replace them with anyone of note. When you're big off season signing is Tim Smith, you are screwed.
Can They Win It?
No, they can't. The Broncos have to many problems right across the park to even be thinking of winning the title. Lockyer is a great player, and in a solid team he could still lead a team to a Premiership. However at this stage of his career even the great man himself can't lead a team kicking and screaming to wins.
Prediction
A fairly average start see's the knives come out for the Broncos, but it soon becomes apparent that this side just doesn't have the cattle. A stupid Kiwi kid comes back from France to play a game he has never played before and everyone says his loss was the problem, but it wasn't. This crash has been coming for a while. The Broncos fail to make the finals and Darren Lockyer retires.
Canberra Raiders
Its been way to long between drinks for Raiders fans. They suffered through the Matthew Elliott period, then Neill Henry dragged the club back together before leaving for North Queensland, and then last season under David Furner they showed some promise, however over all they were disappointing. can they keep moving forward this season, or do Raiders fans have to put up with more rebuilding rubbish?
The Good
They are a young team with a young coach so they will have got a bit out of last season. They even had a few players gain State Of Origin experience last year and unearthed a few more good youngsters from the lower grades. If these guys can all just take another step forward, they could surprise people.
The Bad
I don't rate David Furner as a coach just yet. Knows a lot about footy, knows what needs to be done, but a great coach is like a great artist, sure its just paint, a brush and canvass, but they produce amazing things our of basic elements. Not everyone can do it, no matter how much they want too. On top of that the Raiders have a few players that needs to step up to a new level, promising no longer cuts the mustard.
Can They Win It?
They have little experience in their side, they are way too inconsistent, they would be out coached against the best teams anyway and they don't have the cattle.
Prediction
A sadly familiar scenario for Raiders fans. They go between being completely out classed and then pulling a great performance out of their arse, only to disappoint soon after. Furner asks for patience knowing his brother (The clubs CEO) isn't about to sack him anyway, but the losses add up and the Raiders finish in the bottom third of the ladder once again, trying to aoid the wooden spoon.
Penrith Panthers
Ah Penrith, the team I follow for better or worse.
The Good
The Panthers have some very handy players in their side and the 2010 squad looks like it has a lot of depth. The Panthers are a funny team they will only win a title coming from no where, and they fad back to an also ran just as quickly.
The Bad
With the coach constantly talking up every young players in the side, he has placed undue pressure on players that really didn't need it. On top of that, news that some players will be carrying up to 10 kilos of extra muscle is a real worry. Carl Jennings (Penriths trainer) has pushed players to bulk up at his previous clubs (Bradford and Canberra) and its something that never has been a good move.
Can They Win It?
I would find it very hard to rule them out of the race. They are the type of side where, if everything clicks, they could go all the way. The problem is, for everything to click, it will be more an act of luck rather than anything the coaching staff has done.
Prediction
They are a lot more solid than previous years and dispite a terrible coach, the talent gets the job done. They mix solid performances with world beating form every so often and Michael Jennings becomes one of the best in the game. They make the finals and cause problems, but they fall short in the semis.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Give me an owner who does everything he can to build a winner. Russell Crowe went all out to get Sam Burgess and got his man. There was a change of coach, which probably needed to happen, even if it was a rotten way it worked out and now everyone is tipping the Bunnies to have a big year!
The Good
They added some real grunt up front and their pack looks very, very good. Burgess should be a very good buy as long as he sticks to his job and doesn't try and take on the world while Taylor can be dangerous out wide.
The Bad
You have a lot of very good forwards in this side, but how many grafters are among them? I look at the players they have and there are a lot of players in there that will be good in short bursts, but no one thats going to make 40 tackles and play 80 solid minutes without hurting their production. Even hooker Issac Luke needs to prove he can play 80 minutes this year.
Can They Win It?
They would need their halves Sutton and Sandow to have outstanding seasons to be in with a real chance. I worry they havent got the fire power out wide and their halves just aren't up to it. I don't think they can win the competition, but this will be a big step towards being a contender in the near future.
Prediction
The get off to a very solid start and a very big wins over top opponents gets the bandwagon rolling. However they start to struggle as the season drags on and a late recovery gives fans hope. They make the finals but are gone in week one.
Sydney Roosters
Last year was a disaster and it was not just bad luck, it was terrible management. The club sacked Brad Fittler and have brought in Brian Smith. He has a lot of work to do!
The Good
Smiths record of building a club from rubbish that is left over it outstanding. This season will have its ups and downs but he will get them back to being a playoff team. Braith Anasta should be in for a big year and lets face it, its not 2009, so thats gotta be better for the Roosters!
The Bad
Much like the Dragons, you have to wonder if their problems have been addressed. They don't have an outstanding player who can take the game by the scruff of the neck and just win it. Pearce is in a make or break year and then there is their problem of fading in the second half of games, that was a mental problem that will take a long time to fix.
Can They Win It?
No they can't To many issues upstairs, I would suggest that some of this playing staff won't like Brian Smith and that will undermine everything the team does on the field.
Prediction
Some good performances, with a lot of bad ones. Smith starts gutting the club and players are asked to move on. They get bitter, the papers jump on Smiths back and it all makes for a very tough season, one that is necessary though. They miss the finals.
Parramatta Eels
After starting slow last year the Eels finished strong, making it all the way to the 2009 Grand Final, only to lose to the Melbourne Storm. They enter 2010 with pretty much the same lineup, no major losses, but with a couple of additions in
The Good
They recruited very well before their big late season surge and so their forward pack looks fantastic. Some of their key players now have great experience under their belts and if they get off to a good start and they get fans behind them, they can ride the wave right to the Grand Final once again.
The Bad
They had so many players last year playing in career best form, and catching lightening in a bottle is the hardest thing in the world to do. I worry that Jarryd Hayne is getting away from the values that say him become one of the worlds best players last year and I worry that players like Daniel Mortimer and Fui Fui Moi Moi have to make big steps to be great on a consistent basis. There may also be an issue with club captain Nathan Cayless, some question whether he is good enough to be in the lineup at this stage of his career. If he does get dropped, they will have to appoint a new captain, and it could make for a bit of a messy situation.
Can They Win It?
On paper they look pretty good, but keep in mind this is the same team that looked bloody hopeless at the beginning of last season. I think they can win it though, however they need some of their outside backs to step up to the next level.
Prediction
A very solid season that gets tough around Origin time. Cayless ends up coming off the bench and will be lucky to be in first grade by seasons end, he may retire mid year. They are a top side all season and while there are a few wobbles, they make the Grand Final again.
Newcastle Knights
Well the season hasn't even started and its been a tough few months for the club. Off field rubbish has seen them lose a few players, players I think they won't miss too much to be honest.
The Good
Well a new coach usually is a good boost for a club, and I guess it can't be bad that some of the rotten apples are being removed from the mix. Mullen is a year more experienced and a few of their players should progress from last season.
The Bad
I would always worry about a Knights side that has not enough outside influence. Rick Stone is a Newcastle insider and up there, one team, one town, the Knights are very quick to stop looking at what everyone else is doing and kidding themselves they are doing great when in fact, they are not. Couple this with yet another players being sacked for alleged drug supply charges and it already looks like a lot of the warning signs for a Knights implosion are already going off.
Can They Win It?
No chance what so ever. They will have a consistent season, but for all the wrong reasons. Ok in some games, not quite good enough in many. They won't be easy to beat, they will push teams, but they just won't have the edge needed to win enough games to make the finals.
Prediction
They have a solid start to the year but start to tail off. A mid season boost at Origin time is flattering but they will miss the finals, lose a lot of the work Brian Smith did with them, and be back to their old ways.
North Queensland Cowboys
Its a big year up north with the focus being on Jonathan Thurstons career, the hopeful resurgence of Matthew Bowen and of course the addition of Willie Mason. Coach Neil Henry no longer has Origin duties to deal with so now there are no excuses for poor form.
The Good
If Bowen comes back and is even 75% of the player he once was, he will be a massive boost to this team. A on his game Willie Mason could also be a huge addition and a strike weapon up front they needed. They have some great players in this side, they just need to get it all together.
The Bad
Thurstons future will be a distraction while Mason could be even worse. Injury prone key players doesn't help and you just get the feeling that while things could all come together, they could just as easily fall apart up north.
Can They Win It?
No, I don't think they can. There is just too much inconsistency in this side, to many things to consider and too many things have to go right.
Prediction
They smash the Broncos in round one and while they start the season well, the cracks start appearing. Masons career is proven to be over and it seems like Thurston re-signs with the club was almost down to the fact that no one else was really chasing him. They miss the finals and big questions are asked about the direction of the club. This is this current lineups last shot, if they don't give it a real shake this year, they will be gutted and start to re-build.
And the 2010 Premiers Are....
The Melbourne Storm beat the Parramatta Eels in the Grand Final. The Storm fight off the Panthers in the semi finals while the West Tigers lose and extra time thriller to the Eels.
The Storm by 28-22 and Billy Slater is the Clive Churchill Medalist in a season that people really start talking about his standing among the games greats.
League Freaks Ladder
1. Parramatta Eels
2. Melbourne Storm
3. St George/Illawarra Dragons
4. West Tigers
5. Gold Coast Titans
6. Canterbury Bulldogs
7. Penrith Panthers
8. South Sydney Rabbitohs
9. Manly Sea Eagles
10. Sydney Roosters
11. North Queensland Cowboys
12. Canberra Raiders
13. Brisbane Broncos
14. Newcastle Knights
15. New Zealand Warriors
16. Cronulla Sharks
A Make Or Break Season
Willie Mason is just 29 years old and could easily play another four years. However with all the issues he has generated the last few years, rightly or wrongly, a lot of people within the game feel like he is damaged goods.
Playing good football will always make up for off field issues, however if Mason comes out and plays like a bludger, his career in Australia will be effectively over.
Jarrod Mullen has been a half with a lot of promise the last few years. Learning from Andrew Johns early in his career, getting a taste of State Of Origin football, he has performed very well at times, however he has also played a lot of average football and struggled with a few injuries.
In 2010, Mullen needs to make the step up from being a promising players to a true, reliable star, otherwise he could fall back into that Brett Finch class of player who many thought would be representative stars, but who just ended up being solid first graders.
Who Is Under The Pump?
Ivan Cleary has had some good times at the Warriors, but a lot of bad times too. While New Zealand is really craving NRL action the last few years, with TV ratings through the roof, the Warriors have been terrible.
The club recently brought in David Fairleigh as an assistant coach.....it made me think of the way John Lang was ready to take Jayson Taylors job at the end of last year!
Brian Smith's needs to rebuild the Roosters and while he has always been brilliant at building a club up, he is now at a club that is notorious for discarding people at the drop of a hat. If the Roosters get off to a bad start, and with a media thats always been hostile towards Smith ready to pounce, I could see Smith shown his marching orders if this turn bad once again for the Roosters, just because that is the type of club they are.
The Dally M's
Robbie Farah wins the Dally M player of the year while the coach of the year goes to Tim Sheens. A Broncos player wins the Rookie of the Year and Jarryd Hayne wins the peoples choice award.
The Dragons get few gongs even though they have a good year but the biggest snub goes to the Storm, best team in the competition but because they cruise through the regular season they don't get the awards they probably should.
State Of Origin
I think this is the year Queensland suffers from lack of depth in the forwards. Their backline is amazing and will see them be hard to beat, but their two best forwards are older than the Origin series itself! New South Wales will pick a huge pack of forwards as they did in game three last year. With Hayne at fullback, Jennings making a bigger impact in the centers and that big pack, New South Wales finally win the Origin series!
Internationals
New Zealand come back a little as last years injuries and disappointment actually help their depth. They push Australia hard and like New South Wales in the Origin series, they take advantage of some older opposition forwards, but they lose the mid season Test.
The Four Nations is very different. PNG plays solid and Englands tour is nothing short of a disaster, but the battle between Australia and New Zealand is nothing short of titanic. The series finals see's both nations play off with New Zealand winning, emphatically, and it see's the end of the rep careers of Darren Lockyer, Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price.
So thats it. Lets see how close I got. BRING IT ON!
League Freak
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