2019 Ladder Predictions

Discussion in 'The Cesspit: Rugby League Discussion' started by morgieb, Mar 9, 2019.

  1. morgieb MC Burridge

    Go go go

    1. Sydney Roosters
    2. South Sydney
    3. Melbourne
    4. St George Illawarra
    5. Penrith
    6. Newcastle
    7. North Queensland
    8. Brisbane

    9. Wests Tigers
    10. Cronulla
    11. Gold Coast
    12. Warriors
    13. Canberra
    14. Manly
    15. Parramatta
    16. Canterbury

    Actually a relatively easy ladder to order compared to the past, but all of the off-field shit going on could really affect things. And a lot of clubs I'm still somewhat uncertain about.
     
  2. Magic AJ Parker

    The SCG is such an unknown factor in our title defence.

    Heard a lot of talk around the club talking about it being a harder, faster track which Robbo has supposedly built an up tempo game plan around... not sure that type of game will suit Friend or Cronk in the slightest.

    The grandstand is so far away from the action, the atmosphere will be horrendous and I reckon a lot of fans will be turned off by the view. Say what you want about Roosters fans but the SFS always provided an awesome atmosphere and our Home record there under Robbo is exceptionally good.

    Theres also obviously significantly higher risk of injury.

    I think the novelty of playing at the SCG will wear off real quick.
     
  3. Magic AJ Parker

    I think both the Dragons and Knights have made similar errors in reverse.

    I don't think Widdop makes a good fullback anymore and I think Ponga will prove to be less effective at 5/8. I see both clubs struggling with this early on and it the longer it drags on the more it will affect their ability to click at the business end of the season.
     
  4. Magic AJ Parker

    I really like Canberra as a smokey for a top 6 finish.

    With Hodgson back for a full season they're a completely different side. Paulo and Boyd are potentially big loses but Stuart has traditionally done well with more mobile packs who can handle his physically high demanding style of play which could offset any potential loss in quality.
     
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  5. Tartmaster AJ James

    1. Roosters
    2. Rabbits
    3. Storm
    4. Panthers
    5. Raiders
    6. Knights
    7. Dragons
    8. Titans

    9. Broncos
    10. Cowboys
    11. Warriors
    12. Sharks
    13. Tigers
    14. Sea Eagles
    15. Eels
    16. Bulldogs

    5-13 Is a real mess, I changed order about 10 times just writing this out.
    Any of them could make the 8.
     
  6. Toolman TR Man

    Surely the sharks will make the top 8
     
  7. AVA T Delonge

    Going off the trash surface in the Super rugby, it looked ridiculously sandy and slow. Not sure if it was due to crappy weather in the lead up or what, but the surface definitely didn't look hard and fast.
     
  8. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Canberra aren’t making the top 6 with a Wighton/Sezer halves.
     
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  9. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    I will be absolutely amazed if both Cronulla, Brisbane and Nth Qld all miss the 8. Really can’t see that happening.
     
  10. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    I actually like this Brisbane side. There’s more variation in the pack and the backline I rate as one of the better ones in the comp. I think they can do something this year.
     
  11. Magic AJ Parker

    I question who Brisbane's forward leaders are, there's so much youth there.

    Talent is one thing but you need some experience to lead your side forward and I'm just not convinced that Gillett or Alex Glenn fall into the category.

    I think they'll suffer from a lot of injuries, so many sub 100 game forwards who are going to have to carry a lot of the workload.
     
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  12. Cribbage RG Cribb

    I'm more worried about the fact that their spine players are still all a really bad fit for one another. It's still exactly the same spine I hated last year. I could see them doing something if they brought O'Sullivan in and it paid off, but their halves as it stands should not in be in the same team (not as the halves anyway).
     
    Last edited: Mar 13, 2019
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  13. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    Yeah I think Nikorima should be on the bench and O’Sullivan in the halves.
     
  14. morgieb MC Burridge

    Yeah I pretty much agree with Magic and Cribbage here. Brisbane are a very talented list but I'm just not certain it'll work out all that well. 8th is probably close to a worst-case scenario for them though admittedly.
     
  15. morgieb MC Burridge

    Flanagan seems a huge out for a side with a lot of influences that seem kinda toxic to my eyes. Especially given how it happened. Could severely fuck them even though it's a Top 8 side on paper.
     
  16. Cribbage RG Cribb

    Yeah if they had a complete mare it wouldn't surprise me, but I don't really see them finishing 10th or so tbh. Both higher and lower than that seem more likely to me, weird as that sounds.
     
  17. Cribbage RG Cribb

    I think Widdop is still a good fullback option but he definitely has more impact in the halves, and it's just not worth moving him to get Norman of all players in there. I actually think their best lineup doesn't actually have Norman in it at all tbh.
     
  18. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

    I’ll go out on a limb and back them for the top 4.:clown:
     
  19. Tartmaster AJ James

    Look, I'm not gonna say there was no bias when I made that list...
     
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  20. Maroon_Faithful M Faithful

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