It’s the time of year where hope and anticipation starts
creeping in. You start to think about how your team might go this year. You
dare to dream that it will be your club captain that’s holding up that
Premiership Trophy come September time.
How will your team finish up at the end of the regular
season in 2014? Here’s what I think:
Sydney Roosters – 3rd
Whilst the
Roosters were able to keep their 2013 Grand Final squad, I don’t think they’ll
be able to go back to back minor premierships. I’m tipping they’ll still have a
good year, just not as good as 2013. With a lot of rep players, they’ll need to
be careful of player burnout this year.
South Sydney Rabbitohs – 5th
Whilst I
don’t know much about their 2nd-teir squad, they do seem to have
lost a lot of depth after the 2013 season. Any injuries to their first grade
squad would make things difficult for the Rabbitohs this year if that’s the
case. Providing Greg Inglis can get through the season without any major
injuries, I think they’ll still be in the running come finals time. Let’s hope
the disappointment in coming so close so many times hasn’t got too much for the
Rabbitohs.
Melbourne Storm – 6th
In my
opinion, the “Big Three” are getting too old to keep up with the young, fast
teams. Any team with Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk will do well; I just think
they won’t do as well as previous years. On a side note, I think Ben Roberts
will thrive in the Melbourne Storm system and we’ll see some great things from
him this year.
Manly Sea Eagles – 1st
It pains me
to say, but I think Manly will be Minor Premiers this year. The Grand Finalists
don’t have many changes to their squad which means they would have started the
2014 pre-season fairly seamlessly. Providing they don’t have any ASADA drama’s
they’ll have a very good year.
Cronulla Sharks – 15th
I’m tipping
a difficult year for the Sharks this year with the ASADA investigations
continuing. Whilst they did well to not let it affect them in the 2013 season,
I think it will all get a bit too much for them in the 2014 season.
Canterbury Bulldogs – 2nd
I can’t
believe I have 2 of my team’s (Parramatta) biggest rivals as 1st
& 2nd but I think the Bulldogs will have a better year this year.
With the Barba drama behind them, a CEO who seems to be doing great things for
the club and a coach who has the “winning touch”, I think things will fall back
into place for the Bulldogs.
Newcastle Knights – 7th
I’m tipping
no change for the Knights this year. The only thing that’s made me keep them in
the top 8 is Wayne Bennett. I wouldn’t be surprised if they didn’t make the top
8 this year though.
North Queensland Cowboys – 11th
The Cowboys
seem to have half the Australian Squad in their team and still managed to only
just make the top 8 in 2013. Ok, I may be exaggerating a little about the
Australian Squad but they do have a lot of rep players. On paper they should be
doing a lot better than they are and I’m predicting that 2014 is not going to
be the year they return to the top.
Gold Coast Titans – 9th
Other than
Jamal Idris, there hasn’t been too much first grade talent lost for 2014 for
the Titans. This is why I’m going to sit on the fence and say they’ll finish in
the same position as 2013.
Penrith Panthers – 8th
I think the
Panthers are heading good places. I think they’ll do well in 2014, however I
think this year will be a stepping stone for them. There are a lot of changes
to the squad and once they spend a whole season together they will be a force
to be reckoned with in 2015.
New Zealand Warriors – 12th
The Warriors
have shown that they can play if they want to; the key part being “if they want
to”. They don’t seem to want to play for Matt Elliot which could see them end
up further down the ladder than last year.
Brisbane Broncos – 13th
The Broncos
are another team that seem to have lost a lot of depth. I think they are in a
rebuilding phase and it will be a few more years until they are competitive
then. If Ben Barba can just concentrate on football in 2014, the Broncos could
prove me wrong!
Canberra Raiders – 14th
This was a
really difficult one to predict. If the Raiders buy into the Ricky Stuart
culture it could spell great things for the Raiders. If they don’t…well we all
saw what happened at Parramatta. I’m not saying this as a disgruntled Eels fan
as I am actually ok with Ricky’s decision to leave; however I don’t think being
a Raiders legend will be enough for Ricky to make the Raiders a success again.
St George Illawarra Dragons – 10th
Given the
Dragons have bought half the Raiders squad they may be a slightly better chance
at breaking the hoodoo against the Raiders which will give them 2 extra points
this year. Providing Dugan stays focused and keep out of trouble, I think the Dragons
will do better in 2014.
Wests Tigers – 16th
Sorry Wests
Tigers fans but it’s got to be somebody! I think the Tigers will do a good
impersonation of the Eels this year. I think they’re still on their way down
and haven’t quite hit rock bottom just yet.
You may all
laugh at me but I truly do think that my beloved Eels will improve dramatically
this year. The main reason is because of Brad Arthur; the players want Brad
Arthur. A new coach can see massive improvements in a sporting team, the
Australian Cricket team is a prime example of this. I don’t want to set my
hopes too high but I do believe the Eels will be in the top 8 this year.
It’s hard to
tell how teams are going to do before we’ve seen any football played so it will
be interesting to see how my thoughts change after the first 5 rounds.
Be sure to
let me know where you think I’m dreaming and where you think I’m spot on in my
2014 predictions!
Love,
@LadiesWhoLeague
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