The 2011 NRL season ended with the most hated team in the shape of Manly-Warringah taking Rugby Leagues greatest prize. But the weeks following their premiership glory have been well documented with coach Des Hasler being sacked due to allegations he was planning to take a majority of talent from the Sea Eagles to his future club, Canterbury.
Super coach Wayne Bennett and his reign at St George Illawarra came to an ubrupt end when they were knocked out of the finals by Brisbane. Now at Newcastle, he’ll attempt to create history by winning a premiership with three different clubs.
The novocastrians are one of four of the top from 2011 who will kick of 2012 with a new coach hence the trend of the top eight shuffle around will more than likely continue.
Here is my 2012 preview of the 16 NRL teams.
BRISBANE BRONCOS
Nobody can replace Darren Lockyer. He is a massive loss to the team, but the return of Petero Civoniceva does replace the experience and calmness that Lockyer had. Expecting a big year from this team because they have the best pack in the comp, and the young backline is the most exciting we’ve seen the golden era Parramatta had in the 80’s. But can they fire in the big moments without the champion five-eigth?
Odds: $10
CANTERBURY BULLDOGS
The appointment of Des Hasler as coach is a huge plus for the club, as is the arrival of gun English prop James Graham. The dogs had an on/off 2011. One game, they played like premiership contenders. Another game, they played like a bunch of busteds. The loss of Jamal Idris is enormous given how explosive he can be when switched on. The backline doesn’t appear to be glowing with try scoring ability, so young fullback Ben Barba will have to weave his magic a bit more in 2012.
Odds: $13
CANBERRA RAIDERS
If Terry Campese is anywhere near right, then the Raiders are in with a chance this season. He only played 19 minutes of last season and thanks to that, the Raiders were hopeless. With his return, expect the young guns in the team- Dugan, Croker and McCrone, to fire up and hopefully secure the nations capital a finals berth.
Odds: $26
CRONULLA SHARKS
They have been the biggest disappointment of the whole competition because the talent is there, but they just haven’t clicked in the big moments. Well they have bought one of the best players for those moments- Todd Carney. He is a troubled young man who, on his day, is one of the best players in the world, with the 2010 Dally M medal supporting that. And with the inclusion of Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Fifita and Ben Ross, don’t be surprised to see the Sharks claim a few big scalps.
Odds: $31
GOLD COAST TITANS
They surely can’t go worse than what they did in 2011 could they? It was one of most dismal performances by a team in NRL history, but they have some x-power in their stable, with Jamal Idris, Nate Myles, Beau Champion and Luke Douglas heading up north. With those signings, plus the likes of Greg Bird and Scott Prince, they should make the eight. If not, then coach John Cartwright will be looking for a new job.
Odds: $31
MANLY SEA EAGLES
Can this club overcome their troubled off season and successfully go back-to-back? Overall, new coach Geoff Toovey will have the premiership squad in front of him. They were the best team from 2011, but it is near impossible to successfully defend your title unless you are a champion side, which I don’t think Manly is.
Odds: $8
MELBOURNE STORM
When you have a side that has Billy Slater, Cooper Cronk and Cameron Smith, then it always has to be respected. The Storm got caught out last year with their forward pack and how there is not much strike power. The strike power that was there is gone with Adam Blair going to the Tigers. It’ll be interesting to see what Craig Bellamy does with that, but they will be a serious premiership contender.
Odds: $9
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
King Benny has arrived in town, Nathan Tinkler has let the moths out of his wallet to buy several big name players and the community of Newcastle has more expectations of success than they did with Andrew Johns. Can it happen? With a side that has Darius Boyd, Kurt Gidley, Jarrod Mullen, Akuila Uate and Danny Buderus, then you’d have to say yes.
Odds: $8
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS
It was hardly mentioned in the media, but the signing of Robert Lui is what the Cowboys need to give themselves a real shot at winning the premiership. He has enormous talent and it will help skipper and the worlds best player, Johnathon Thurston, as he can take some of the workload off the superstar. And with Tariq Sims fit and ready to fire, I expect a top four finish from the Cowboys.
Odds: $16
PARRAMATTA EELS
It has taken Parramatta more than 25 years, but they finally have their first decent half back since Peter Sterling in the shape of Chris Sandow. He was superb in the All Stars game and with that experience under his belt, he should bring that confidence and direction back to the club. It may also allow Jarryd Hayne to do what he does best- run the ball. He is a ball runner, not a ball player and with Sandow at half back, it’ll free up some space for Hayne to weave his magic.
Odds: $19
PENRITH PANTHERS
I see that TAB Sportsbet are offering $7 for the Panthers to have the most losses (Wooden Spoon)- take that price, because they’ll be in for a shocker of a season. New coach Ivan Cleary has admitted that success won’t come straight away, and General Manager Phil Gould expects it may take up to several years for the change to be seen. They haven’t brought well to replace Civoniceva and Trent Waterhouse, who were two war horses, so I can’t see this team making an impact at all.
Odds: $41
ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
I am tipping the Dragons to miss the eight, mainly because of the pressure that coach Steve Price will be under, succeeding Wayne Bennett and the fact that the squad is getting on in years eg Horny, Weyman and Cooper plus Jamie Soward how low his confidence would be after a dreadful finals campaign last year. It’ll be hard to come back from that and I don’t think they have the team to do it.
Odds: $12
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
A halfback, a halfback, my kingdom for a halfback. New Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire could well find himself paraphrasing Shakespeare as he looks to meet some high expectations. In the likes of Greg Inglis, David Taylor and Sam Burgess there is plenty of talent throughout the squad, but the untried Adam Reynolds looms as the only option in the key No.7 role.
Odds: $15
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
They got rid of Todd Carney. Good thing or bad thing? Well when Anasta played in the number six jersey last year, the Roosters performed really well. He’ll be wearing it in 2012 and I reckon they are a smokey for the title race given their very strong forward pack and their mr reliables in Mitchell Pearce and Jake Friend.
Odds: $15
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS
If there is a side that could threaten to dominate the NRL for many years, it is this team. Their Toyota Cup side have won back-to-back titles and young guns Shaun Johnson and Kevin Locke are established superstars in the game today. Only query is the new coach, Brian McClennan. Can he mentor these kids in the same way that Ivan Cleary did, or will be the disaster signing of 2012?
Odds: $10
WESTS TIGERS
They have threatened to win the title in the past two seasons, but just haven’t quite gone for the right play in key moments, but that is what you get with Benji Marshall. You don’t know what he’ll produce and that is why he is so brilliant. The signing of Adam Blair is huge and adds more spark to what was already a very strong forward line up and with Tim Moltzen staying, he and Benji gel well together in the halves. One of the major contenders for me.
Odds: $8
Top 8:
1. Melbourne
2. North Queensland
3. Warriors
4. Brisbane
5. Tigers
6. Knights
7. Cronulla
8. Titans
