Julian's 2010 NRL predictions

Ladder so far:
8th: Parramatta Eels
9th: North Qld Cowboys
10th: Canberra Raiders
11th: Cronulla Sharks
12th: Newcastle Knights
13th: Manly Sea Eagles
14th: Wests Tigers
15th: Brisbane Broncos
16th: NZ Warriors.

Team: NZ Warriors

Predicted Finish: 16th

Best 17:

1. Wade McKinnon
2. Kevin Locke
3. Brent Tate
4. Jerome Ropati
5. Manu Vatuvei
6. Brett Seymour (Moon)
7. James Maloney (Seymour
8. Steve Price
9. Ian Henderson
10. Sam Rapira
11. Simon Mannering
12. Ben Matulino
13. Michael Luck

14. Lance Hohaia
15. Russell Packer
16. Jeremy Latimore/Jesse Royal
17. Lewis Brown/Jacob Lillyman

Strengths: Their strength will still lie in individual brilliance and that unpredictability. Their front row is pretty strong and if Mannering and Luck stay fit their backrow should do a job as well. I still reckon Mannering is just about the best second rower around. Latimore has a lot of potential as a prop and may be very useful off the bench. Locke has proved to be electrifying at times and they need to try and get him closer to the ruck. Their main strength is Hohaia though IMO, and if he can be used effectively behind some of the big men, they will finish higher than last.

Weaknesses: Hooker and the halves it's as simple as that. We will almost definitely see Seymour and Moon in the halves and that is an absolute recipe for disaster. A five-eighth at halfback and a centre/lock at five-eighth. It would be ok if Henderson was a better player or even in better form, but that's not the case. Henderson looked the goods two seasons ago but last season looked like the reserve grade player he had always been before. At full strength their three quarter line is good, but an injury or two and we start to see Ah Van there and they could be struggling out wide, they need Tate to step up. Lack of depth in the backrow is also a concern, they have a few youngsters all unproven and Lillyman who was awful last season. The forward pack won't be strong enough to carry their halves.

Key Player: Lance Hohaia. Pretty much needs to play 80 minutes, but enabling him to do that without ruining the structure won't be easy.

Breakout/Surprise Player: Two dudes here: Jeremy latimore and James Maloney. Two guys who have always been really, really good reserve graders. Latimore should improve with experience and age like most front rowers do and will get an opportunity at the warriors. Maloney isn't a genuinely natural halfback, but, he is the best of what they have on offer. When Seymour and Moon fail I expect to see Maloney thrown in there and the team to look a lot better with Seymour wider almost straight away.

Can they make the top 8/4? No/No.

 

lol, this is bound to be a bigger failure then last year.

Canberra top four again Benjamin?

 

I had them 7th or 8th or something.

lol. AWdamo.

 

Yeah but Hohaia won't play 80 minutes as hooker, so him starting there would be a waste IMO.

 

Lillyman at hooker. WOuldn't like to see that.

 

Saints to miss the 8 Benjamin?

 

Should be, but wont.

Will be as Gerrards predictions
1. Brisbane
2. Gold Coast
3. North QLD
4. Melbourne