Julian's NRL Predictions Circa 2011

Agreed.

He's a very good signing but thy have far deeper problems than what Johnson can remedy.

 

Mason will be a pretty big loss for the Cows.

 

Ashton >>>>>> Mason.

 

Was just about to do another few of these but I have to go out. Will do a couple later.

 

Team: Brisbane Broncos

Predicted Finish: 11th

Best Team:

Broncos

1 Josh Hoffman
2 Jharal Yow Yeh
3 Justin Hodges
4 Alex Glenn
5 Denan Kemp
6 Peter Wallace
7 Darren Lockyer
8 Ben Hannant
9 Andrew McCullough
10 Shane Tronc
11 Sam Thaiday
12 Ben Teo
13 Corey Parker

14 Matt Gillett
15 Scott Anderson
16 Nick Kenny
17 Ben Hunt
18 Josh McGuire
19 Corey Norman
20 Dane Carlaw

Breakout Player: Ben Hunt

Best Buy: Dane Carlaw by default

Strengths: Their main strength is the fact that their leader is Darren Lockyer. While he is there they just seem to play better and you feel they can beat anyone at times. While it is thinning out these days the match experience of their key players (Lockyer, Wallace, Thaiday, Hodges, Parker etc) is something most teams envy. In Thaiday, Teo, Gillett and Parker they have one of the best attacking backrows in the competition. They seem to have a really good bunch of juniors coming though to compliment some of the hardheads.

Weaknesses: Lack of points in the halves and hooker. Lockyer is a champion but he's no longer the attacking weapon with ball in hand he once was IMO. Still has great vision and nous but not the legs to exploit it individually week in, week out IMO. Has sort of culminated in him becoming the halfback rather than the five-eighth but continuing to wear the 6 on his back. Wallace doesn't help his cause very often either. Last year; selections were a major weakness and I reckon the new coach may follow suit there. Vast inexperience in the backline and an overload of forwards means Glenn or Gillett should play centre all season but I can't see it happening. The front ow should be good but Hannant needs to find some form that may have only ever been short term, Kenny went downhill fast and Tronc can't do it all on his own.

The pack will match most but the backline won't put on enough points for them to make the 8.

Sincerely, Mr. Eightyseven.

 

Fuck. Forgot Hannant.

 

Team: Gold Coast Titans

Predicted Finish: 10th

Best Team:

Titans

1 Preston Campbell
2 David Mead
3 Esi Tonga (at full fitness)
4 Clinton Toopi
5 Kevin Gordon
6 William Zillman (will be fullback or bench with Capewell given an extended run at 6)
7 Scott Prince
8 Luke Bailey
9 Nathan Friend
10 Brad Meyers
11 Greg Bird
12 Anthony Laffranchi
13 Ashley Harrison

14 Mark Minichiello
15 Micheal Henderson
16 Bodene Thompson
17 Luke Capewell
18 Matt White
19 Joseph Tomane
20 Sam Tagataese

Breakout Player: William Zillman

Best Buy: -

Strengths: The starting forward pack. While Meyers isn't in the top bracket of front rowers everyone else is near the top in their position. They complement each other well and if Bird plays backrow it becomes the best in the competition. They can ball play, they have workhorses, great defenders and good hole runners on the fringes. Prince behind and controlling that pack is a strength. Puts Laffranchi over so often and can just completely dictate a game at NRL level. Zillman and Campbell can capitalise on the pack. Zillman needs to have a big year for them and for his career to go anywhere IMO.

Weaknesses: I simply agree with some of the critics that they look an old and tired team. I thought this last year. They have speed on the wings but that's about it. Prince has slowed down a bit and his running game is not what it used to be. The main problem the last 2 seasons is that there's been no really good five-eighth and that has not been remedied. Zillman was brilliant there as a youngster and should at least be trialled. Capewell has not shown much thus far in his short career. Michaels will play in the centres and will be talked up until his confidence dips again. I definitely think 1-6 it is probably the weakest in the competition. I think the wingers are too small as a pairing when they've got such a small forward pack, takes a bit more out of their forwards than it should. They won't concede a lot of points (unless Tomane's there) but I can't see them scoring enough to be near the top 4 this year.

 

I'll finish it tomorrow tbh.