My Final Verdicts - NRL 2010

Written by Cahn D. Cotter 28 Feb 2010

It's important to realise in this years 2010 season of Rugby League that there is always going to be controversy, winners, losers, over-rated players and young talent players introduced, under achievers and over achievers.

Which brings me to here; getting started on the bagging and complimenting of players and teams. Talking about my views on how this season will go against some of the experts 'so called' opinions.

Dally M 2010 - Jonathan Thurston. Why? He will lead the Cowboys to September and have an outstanding season.
Leading Try Scorer - Twin Brothers, Josh & Brett Morris
Minor Premiers 2010- Parramatta Eels
Grand Final 2010 - Parramatta Eels Vs Melbourne Storm.
Premiers 2010- Parramatta Eels
Wooden Spooners 2010 - NZ Warriors
Dark Horse 2010 - Sydney Roosters
State of Origin Winner 2010 - Queensland 2-1
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My top 8 for 2010, NRL season. In Order and Why.

Parramatta Eels

There is no doubt in my mind, that this Eels outfit is better than last years that won there way to a Grand Final game. Even though they did not take the spoils of a Grand Final, the experience and need to be there again will get them there.

A lot of critics, fans think they will play like last season. Yeah yeah, it was great, but hard to match again. It was high pressure football and they were on an incredible role without injuries.

It will not be like that this year. Consistency and Defense will be the winners for the Eels.

The likes of Jaryd Hayne, Nathan Hindmarsh and company should hold them in good stead. The only important thing with the Eels is getting that first win out the way, which will happen about round 2 or 3. Then they will need consistency and no injuries.

They will be defensively sound again and that will win them their games. In 2009 the Eels only conceded an average of 6 points against, in the second half of games.

The back line is the most potent in the game, Timana Tahu, Kris Inu, Eric Grothe, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Jaryd Hayne, Daniel Mortimer and the fact that you can put Ben Smith amongst the mix as well will get the Eels the spoils of 2010.

With the added strength of forwards Justin Poore and Shane Shackleton, they will be strong. Add the brilliant skills of Feleti Mateo and watch the Eels score tries from anywhere on the park. These forwards will also lift some off the weight of Hindmarsh to be able to run and offload. Then just four words to get momentum going, Fui Fui Moi Moi... a road train running at speed.

Look for them to blow teams away around round 9 or 10 then hit consistency through to the finals.

Canterbury Bulldogs

Again the Bulldogs will show class and strength to be situated in the top 4. Kimmorley will lead the pack around the field, and his kicking game will assure them good field position all through the season.

Ben Hannant is rated as one of the best props in the game at the moment. His go forward and defense is 2nd to none in the Bulldogs line up.

Jamaal Idris, young he is, but this kid can play. All the skeptics need to get off his back and let him play football. He will be a try scorer this year. He still has much to learn and you will get the occasional mind explosion from him, but he will learn from those errors.

They also have one of the leading try scorers from the 2009 NRL season, Josh Morris. He has speed to burn and can find the line. Steve Turner is also a good buy for the Bulldogs, he is a player that can also find the line, but can also goal kick.

M.Ennis, the name says it all. An experienced passionate player, watch the penalties he gives away around the ruck. A concern he needs to address for the Bulldogs sake.

And you also can not forget war horse veteran, Andrew Ryan. The name says it all.

The Bulldogs will be missing Hazem El Masri. The season will be won or lost without him. Who ever they choose for goal kicker, I think M. Ennis; should have to have the completion rate of kicks that Hazem had. They won a lot of games on the back of Hazem's boots and with him not playing, you will see just how valuable he is to the game of the Bulldogs.

Dogs will be in the top four. They play with consistency and are relaxed. They control the ball and complete the sets of six with ease. They will be hard to beat this year.

South Sydney Rabbits

All the pre-season talk is about them. The forward pack, will they deliver? I think not early, but once they gel, watch players like Asotasi, Luke Stuart, Dave Taylor and Sam Burgess dominate.

Chris Sandow and John Sutton have also been playing for a number of seasons together at the halves and with this forward pack will be able to control the game with ease.

They have try scorers a plenty with Colin Best, Rhys Wesser and the destructive Nathan Merritt and the delivery of good ball from the halves will see them cross the try line.

My only concern for the Rabbitohs is they are lazy in defense and have lapses so quickly that other teams dominate and win the game with in a 15 minute period.

Best buy's for them:

Dave Taylor who is a bulldozer with a 5th gear. He can play outside or up the middle and devastate opposition defensive lines.

Sam Burgess - Aggressive, Skillful. However he will fatigue easy for the first few games. Once the season gets going, he will be brilliant.
They will be there in September, I have got them coming 3rd; call me crazy...

Melbourne Storm

So clinical in all facets of the game. They are the benchmark and I think we may see a replay Grand Final this year.

They will struggle through the season, but once September comes, the Storm know what to do. They have so much finals experience with the same squad that they will be hard to beat.

Cameron Smith is the key for the Storm. The way he controls games out of dummy half has always been essential to the Storms success.

Greg Inglis = Freak. What a player, what can't he do...

I do not need to speak about the Storm that much, because everyone knows just how good they are under coach Bellamy. And I'll add players names like Brett White, Billy 'the Kid' Slater, Ryan Hoffman, Cooper Cronk and one of the most underrated forwards Ryan Tandy.

Like I said, the Storm will struggle through the regular season, but once they are there in September, will go all the way.

West Tigers

Benji, Benji, Benji... If he plays the whole season, the Tigers will be unstoppable.

Great buys off season with Lote coming back to League. Gareth Ellis another performer and watch the likes of big Keithy Galloway who I assure you will be wearing a sky blue jumper this year.

The Tigers however can be self destructive, trying to be too flamboyant when only sensible play is required to close out matches. They need to learn to calm and slow play down in 2010.

They have a work horse forward pack that defends better than they attack, which if you do not understand, makes them dangerous. Watch Robbie Farah and Marshall work together. Their kicking games are the best in the NRL, Farah certainly can cause any team concerns with his ability to read plays and kicks from dummy half. This ability puts the Tigers on side every kick, and Farah can kick a 40/20.

Liam Fulton makes his return this season from injury last. Watch him play up the middle of the park.

Top 8 team this year and will push for a Grand Final if Benji is not injured.

Penrith Panthers

Frank Pritchard will be at his best this season because the Panthers will be winning. The Penny Panthers will be pushing for a Pre-Lim final spot.

Kevin Kingston is probably one of the best signings this season in the NRL. He will give the Panthers control and does the nitty gritty work up the middle that most players lack in the panthers side (they can be lazy). He will open up opportunities and with Lachlan Coote and Mick Jennings on the outside, they will score plenty.

Petero 'Fridge and Freezer' Civoniceva, Nigel Plum will be two of the most outstanding forwards this season for the men in black. There ability to run forward with strength will keep opposition defenses honest.

The Panthers however can get lazy at times, and there lack of halve combination's might destroy them. They will be there in the end, but may not have the halves to take them all the way. Luke Walsh is not a premiership winning half back.

Gold Coast Titans

Will be there in September, but need to learn to win away games to secure a spot in the Grand Final. This is a major problem that needs to change in 2010.

They have a great half back in Scott Prince and dominating forwards with Laffranchi, Luke Bailey and Minichiello. Also Brad Meyers and Ashley Harrison to finish off this brutal pack, this is the reason why Scott Prince can direct play so well.

I will add a special mention to Sam Tagatesi. He is ruthless and relentless of the bench for the Titans and adds strength where ever he is on the field.

The only bad thing this year for the Titans will be a headline with Greg Birds name in it somewhere. I cannot believe this guy is still allowed to be playing. Even though proven not guilty, I would not have this trouble maker in my side.

Titans will make it to September with there up the middle style of play and there ability to spread the ball quickly across field always keeping other teams honest.

North Queensland Cowboys

Always start the season off firing then quickly die. This season however, they will start slow and hit form at the right time to be there.

They will make the top 8 and if they come where I have predicted them, they will certainly trouble teams above them in September football.

The likes of J.T will assure them of that right...

There forwards are dominating and once big Willie realises how much he is hated, then he will fire up and run forward with heart like he did for the doggies many years ago.

Do not forget players like Steve Southern who almost is the Cowboys Nathan Hindmarsh. He has a great work load to do for the Cowboys.

Luke O'Donnell, who is a regular blues member is also devastating to other teams with ability to stand and offload.

The thing I like about the Cowboys and why I'm backing them to make the 8 is there experience. Willie Tonga, Aaron Payne, Anthony Watts, Michael Bani, Ashley Grahem and Jonathan Thurston; the list goes on.
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That is the top 8. I will briefly talk about the other teams and why they will not be there in September.

First however, I will write about the Sydney Roosters chances.

Sydney Roosters - If not the Cowboys or Titans, put the Roosters in the 8. The likes of Carney returning and playing along side Mitch Pearce will remind us all of J.T and Bowen for the Cowboys past seasons. Mitchell Pearce is young, but mature and he is the key to the Roosters successful season. Selectors also must give him a Blues Guernsey.

If that relationship of Pearce and Carney get going, they will be hard to stop.

They also have Nate Myles who is looking to improve on last years woeful season. He is looking lean and mean again.

They have an experienced back line with Shaun Kenny-Dowell, (this guy can score tries). They also have a great 5/8th who I think will return to great form this season, Braith Anasta. Sam Perrett and Minichiello are the keys also. Minichiello especially, with his ability to read defense lines and to make critical decisions for the best interest of his team.

Watch for a top try scorer this year in Phil Grahem.

Final Verdict - The Roosters will be the dark horse of the competition...

Now the other teams; in no particular order...

St George Illawarra Dragons - Like it was confirmed last year to me, the Dragons predictability at the back end of seasons will trouble them. Unless Coach Bennett acquires a new play book, the Dragons will be picked off every weekend.

Teams will study and learn and players like Soward will not be able to get into the game.

They will have a super start, but will finish poorly because of what I have said above. And to prove to you this, the Eels in last years qualifiers learned the Dragons play book, and Soward threw two intercept passes that day, one which led to a Eric Grothe full length field try.

Final Verdict - Strong Start, poor finish; just missing out.

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks - As the french say 'Bonne Chance'. The Sharks lack of heart and ill discipline will see them contend for the wooden spoon in 2010.

Paul Gallen is easy picking for a fight, and other teams know it. He gives away penalties after penalties which will hurt the sharks all season.

Trent Barrett, over-rated or not?? I would certainly like to know.... He stands at first receiver and just passes the ball to other players around him.
I know that's what a 5/8th does, but look at 5/8ths like Braith Anasta who attacks the line and seeks opportunities for his players. He gives the ball to players running into gaps.

Barrett does not, he is predictable with inside passes to forwards every set before throwing a cut out pass to wingers hoping for a side line try.
Trent also attacks the line only when 5 metres out to give himself a try and usually looses the ball in the process. Selfish???

The Sharks, who believe it or not? are from Cronulla and I do not know why but every season they seem to lose that fact of where they are from.

It is not the Hisense Sharks or Toyota Sharks. It is Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

Watch Albert Kelly, he is a key for the Sharks to penetrate oppositions lines. He is also a cousin of Greg Inglis.

Final Verdict - Wooden Spooner contenders 2010

Newcastle Knights - Will be contending for the 8, but will not make it. The Knights always seem to get close, but can never bight the cherry. They have poor ball skills which turns to errors.

The only positive for them this season is that they will prove the experts wrong who said they would be finishing last. I do not think so... The Knights have an uncanny ability to be lurking around the top 8, always. They are a football town with a lot of pride and respect for that Guernsey.

Gidley and Mullens will make it possible for them, but they will miss out.. The player to watch this season is Corey Patterson, Blues contender if he is not injured. His ability to stand in tackles and offload the ball is 2nd to a Feleti Mateo.

Final Verdict - Just missing out.

Canberra Raiders - Mistake ridden, ill disciplined side. Way to many errors. The Raiders always start games of strong and contending, then just lose the plot. Too many errors on their line giving repeated sets of six to opposition hurts.

The Raiders also always seem to try to get offloads away when not possible.

Watch Josh Dugan... he is a speedster and with Campese controlling play they might trouble some opposition teams this year.

Need to learn to play calm, without errors.

Final Verdict - Raiders can win in Canberra, but struggle away from home. This is why they will not be there in 2010.

Manly Warringah Sea-Eagles - Too many dramas off field always hurt them. They can be a strong team, but this is not there season... Maybe next year.

They have a great player in Watmough who is devastating all over the park. Brett Stewart, like a Greg Bird, do not understand how he is still playing.

They also have great forwards that may be in State of Origin contention and watch young Keiran Foran, the Half Back. He can direct play around the field, just needs the forwards to create that room.

Final Verdict - I like there chances, however just missing out. 10 spot.

Brisbane Broncos - This will be the first season in a long history of successive finals that the Broncos will not be there. Unfortunaltey.

Lockyer may retire after an injury this season will force him out (legend of the game).

They are all young talents and Folau is there only positive. Justin Hodges out again with another injury, will be surely missed. His heart and passion reeks on the field for Brisbane.

Another big loss is P.J Marsh. A veteran of the game retires after pre-season trials. Constant back injuries. This leaves them short.

They will be having a lot of fun this season the baby Broncos, and upsets will be on the card this season.

Final Verdict - A learning curve 2010. Good-bye Darren Lockyer

And finally Da ta da ta... and Final Verdict;

Warriors - Need a superstar. Lack defense in important times in games. Wooden Spooners 2010

They do have good players in Manu Vatuvei, Kevin Locke, Rapira, but need a miracle to cause teams upset in 2010.

Packer and Royal will cause other teams heart ache but need to be more disciplined.
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That's all for 2010 on your teams... Add comments if you'd like to tell me how wrong I am, or how right I am. I do like opinions and will try and write back to everyone of you.

Stay tuned for weekly reports.

Kind Regards

Cahn D. Cotter