2018 Season Previews

[greeneyed]

Big League season preview is out now. Here’s their strongest Raiders line up:

1. Jack Wighton
2. Nick Cotric
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Joey Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Junior Paulo
9. Craig Garvey
10. Shannon Boyd
11. Josh Papalii
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine

14. Siliva Havili
15. Sia Soliola
16. Charlie Gubb
17. Luke Bateman

Andrew Voss tips an 11th placed finish. All the predicted finishes:

1. Cowboys
2. Storm
3. Roosters
4. Sharks
5. Broncos
6. Eels
7. Panthers
8. Warriors
9. Tigers
10. Rabbitohs
11. Raiders
12. Dragons
13. Knights
14. Bulldogs
15. Sea Eagles
16. Titans

[T_R]

You could quibble over a couple of those positions on the ladder, but I think a neutral observer would say that was close enough.

[greeneyed]

I’m surprised to see the Titans and Sea Eagles so low and the Warriors, Tigers and Rabbitohs so high. It will indeed be an awful 2018 if those three teams finish above the Raiders.

[zim]

I’m surprised to see the Titans and Sea Eagles so low and the Warriors, Tigers and Rabbitohs so high. It will indeed be an awful 2018 if those three teams finish above the Raiders.

Especially considering the Warriors and the Tigers have tough draws. Warriors play Roosters, Storm, Cowboys and Broncos all twice.

[-PJ-]

How much ?

[SeeBee101]

Take out the Warriors, Parra and Brisbane and put in the Raiders, St Merge and Manly and that's your top 8.

[-PJ-]

$10-

[-PJ-]

It is out now. Here’s their strongest Raiders line up:

1. Jack Wighton
2. Nick Cotric
3. Jarrod Croker
4. Joey Leilua
5. Jordan Rapana
6. Blake Austin
7. Aidan Sezer
8. Junior Paulo
9. Craig Garvey
10. Shannon Boyd
11. Josh Papalii
12. Elliott Whitehead
13. Joseph Tapine

14. Siliva Havili
15. Sia Soliola
16. Charlie Gubb
17. Luke Bateman

Andrew Voss tips an 11th placed finish. All the predicted finishes:

1. Cowboys
2. Storm
3. Roosters
4. Sharks
5. Broncos
6. Eels
7. Panthers
8. Warriors
9. Tigers
10. Rabbitohs
11. Raiders
12. Dragons
13. Knights
14. Bulldogs
15. Sea Eagles
16. Titans

I have us above Warriors, Rabbits and Tigers so closer to 7th/8th than 11th.

Also who knows what Manly and Canterbury are going to throw up in 2018.

Vossys a little all over he shop here, but hey....

At least we agree on the spooners..

[edwahu]

Yeah, Vossy has a bit much fondness for the Warriors, Rabbits and Tigers. I would be disappointed if we didn't finish ahead of them.

[-PJ-]

It's an understatement to say this season is massive for us.
After 2016 last year was a train wreck.

And now in 2018 minus Hodgo for a huge chunk we are on the cliffs edge.

I strongly believe we have the squad to play finals. I'd like to think our coaching staff had righted the wrongs of 17. I'm a little nervous on which way we are going to go...

[Raiders666]

Take out the Warriors, Parra and Brisbane and put in the Raiders, St Merge and Manly and that's your top 8.

Lol

[dubby]

Tigers have the toughest draw in the comp. No way they finish higher than 12

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[dubby]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[gerg]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Who is going to play in the halves for the Dogs when Foran has a season ending injury in Rd 3?

Sent from my SM-G570F using Tapatalk

[-PJ-]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Who is going to play in the halves for the Dogs when Foran has a season ending injury in Rd 3?

Sent from my SM-G570F using Tapatalk

Terry Lamb.

[zim]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Who is going to play in the halves for the Dogs when Foran has a season ending injury in Rd 3?

Their halves options are Frawley, Nu Brown, Mbye (with hoppa switching to fullback), Josh Cleeland, Lachlan Lewis. If Foran doesn't fire they are screwed.

[cat]

Great news we have no major milestone games!! We always stuff those!

Sent from my SM-G950F using The Greenhouse mobile app powered by Tapatalk

[gerg]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Who is going to play in the halves for the Dogs when Foran has a season ending injury in Rd 3?

Their halves options are Frawley, Nu Brown, Mbye (with hoppa switching to fullback), Josh Cleeland, Lachlan Lewis. If Foran doesn't fire they are screwed.

Exactly. I don't understand why some think the Bulldogs will do well, their backline stinks. And I'm not convinced about Pay. I think they'll regret white-anting Hasler.

Sent from my SM-G570F using Tapatalk

[CJR]

Some guy named Josh Cleeland I guess


Sent from my iPhone using The Greenhouse mobile app powered by Tapatalk

[CJR]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

Who is going to play in the halves for the Dogs when Foran has a season ending injury in Rd 3?

Some guy named Josh Cleeland I guess

[julian87]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

I find it really odd that someone thinks Canterbury won’t finish that low. Absolutely pants last year, big question marks over Pay, huge question mark over Foran and the Morris twins a year older.

Only positive I see is Mbye at fullback.

[julian87]

Looks like several posters beat me to it.

[RedRaider]

I know bagging sides before a ball is kicked is setting yourself up for an uppercut, but I really can't see Cronulla improving from 5th to 4th as predicted by Vossy without their Number 1 playmaker in Maloney and the unpredictable Jack Bird. I don't think Moylan is anywhere near the playmaker Maloney has been and Dugan will be sooking about still playing in the centers. They only scored 78 tries last year and have lost two of the players who had a hand in a lot of those tries. I know NQld also only scored 78 but they were missing the best half in the world (Thurston) and the best prop in the world (Scott), both of whom will be back this year. Last year the Sharks strong defence got them to the finals only conceding 66 tries for the season. I don't know that their aging pack can produce that again.

[gerg]

I know bagging sides before a ball is kicked is setting yourself up for an uppercut, but I really can't see Cronulla improving from 5th to 4th as predicted by Vossy without their Number 1 playmaker in Maloney and the unpredictable Jack Bird. I don't think Moylan is anywhere near the playmaker Maloney has been and Dugan will be sooking about still playing in the centers. They only scored 78 tries last year and have lost two of the players who had a hand in a lot of those tries. I know NQld also only scored 78 but they were missing the best half in the world (Thurston) and the best prop in the world (Scott), both of whom will be back this year. Last year the Sharks strong defence got them to the finals only conceding 66 tries for the season. I don't know that their aging pack can produce that again.

Agreed Red. It reminds me of when Maloney and RTS both left the Roosters.

Sent from my SM-G570F using Tapatalk

[RedRaider]

Agreed gergreg, I think the Sharks have some fine individual attacking players but I just don't see a lot of creativity in their line up. Time will tell, but if I was asked to pick a side from last years 8 most likely to miss this year, they would be my pick. (FTR 2017 Top 8: Storm, Roosters, Broncos, Eels, Sharks, Sea Eagles, Panthers and Cowboys).

[dubby]

And no way dogs finish that low.

Could be accurate about us though.

Who is going to play in the halves for the Dogs when Foran has a season ending injury in Rd 3?

Their halves options are Frawley, Nu Brown, Mbye (with hoppa switching to fullback), Josh Cleeland, Lachlan Lewis. If Foran doesn't fire they are screwed.

Exactly. I don't understand why some think the Bulldogs will do well, their backline stinks. And I'm not convinced about Pay. I think they'll regret white-anting Hasler.

Sent from my SM-G570F using Tapatalk

I think they have a good chance as any to make the 8.

Yes the Morris boys are older, but they're dependable and consistent.

The pack is a decent one, and if Foran fires they'll have some strike.

Pay has got them happy and enjoying going to training. That's huge. They looked dour and unhappy under Des.

I'm not saying they're world beaters, but I think they're better than 12th.

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[zim]

Just on the bulldogs; this year is really not the year to be properly judging Pay. He's inherited an unbalanced side with very little depth and a host of back-ended contracts. Both the Morris twins and Eastwood's huge contract are up this year. 2019 will give us a much better idea.

That said he has the starting Australian props. Getting that roll on can cover for a lot of your deficiencies.

[dubby]

Poor bugger lost Graham for woods

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Coastalraider]

Poor bugger lost Graham for woods

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

And commentators will no doubt rave on about how good a signing Woods was - regardless of his lack of any impact or effort in any match he plays.

The dragons have definitely come out winners losing Packer for Graham.

[dubby]

Dragon's have Vaughan and Graham. Two of the best props in the game. Better than ours arguably

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[Roger Kenworthy]

Really poor looking top 17. I can't see us threatening the 8.

[legend]

I think we are bottom three material. If we make the eight it will be a miracle in the true sense of the word.

I think the Titans will get us in round one. Hooker is not settled and there is a lack of leadership on the field. The halves are still an unknown quantity and then there's Wighton's hands at fullback.

My ladder would be:

Cowboys
Storm
Roosters
Eels
Sharks
Dragons
Knights
Panthers
Rabbitohs
Broncos
Manly
Titans
Warriors
Bulldogs
Raiders
Tigers

[El_Capitano]

I think the doggies will have the same problems as last year, the raiders handed them a lot of possession in the trial and they scored twice from 2 terrible defensive reads / errors.

[SeeBee101]

Legend, I agree that we won't make the eight, however I do believe we will sit in the positions 9-12.

Our team has stayed the same over the past two years, so our attack will probably be similar to last year.

Our defence will again be as bad as its been in the past 20 years. Terrible line speed/errors and penalties will be our downfall.

The trial on the weekend showed me that Havili looks worse than Garvey and Sezer still can't control a game. Surprisingly, Austin looked good with the ball.

[Raiders Lim!]

Purely from the pattern of us alternating years between making the 8 and not – this year we make it.
I'd rather believe we buck the trend of ins and outs with a double in after this season (and the dynasty that follows that)