2009 ladder a bit early but worth a read and a thought

[sallymay]

1 St. George Illawarra Dragons          9  Canterbury Bulldogs
2 Melbourne Storm                            10 Brisbane Broncos
3 Parramatta Eels                            11 Canberra Raiders
4 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks          12 New Zealand Warriors
5 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles        13 West Tigers
6 Gold Coast Titans                          14 North Queensland Cowboys
7 Sydney Roosters                            15 South Sydney Rabbitohs
8  Newcastle Knights                        16 Penrith Panthers

With new coaches and players leaving this is how i see the ladder this year what do you think

[gothestorm]

you are joking right??!!!

You haven't got the Broncos, Warriors or Manly in the top 4??!!

Ok.

[nacho]

id go for something more like

manly
broncos
storm
dragons
sharks
warriors
raiders
roosters

wests
titans
eels
rabbits
cowboys
knights
bulldogs
panthers

i recon the ladder will be similar to my predicted one.

top 4 and bottom 4 are all evenly matched, although ive got doubts about dragons, only the coach has experience of success and i dont no how the team will cope.

wests and titans positions will change a fair bit dependant on the farah decision because he does add alot to a team, and for the tigers to lose him would send them in to a pretty low finish.

i recon top 4 finish will be like last years and bottom will be a battle between bulldogs, panthers and knights. knights  have lost a massive foundation withe danny leaving, bulldogs are all over the shop and panthers are consistantly lackluster performers

[Super Cronk]

highly doubt the dragons will be in the top 4.

manly will be atleast top 4.

titans will be lower.

i agree about the panthers tho.

[Stormwarning[c]]

Personally I think it will be a tight race for the MP between us, eels, sea-eagles and bulldogs. which will make up the top four.

Not only have Parra and Canterbury had coach changes they have also had so good play changes.

Sharks wont be anywhere, Dragons are two/three years off, Broncos will come right back to the rest of the pack, Warriors and raiders will hurt a few teams.

Wests, Titans, Rabbits, Cowboys will be also rans, with the Panthers and Cowboys fighting for the bottom. The Knights are the only one I can't decide on what sort of year they will have, as I don't rate Smith as a coach at all.

[Cronk7]

I dont know enough about the other teams to really comment but I seriously rate Manly for 09.I think the beast has awoken down at Brookvale.

[storm_rhinos]

I dont thik the Broncos will make the 8 or if they do they will just scrape in, they have had a heap of changes, and with lockyer only god for a couple of matches i dont see it - Ennis, Eastwood, Kemp, Moon, Carroll,Hannant, in the main first team fixtures, plus a new coach then they have lost more than we have in depth - and with a new coach i just dont see them doing it even with Izzy

St George possibly but a new coach, however good, dont make a team and the loss of Ryles, Gasnier

Parra  i think they equally have a hard time - Piggy has gone, Grothe is dropped, Hindmarch and Cayless are old, look at the list except Hayne and Inu I dont see any real options for them winnign games.

I think the Titans will finish easy top 8 especially if they stay injury free, remember after the half way point they were top till Prince and a heap others were injured

For me i cant split into order but my top 8 will be

Storm
Sea Eagles
Warriors
Sharks
Souths (yes i thinkthey will get it together and realise the potential)
Roosters (most experienced forward pack and well coached)
Tigers (long as Farrah decides and clears the air)
spot 8 possibly raiders but i dont think they will continue the 08 form.

[Bourbon Rat]

I dont know enough about the other teams to really comment but I seriously rate Manly for 09.I think the beast has awoken down at Brookvale.

The 'beast' left with the 'beaver'  A couple of losses & the dedicated masses will go AWOL at 'fort brookie'
A GF hangover in NSW is a terrible thing,with few places to hide from an unfriendly media.
The lizards & their new coach will have an interesting time reconciling conflicting cultures.
Warriors may rely to much on the Stacy factor & slip back into their old win one lose two ways.
Melbourne ? The loss of old stable heads & skilled players will hurt.Time for some to put up - shut up & do the job.Still a top four team with another MP & GF possible.
As for the rest..............Couldn't give a shit 

[Play the ball]

If I had to put my money on a team to make the GF, it would be Manly,

They have a good squad of players, and Des Hasler is developing into a very good coach.

Alot of question marks on us,

Our younger generation of players will carry alot of our chances.

If they can step up to the next level we are in with a chance.

Im expecting us to play finals, but not in the big one, but still hoping.

[I love Cooper]

cowboys will be very strong this year imo. no where near 14th.
tigers for wooden spoon, closely followed by the eels.
and i reckon the 3 qld teams will be in the top 8.

not sure about the minor premiers.. manly are still very strong.
but then we are too, and i'd watch out for the warriors.

[storm_rhinos]

if you have a great 1,5,6,9 then any team can be great. Right now thats Billy, GI, Coops and Smith (until Tuamata kicks in at 6) which are all world class, all you need then is the support - its they way Melbourne build the team, a handful of the best players you can get and then a rotating squad to support. Right now on paper we are no less strong than last year for a first team, Sika for Crocker, Chambers for Boof, GI taking Izzys spot...keep the faith all teams have changed and I think we are actually in a great position to do well, I am just as hopeful as last year.

[pauliedude]

Im still confident of our team. Storm still has a list of players that other teams can only dream about.
With Byes before a couple of SOO this year we should hopefully drop less games.
Alot of other teams are attempting to overcome much more disruption than just a few players leaving.
Cant wait. Bring it ON!
Also looking forward to watching the new stadium continue to grow during the season as well.
I took a walk around the river side of it today. I highly recommend it to all, especially on a nice day.

[CooperCronk]

I think Manly are almost certain favourites for the Premiership but I hate them with a passion.
The Warriors and Cowboys are also looking good.

Storm to make the top 8, but who knows....injuries and suspensions can hurt plenty of teams.

[TC]

Time for some to put up - shut up & do the job.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking B1?

[sallymay]

I take back everything i wrote when i started this thred my order has changed

1 Dragons  (Wayne Bennett What more can u say good players too )

2 Broncos (will be good not sure if it will be this year)

3 Manly  (can see them doing well i think they will have more players in state of origin the aust NZ game ect will be tired from travel to uk like the storm were by the end)

4 Storm (new younger players)

5 Sharks (need a bit of time together)

6 Rooster (good players)

7 Eels  (Great Players new coach will be good together)

8 Warriors (good players may miss some of the lost players)


9  Raiders (new coach can they repeat last year not sure)

10 Bulldogs (Good Recriuts will need a bit of time together)

11 Titans (they rely on scott prince too much)

12 Cowboys (same players different coach)

13 Knights  (Will miss budurus but have covell need time to work together)

14 West Tigers (They are a two man team BENJI AND ROBBIE)

15 Rabbitohs  (They rely on snadow luke and wing to do all the work)

16 Panthers    (They players dont like or work with coach Elliott will be gone before rd 10)