Partially three of our in-depth preview for the 2023 NRL season, we take a look at the 4 groups that completed within the high half of the underside eight final 12 months: the Broncos, Dragons, Sea Eagles and Bulldogs.
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Brisbane Broncos
2022 file
13-11 – 28pts – Ninth
Coach
Kevin Walters
The highlight might be on the Brisbane Broncos, because it has been yearly since they arrived in 1988, however much more so this 12 months following a calamitous 2022 through which the membership imploded and missed the NRL finals in an virtually inexplicable style.
Brisbane’s collapse was virtually as large because the Wall Road crash of 1929.
Sitting fairly getting into the again half of the season, the Broncos have been cruising in fourth place heading into spherical 19.
However with their followers making ready for finals motion, they dropped 5 of their final six video games, barely giving a yelp as they limped out of 2022 embarrassed and humiliated.
They enter season 2023 with a variety of points and questions to beat however as a membership decided to revive pleasure and a profitable tradition at Crimson Hill, which was Brisbane’s calling card on the best way to profitable six premierships.
Between 1992 and 2009, the Broncos performed finals soccer for 18 consecutive seasons.
However the membership has not been sighted in a grand closing since its epic golden-point loss to the Cowboys in 2015, and whereas it might be a courageous man to tip them to take action this 12 months, the Broncos actually have the expertise to no less than make the highest eight.
From there, all of it comes right down to starvation, want, and a slice of luck.
Ex-Storm boss and new Broncos CEO Dave Donaghy has had 12 months to take inventory of his staff.
It’s been a bumpy trip up to now for the sports activities journalist turned administrator, with a number of off-field misdemeanours to cope with in addition to a couple of sad gamers eager to be launched from the membership.
It comes with the territory.
However in contrast to when he was primarily based in an AFL metropolis akin to Melbourne, when one thing goes fallacious on the Broncos, all hell can break free.
Donaghy has enlisted extremely revered former Brisbane and Queensland participant, and ex-TV host, Ben Ikin to assist with methods and different front-office roles, leaving Kevin Walters to educate the facet.
He has impressed along with his powerful phrases and warnings when fronting the media up to now – however then once more, he has been getting a variety of apply.
Donaghy wants to ensure he simply doesn’t speak powerful however that he stands by and backs up his phrases in 2023.
It’s important – not only for Brisbane, however any membership – the entrance workplace works collectively and easily and permits Walters to do what he’s paid to do, and that’s coach.
It’s unlikely we’ll see a repeat of younger Selwyn Cobbo’s silly “not a superb coach” sledge that clearly embarrassed Walters and the membership.
This might effectively be Walters’ final probability to indicate he can coach within the NRL after the crash of 2022.
Whether or not he might have performed far more to stop what occurred is debatable.
For Kevin Walters, the 2023 season could possibly be his final probability to make an impression as coach of the Broncos.
Nevertheless, the best way Brisbane limped in the direction of the top of the season with a few 50-point floggings certain gave his critics loads of ammunition to fireplace at him.
To be truthful to Walters, the gamers’ perspective was on the nostril.
They might play exhausting for 10 or quarter-hour after which flip it up, and groups ran via their defence like a sizzling knife via butter.
That mentality has received to alter in 2023, and will probably be the job of Walters and his teaching workers to instil some starch and metal into the defence, which actually comes down to each participant investing himself.
Let’s take a look at the Broncos.
A lot seems to relaxation on halfback Adam Reynolds remaining injury-free, which is a reasonably large ask given his age and the very fact he missed loads of video games final season.
However, if he can get via the season, Walters has a variety of expertise at his disposal, together with thrilling younger weapons Reece Walsh and Ezra Mam.
With Billy Walters to get first crack on the No.9 jumper, the Broncos have an fascinating backbone round an thrilling ahead pack that might be led by State of Origin stars Patrick Carrigan, Payne Haas, and Kurt Capewell.
Walters may also have the very skilled, powerful, and damaging Martin Taupau to inject off the bench this season after he was let go by Manly.
Taupau made his intentions identified on the primary day of coaching when he levelled Haas throughout a drill, forcing his new teammate to depart the sector.
It’s exhausting to not like Brisbane’s backline, which incorporates thrilling teenager Walsh, veteran winger Corey Oates, blockbusting centre Kotoni Staggs, England World Cup star Herbie Farnworth, and the sensible younger winger Selwyn Cobbo, who might be all the higher for final 12 months’s expertise.
On the time of writing, highly effective ahead TC Robart’s future on the membership was beneath evaluation for a string of off-field incidents.
Final season, Brisbane conceded 550 factors and their file at Suncorp was 7-5, a far cry from the times when Lang Park was a fortress.
The Broncos should enhance these two stats dramatically if they’re to keep away from the frustration of lacking out on one other finals marketing campaign.
Taking part in roster: Reece Walsh, Corey Oates, Kotoni Staggs, Herbie Farnworth, Selwyn Cobbo, Ezra Mam, Adam Reynolds, Tom Flegler, Billy Walters, Payne Haas, Kurt Capewell, Jordan Riki, Patrick Carrigan, Cory Paix, Martin Taupau, Keenan Palasia, Corey Jensen, Jock Madden, Brendan Piakura, Blake Mozer, Deine Mariner, TC Robati, Delouise Hoeter, Ethan Quai-Ward, Jesse Arthars, Jordan Pereira, Logan Bayliss, Xavier Willison, Kobe Hetherington. Improvement gamers: Tyson Smoothy, Josh Rogers.
2023 Brisbane Broncos predictions:
Premiership odds:
$18
High 4:
$4
High 8:
$1.75
Picket spoon:
$31
Prediction:
Ninth-Twelfth
St George Illawarra Dragons
2022 file
12-12 – 26pts – tenth
Coach
Anthony Griffin
It’s exhausting to get too excited on the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2023, and once more it seems to be like coach Anthony Griffin goes to should lean closely on his No.7, Ben Hunt, to guide the staff across the paddock.
Nothing a lot has modified on the Dragons, they usually have a variety of points to recover from once they do take the sector in spherical two towards the Gold Coast at dwelling after being awarded a bye within the opening spherical due to the arrival of enlargement membership Dolphins.
Hunt was sensational final 12 months and was rewarded with choice for Queensland in Origin and Australia on the Rugby League World Cup as he continued to ascertain himself as one of many sport’s greatest playmakers.
The Dragons’ season went pear-shaped after final 12 months’s Origin sequence.
They have been eyeing a finals berth till they dropped 5 of their six video games between rounds 17 and 22 to overlook the highest eight by 4 factors.
Griffin has recruited Jacob Liddle from the Wests Tigers to assist increase his hooking shares and has picked up a few helpful forwards in Zane Musgrave and Ben Murdoch-Masila in addition to Queensland Cup front-rower of the 12 months Nick Lui-Toso.
He has some helpful native expertise that he’ll little doubt name upon at instances, as he’s a coach with a confirmed monitor file of giving gamers an opportunity in the event that they present potential.
Jack Chook, who might be a significant cog for the Dragons this season due to his capacity to play virtually anyplace on the sector, is being hampered by a knee damage and should not make the beginning of the season, though he has an additional week due to the bye.
Jack Chook, a priceless utility for the Dragons, is unsure for the beginning of the season.
One other utility, Jayden Sullivan, is being handled for a grade-two hamstring pressure suffered in mid-January with a restoration interval of as much as six weeks.
Exhausting-running ahead Francis Molo is not going to be sighted till spherical three as he serves the ultimate two weeks of a four-week suspension incurred late in 2022.
However the main loss might be flash younger fullback Cody Ramsey, who’s being handled for ulcerative colitis.
No date has been penciled in for his comeback.
The retirement of the ever-reliable Andrew McCullough has left Griffin with a call to make on who performs dummy half as Liddle is the one recognised hooker in his squad, though Moses Mbye can slot into the function if wanted.
Griffin has one other dilemma at five-eighth with Tatatau Amone having been stood down by the NRL beneath its Obligatory Stand Down Coverage after he was charged with an offense by NSW police in January.
All-in-all it’s not the perfect begin for Griffin, who has a couple of positional complications to unravel earlier than the season kicks off.
Taking part in roster: Tyrell Sloan Mat Feagai, Moses Suli, Zac Lomax, Mikaele Ravalawa, Jayden Sullivan, Ben Hunt, Zane Musgrove, Jacob Liddle, Blake Lawrie, Jack Chook, Jaydn Su’A, Jack de Belin, Moses Mbye, Tyrell Fuimaono, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Aaron Woods, Talatau Amone (stood down), Billy Burns, Max Feagai, Jaiyden Hunt, Nick Lui-Toso, Tautau Moga, Francis Molo, Michael Molo, Cody Ramsey, Josh Kerr.
2023 St George Illawarra Dragons predictions:
Premiership odds:
$41
High 4:
$12
High 8:
$3.50
Picket spoon:
$9.50
Prediction:
Twelfth-Seventeenth
Manly Sea Eagles
2022 file
9-15 – 20pts – eleventh
Coach
Anthony Seibold
Season 2022 was a forgettable one for Manly Sea Eagles followers, because the membership was affected by damage and controversy which ultimately noticed them miss the NRL finals and subsequently sack membership favorite Des Hasler within the washup.
Some might say the Sea Eagles have jumped from the frying pan into the hearth by turning to Anthony Seibold as their saviour.
Seibold has been out of a training job since being punted by the Brisbane Broncos after they picked up their first-ever wood spoon beneath his steerage in season 2020 with simply three wins all 12 months.
Whether or not Seibold is the best man to get Manly again on the trail to the finals, time will inform.
However one factor appears sure: he’ll want celebrity fullback Tom Trbojevic on the sector much more than he has been for the previous few seasons.
Trbojevic underwent shoulder surgical procedure within the low season after which fell sufferer to hamstring points which pressured the membership to ship him to the USA for specialist remedy.
Manly should put the dramas of final 12 months behind them and deal with the motion on the soccer subject, which might be considered one of Seibold’s hardest challenges.
They appear a bit skinny in key areas and must blood the proficient Josh Schuster within the No.6 jumper following the departure of Kiwi worldwide Kieran Foran, who was a rock for the membership.
Schuster is a really proficient ball-player and ball-runner, however he’s untried in such a key place at this stage.
Josh Schuster has the unenviable activity of filling Kieran Foran’s boots within the Manly five-eighth function.
In his favour, although, might be enjoying exterior Queensland and Australia halfback Daly Cherry-Evans, one of many sport’s greatest organisers, which can assist him make the transition wanted to be an impression participant.
Seibold doesn’t have a variety of choices within the halves, though ex-Storm halfback prospect Cooper Johns is on the membership on a train-and-trial association and will sneak into the membership’s top-30 checklist.
Manly have a couple of gamers getting back from main low season surgical procedures, together with ACT victims Jason Saab and Karl Lawton, with prolific point-scorer Reuben Garrick and Ben Trbojevic each requiring shoulder ops in the course of the low season however prone to be out there for spherical one.
Dylan Walker (Warriors) and Martin Taupau (Broncos) are two gamers who might be missed this season, however little doubt Seibold can have factored of their departures to his 2023 plans.
Manly look robust sufficient within the forwards with Josh Aloiai, Taniela Paseka, Kelma Tuilagi, and Jake Trbojevic, whereas there may be a variety of curiosity in younger ahead prospect Haumole Olakau’atu.
Cherry-Evans as soon as described the 196cm, 112kg Togan worldwide as “the scariest man in rugby league” – a status the backrower intends to reside as much as this season if he will get his probability.
Manly want a variety of issues to go proper for them to play finals soccer in 2023, however they’ve the power to make the highest eight in the event that they get it to click on and Tom Trbojevic will get via a season with no critical damage.
Taking part in roster: Tom Trbojevic, Reuben Garrick, Tolu Koula, Brad Parker, Christian Tuipulotu, Josh Schuster, Daly Cherry-Evans, Josh Aloiai, Lachlan Croker, Taniela Paseka, Haumole Olakau’atu, Kelma Tuilagi, Jake Trbojevic, Ben Trbojevic, Sean Keppie, Toafofoa Sipley, Ethan Bullemor, Morgan Boyle, Ben Condon, Morgan Harper, Alec Tuitavake, Karl Lawton, Jason Saab, Kaeo Weekes, Ray Vaega, Viliame Fifita, Zac Fulton.
2023 Manly Sea Eagles predictions:
Premiership odds:
$20
High 4:
$6.50
High 8:
$2.60
Picket spoon:
$15
Prediction:
Twelfth-Seventeenth
Canterbury Bulldogs
2022 file
7-17 – 16pts – Twelfth
Coach
Cameron Ciraldo
After six rounds final season, the Canterbury Bulldogs have been final on the ladder – a place they occupied till spherical 15, once they handed the baton to the Titans with their fourth win of the season.
They doubled their factors whole within the final 10 rounds and have been unfortunate to not win a couple of extra shut video games.
Trent Barrett began the season as coach and was changed mid-year by Mick Potter.
Since then, they’ve undergone some main adjustments on and off the sector beneath normal supervisor Gus Gould and new head coach Cameron Ciraldo, who has been busy shoring up his new-look kennel.
A Bulldogs outfit with former Penrith destroyer Viliame Kikau working off new dummy half Reed Mahoney and halfback Kyle Flanagan might be a daunting prospect for opposition sides however a pleasure for Canterbury followers to observe.
Ciraldo has performed an ideal job in filling his 30-man roster together with giving the final spot to 33-year-old Bulldogs favorite Josh Reynolds, who has spent the previous two seasons enjoying for Hull FC within the English Tremendous League.
Reynolds performed 138 NRL video games for Canterbury till becoming a member of the Wests Tigers in 2018 after which heading to the UK.
Membership favorite Josh Reynolds is again on the Bulldogs in 2023.
Ciraldo has taken a punt on the passionate Reynolds as a backup for Flanagan at half, however he additionally has the very thrilling Karl Oloapu – a child who seems to be to have every part and could possibly be a future NRL star.
Oloapu was within the Broncos’ system however demanded a launch, claiming the membership had didn’t hold its phrase, and vowed by no means to play for them.
Parramatta pickup Hayze Perham is tipped to beat Jake Averillo to the beginning fullback jumper after impressing the teaching workers since his arrival on the membership.
With Matt Burton within the No.6 jumper and the flying Josh Addo-Carr hungry to proceed his wealthy try-scoring type after starring for the Kangaroos on the World Cup, issues are wanting fairly good at Belmore.
Ciraldo has some excellent younger expertise that’s nonetheless untapped together with 18-year-old centre Paul Alamoti and Jeral Skelton, a schoolboy rugby sensation.
Given the participant acquisitions Ciraldo has made, it’s truthful to say the Bulldogs might push for a return to finals soccer sooner quite than later.
Taking part in roster: Hayze Perham, Jacob Kiraz, Jake Averillo, Paul Alamoti, Josh Addo-Carr, Matt Burton, Kyle Flanagan, Luke Thompson, Reed Mahoney, Ryan Sutton, Raymond Faitala-Mariner, Viliame Kikau, Max King, Fa’amanu Brown, Jackson Topine, Tevita Pangai Junior, Corey Waddell, Josh Reynolds, Braidon Burns, Andrew Davey, Bailey Biondi-Odo, Declan Casey, Brandon Clarke, Karl Oloapu, Samuel Hughes, Jayden Okunbor, Chris Patolo, Franklin Pele, Jacob Preston, Jeral Skelton, Iverson Matai. Improvement gamers: Isaac Matalavea-Sales space, Joseph O’Neill, Jordan Samrani.
2023 Canterbury Bulldogs predictions:
Premiership odds:
$13
High 4:
$5.50
High 8:
$2.10
Picket spoon:
$31
Prediction:
Ninth-Twelfth
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