www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5812074471 coming good with a few games left to play is one thing, carrying the favourites mantle from the start of the season with these chokers, another hayne has struggled in the past to be consistant another to have a poor year with high expectations will be the dogs

www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 5812074471 coming good with a few games left to play is one thing, carrying the favourites mantle from the start of the season with these chokers, another hayne has struggled in the past to be consistant another to have a poor year with high expectations will be the dogs

but there's no mention of St George or Soward any where in that?

The Dragons are the biggest chokers i've been alive to witness. The Eels may or may not be Preimers in 2010, but you'll keep your title at the Dragons whatever happens.

St George won't win it.
Cronulla won't win it.
Parramatta won't win it.
Canterbury won't win it.

I think Gold Coast will do well, so will Brisbane and Melbourne. Any one of those three to win it for mine.

2001. that was a fair choke

we ran first for most of the year

the only team that has carried that mantle all year and won it was the storm a few years ago

favouritism is a very heavy tag and the eels arent the team to carry it.

haynesy will be very marked next year

his 4 nations was poor

I actually think the Eels will be top 4 next year, wether they win it or not is a different matter but they've as good a chance as anyone IMO. Hayne is still young and improving and although people will know what to expect next year some of the things he does are unstoppable. The signings are good IMO especially Poore and Tahu and Daniel Anderson is a very good coach. The only problem IMO is the halfback Robson, if Hayne isn't playing well or gets injured will he be able to step up and be the creator? I dont know but they've got a strong squad.
I think Bird will be a great addition to the Titans but i dont think they'll be top 4 like last season.
Top 4 IMO will be Eels, Storm, Manly, Dogs.

Brisbane have lost Karmichael Hunt, Dave Taylor and to a lesser extent Tonie Carroll (again) and replaced them with Denan Kemp, Scott Anderson, Tim Smith and a couple of people I've not really heard of, they'll be lucky if they go better than last year (can only think that a years more experience for the younger lads they blooded will help).

There are a few teams that I wouldn't be surprised to see win it though - Canterbury, Gold Coast, Parra, Melbourne and an outside shout for Souths - not really a shortlist but gonna make for an awesome season!

I cant see the Broncos going better than last year, and they only just managed to make the finals last season after winning their last few games cos it was looking grim at one point. Hunt will be a massive loss to them. The props aren't great that they've got, Nick Kenny is about the best of them, Teo and Setu need to step up this season for them cos both were poor last year. The best thing for the Broncos would be for Lockyer to give up his rep career. IMO they'll be battling to get in the 8 come the end of the season.

I thought the Broncos overachieved with what they had last year.
I think you'll see massive improvements in Souths (that's a monster pack!) and Wests (who imo underachieved most of the year). I personally think the bulldogs overachieved and had the Storm not been weakened in and around Origin time they'd have been first. Cant see past Melbourne imo although they're like Saints in SL, stars leave yet they find them from somewhere else! What a nucleus of a team they've got there though and for years to come I reckon

I reckon Sth's will be next seasons Parra. They will get into the final but probably lose and the whole of Sydney will go red and green mad. Sth's V Broncos is my bet.

I hoe the Warriors go well. They need a good year.

The Warriors need some good halves otherwise they'll struggle IMO. Brett Seymour is always in trouble and simply isn't good enough, Moon proved last year he's not up to it. They got Maloney from the Storm and they've got a young kid, cant remember his name. I thought they'd have brought someone a bit better than Seymour in but the rest of the side if pretty good if they all stay fit.
Is Brent Tate fit for the start of the season?

Gallen wants to leave the Sharks and Manly and Wests want him, Manly are the early favs with the money saved from Orford leaving but he's still got 2 years left on his contract. What a signing he would be for Manly. Gallen, Watmough and Stewart in the back row.

no better place for the sewer rats of the NRL to congregate than Manly. I bet their PR officer is having sleepless nights.