A Club-by-club analysis and prediction for the 2019 season ahead of tonight's season opener between the Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos at AAMI Park.
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| Picture Above: 2019 Club Captains at the NRL Season Launch (Source: NRL) |
Brisbane Broncos:
With their coaching drama sorted, 2019 is the beginning of a
new era for the Broncos under Anthony Seibold. In what is now their longest premiership
drought, the Broncos are looking to be strong contenders this season as Seibold
has restructured the game play of the team, similar to the look of his former squad
at South Sydney. The Broncos look to build on the back of the success of Kodi
Nikorima following an impressive stint for the Kiwis on their England tour. David
Fifita will be a big name in 2019 as he looks to build on his success in 2018
and secure a permanent role in the team.
Predicted Finish:
6th
Canberra Raiders:
Canberra are looking at 2019 as a chance for redemption.
Their 2017 and 2018 campaigns were unsuccessful, something that coach Ricky
Stuart has blamed on their inability to play strongly for the entire 80 minutes.
In 2019, Canberra’s forward pack will need to pick up the slack as the squad
looks to play more through the middle and maintain a strong defense, an area
which has failed them in the past. If their backline continue to play electric footy,
particularly through Joey Leilua and Jordan Rapana, the squad can look to improve
dramatically.
Predicted Finish:
10th
Canterbury-Bankstown
Bulldogs:
With the Des Hasler era well and truly over, the Bulldogs
are looking to make an impact on the game this season. With 2018 Premiership
winner Dylan Napa being an outstanding addition to the team, the squad will
look to build their strength on the park. Napa will prove to have quite an
impact on the team through his hard footy, hopefully inspiring some of the Dogs’
younger players.
Predicted Finish:
11th
Cronulla-Sutherland
Sharks:
Cronulla have had a list of troubles through the off season,
but with coach Shane Flanagan gone and new coach John Morris will look to pick
up the pieces for his side. The Sharks are looking like having a rough start to
the season as they fill the leadership gap left by senior player Luke Lewis.
However, it will be Shaun Johnson’s addition to the club and his partnership
with Matt Moylan in particular that will prove crucial to the Sharks’ season.
Predicted Finish:
9th
Gold Coast Titans:
The Gold Coast need to make an impact this year. The club
has never quite reached their potential, however players AJ Brimson and Ash
Taylor will be the ones to lead the team to such potential. With a group of
young players lacking on motivation, it will be the job of Brimson and Taylor
to work together to inspire the team. If the Titans’ forward pack can lift and
their spine create some new combinations, the Titans will look to make a large
improvement, however their squad doesn’t have the power to get them far on the
ladder.
Predicted Finish:
16th
Manly-Warringah Sea
Eagles:
Manly need to do a lot of work in 2019. Welcoming back Des
Hasler to the club looks to be a positive as the players have rallied around
him following the demotion of Trent Barrett. Daly Cherry-Evans and the Trbojevic
boys are going to need to carry the squad this year and work extra hard to
motivate the team. After a successful Game 3 in Origin, and a hope to retain
the spot, Cherry-Evans will only look to improve his game in 2019. The
Trbojevic brothers have always proved solid for Manly, however Tom’s defence
will need to improve if the team is to make impacts on the game this season.
Predicted Finish:
14th
Melbourne Storm:
The biggest question for the Storm in 2019 is how they will
adapt to a post-Slater era. Now that the once ‘big three’ is down to one member
in Cameron Smith, it will be interesting to see how the younger players will
lift in 2019. Jahrome Hughes will have a massive weight on his shoulders as he
looks to make the fullback position his own. It will be up to players such as
Cameron Munster and Will Chambers to improve their discipline in 2019 as Melbourne
can’t afford to see such players on the side as much as they did in 2018.
Predicted Finish:
5th
Newcastle Knights:
Newcastle look to be a very promising side in 2019 with the
inclusion of David Klemmer in their squad. A revamp of their spine sees Connor
Watson move into fullback, a position he is familiar with after filling the role
with Michael Gordon at the Roosters in 2017 when needed. This change then sees
young gun Kalyn Ponga move into five-eighth to accompany halves partner and
star player Mitchell Pearce. With Klemmer’s strength leading their forward
pack, the electricity of Ponga partnering the experience and knowledge of Pearce
in the halves and Watson’s quick thinking at fullback, the Knights are in for
what will be a great test for the team as they look to crack into the Top 8.
Predicted Finish:
7th
North Queensland
Cowboys:
The Cowboys, like Melbourne, will have a massive task ahead
of them in 2019 as they move into their post-Johnathon Thurston era. With new
captain Michael Morgan announced, Morgan will have a big task ahead in trying
to make the leadership role his own. The half is promising after lots of
success in Origin and Kangaroos campaigns in the past, and working with gun
Jason Taumalolo as his big man up front, the Cowboys will have a big season
ahead of them.
Predicted Finish:
12th
Parramatta Eels:
Parramatta are the club with the most work to do following a
wooden spoon finish. The club have lacked the cooperation to work their way up
the ladder as the team had not previously gelled. Moving into the 2019 season,
the club have a massive boost in Blake Ferguson joining the team. Ferguson’s
speed and skill will provide an attacking boost for the backline and hopefully
playmaker Mitchell Moses can build off this.
Predicted Finish:
15th
Penrith Panthers:
The Panthers have had nothing but issues in the off-season
as scandal rocked the club. However, the return of former coach Ivan Cleary and
his partnership with son Nathan Cleary at halfback, the club are showing true potential.
Penrith are a club to be feared as they have sheer strength all over the field.
If Cleary can build on 2018 and lead his team, alongside Dallin
Watene-Zelezniak, the Panthers will have a stellar season. Big things are
expected in 2019 from Penrith.
Predicted Finish:
2nd
South Sydney Rabbitohs:
The Rabbitohs had a strong campaign in 2018, just missing out
on the Grand Final through their loss to the premiership-winning Roosters. With
new coach Wayne Bennett leading the side, his experience and game style for
playing up the middle will match perfectly with the Bunnies. Players in the
Burgess brothers, alongside talent such as Greg Inglis, Dane Gagai and Alex
Johnston will be a team that Bennett will be able to lead into success.
Predicted Finish:
4th
St. George
Illawarra:
After cracking into finals in 2018, the Dragons are looking
to make 2019 their year. With Ben Hunt settled in the club and performing well,
alongside star five-eighth Gareth Widdop, the club are looking at a massive
year. Young guns Matt Dufty and Zac Lomax will prove crucial for the team in
terms of creating attacking sparks. Should they deliver, the club will have nothing
but success. The club will be hopeful to see Jack de Bellin return as he will
play a major part in their campaign.
Predicted Finish:
3rd
Sydney Roosters:
The Roosters are looking yet another successful campaign
following their Premiership win in 2018. Their World Club Challenge campaign proved
that the departure of Ryan Matterson and Blake Ferguson isn’t a big issue for
the side. With the inclusion of Angus Crichton in the squad, alongside star
halfback Cooper Cronk, 2018 Club Player of the Year James Tedesco at fullback
and a list of other star players such as Victor Radley, Latrell Mitchell,
Joseph Manu and Jared Warrea-Hargraves, the club is looking a strong chance at going
back-to-back.
Predicted Finish:
1st
Warriors:
The Warriors had a strong season in 2018, with captain Roger
Tuivasa-Sheck claiming not only the Dally M Fullback but also the Player of the
Year medal. Tuivasa-Sheck will take strength into 2019 following such a strong
performance, and hopefully his side will continue their strong form. While the
side is a risk, chances are they will just miss out of finals due to the threats
in the other clubs, however they could sneak in at the last moment.
Predicted Finish:
9th
Wests Tigers:
The Wests Tigers look to build on their 2019 season. The
club’s rebuild under former coach Ivan Cleary proved well for the team and they
turned around a 14th finish in 2017 to just missing out on finals
football, finishing 9th in 2018. Halfback Luke Brooks combined with one
of Wests Tigers’ favourite sons Benji Marshall for what would be deemed a
breakout season. Brooks saw a massive improvement on his game management and
went on to win the Dally M Halfback of the Year.
Predicted Finish:
8th
Grand Final Prediction:
Sydney Roosters vs Newcastle Knights
Biggest Threat: Penrith Panthers
Wooden Spoon: Gold Coast Titans
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