NRL 2023 Season Previews and Predictions (Part One)

With the 2023 NRL season rapidly approaching, 16 clubs are ready go again, whilst one is ready to start a new legacy.

In these three articles, I will be taking a little look into all 17 NRL clubs, giving them a small season preview, whilst predicting where I think they will finish on the ladder.

In part one, let’s take a closer look at the teams I think will most likely finish as the bottom five, and have disappointing seasons.

Disclaimer/All predictions are my own opinion and will most certainly not be agreed with by the majority.

Redcliffe Dolphins

2022 League Finish – N/A

2023 Predicted Finish – 17^th (Wooden Spoon)

Key Player – Sean O’Sullivan

Arrivals – Whole squad plus development players

Departures – N/A

The Dolphins will compete in the NRL for the first time ever this season. Unfortunately, I can’t see the project there working very quickly. Despite hiring a world class manager in the form of Wayne Bennett, they have had to build a squad from scratch, and make it work in a small amount of time. Furthermore, they have been unable to sign the big marquee star that they have been after.

I have chosen the safe option to put them last. I do think they will pick up a few wins here and there, but not enough to avoid the bottom spot. The success of their season relies a lot on Sean O’Sullivan. The ex Penrith halfback has been tipped for a big future, now he is out of Nathan Cleary’s shadow, he should flourish in a free role at the Dolphins. 

St. George Illawarra Dragons

2022 League Finish – 10^th

2023 Predicted Finish – 16^th

Key Player – Ben Hunt

Arrivals – Zane Musgrove, Nick Lui-Toso, Jacob Liddle, Ben Murdoch-Masila.

Departures – Jackson Ford, George Burgess, Poasa Faamausili, Jack Gosiewski, Andrew McCullough, Tariq Sims, Josh McGuire.

Ben Hunt is now a few years into his thirties, yet the Dragons are still heavily reliant on his services for creation. Last season, most of their victories came on the back of Hunt playing a blinder. I don’t see enough quality elsewhere to warrant them getting the same number of wins this year.

The incomings haven’t been inspiring and I predict a transition year for the Dragons as they prepare their youth for the future. Therefore, I don’t see much changing this season except the consistency dipping, resulting in a free fall down the table.

New Zealand Warriors

2022 League Finish – 15^th

2023 Predicted Finish 15^th

Key Player – Shaun Johnson

Arrivals – Marata Niukore, Luke Metcalf, Dylan Walker, Mitchell Barnett, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, Te Maire Martin, Jackson Ford, Brayden Wiliame.

Departures – Euan Aitkin, Eliesa Katoa, Aaron Pene, Jack Murchie, Ben Murdoch-Masila, Taniela Otukolo, Otukinekina Kepu.

Just like the Dragons with Ben Hunt, the Warriors’ season relies on Shaun Johnson. There’s no doubting his remarkable ability, but he suffers with a lot of injuries that usually lead to him missing half the campaign.

However, the New Zealand outfit do have other players they can turn to. They have also acquired some talent over the winter period to bolster their squad, so I do see them finishing a fair few points away from the bottom of the ladder. 

West Tigers

2022 League Finish – 16^th (Wooden Spoon)

2023 Predicted Finish – 14^th

Key Player – Apisai Koroisau

Arrivals – Apisai Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’I, Triston Reilly, Charlie Staines, David Klemmer, John Bateman, Will Smith, Brandon Wakeham.

Departures – Luke Garner, Kelma Tuilagi, Zane Musgrove, Jock Madden, James Tamou, Oliver Guildart, Jacob Liddle, Tyrone Peachey, Jackson Hastings.

The West Tigers are on the up. After receiving the Wooden Spoon last year, they have made some fantastic signings and show a lot of promise as we approach the start of a new campaign. Their predicted 17 for the first game of the season is leaps and bounds ahead of the starting 17 they had in the first game of last season.

Apisai Koroisau will seriously improve their attacking fluency, but there has been some question marks over the decision to award him the captaincy, as he’s only just made the move from Penrith. Although 14^th in the ladder isn’t a great finish, it would be a large improvement on 2022.

Newcastle Knights

2022 League Finish – 14^th

2023 Predicted Finish – 13^th

Key Player – Kayln Ponga

Arrivals – Adam Elliot, Jack Hetherington, Tyson Gamble, Jackson Hastings, Greg Marzhew, Lachlan Miller.

Departures – Mitchell Barnett, Edrick Lee, Jirah Momoisea, Tex Hoy, Anthony Milford, Sauaso Sue, Pasami Saulo, Jake Clifford, David Klemmer, Chris Randell, Max Bradbury.

The Knights are another club that heavily rely on their star player. But in 2023, it seems as though Kayln Ponga will have more of a free role due to the signings of Jackson Hastings and Greg Marzhew. With more quality playmakers around him, Ponga should have an even greater impact on every game he plays in.

Newcastle do have a more well rounded squad this year, but I can’t see any league position improvements due to the quality of other clubs around them. There’s still a lot more that needs to be done at the club before they can push for the play-offs.

 

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