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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 the third and final part, let’s take a closer look at the teams I think will most likely finish as the top six and comfortably in the play-offs. Also, who will be the Minor Premiers and NRL Champions?
Disclaimer/All predictions are my own opinion and will most certainly not be agreed with by the majority.
North Queensland Cowboys
2022 League Finish – 3rd
2023 Predicted Finish – 6th
Key Player – Jason Taumalolo
Arrivals – Jack Gosiewski, James Tamou, Gehamat Shibasaki.
Departures – Connelly Lemuelu, Tom Gilbert, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Ben Condon.
The Cowboys are another side that rebuilt their squad after hovering around the foot of the ladder. They most certainly over-achieved in 2022, making the most of other teams’ poor seasons.
They haven’t added much quality to their squad, but the star players they have like Jason Taumalolo will surely be enough to secure them another play-off finish, even if they are not quite as high as they were last season.
Cronulla Sharks
2022 League Finish – 2nd
2023 Predicted Finish – 5th
Key Player – Nicho Hynes
Arrivals – Oregon Kaufusi, Max Bradbury, Daniel Atkinson.
Departures – Luke Metcalf, Andrew Fifita, Aiden Tolman, Lachlan Miller.
The Sharks possess last year’s Daily M winner Nicho Hynes, amongst a quality squad. If they can avoid major injuries then they should be challenging for a first NRL title since 2016.
I don’t see the progression within their squad that I do in others however, so I think they will drop below some of the big hitters in the ladder, but overall still have a fairly successful 2023, pestering the top four in the play-offs.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
2022 League Finish – 7th
2023 Predicted Finish – 4th
Key Player – Latrell Mitchell
Arrivals –
Departures – Mark Nicholls, Kodi Nikorima, Jaxson Paulo.
If I’m not mistaken, Souths have not made any signings for this season. Although completely going against what I have said about other clubs, if there’s no need to buy, then don’t. They already have a fantastic squad, including the notorious Latrell Mitchell. If he performs well this year, then I have no doubt in the Rabbitohs achieving a top four finish.
They were bitterly disappointing in 2022, so it’s a huge gamble to go again with pretty much the same squad, but I believe in what is going down at the club, and I think that gamble will pay off to an extent this campaign. Maybe if they signed another star player then they would be serious contenders for the Minor Premiership.
Penrith Panthers
2022 League Finish – 1st (Minor Premiers and NRL Champions)
2023 Predicted Finish – 3rd
Key Player – Nathan Cleary
Arrivals – Luke Garner, Tyrone Peachey, Zac Hosking, Jack Cogger.
Departures – Apisai Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, Isaiya Katoa, Robert Jennings, J’maine Hopgood, Sean O’Sullivan, Charlie Staines, Christian Crichton.
Many people have called this Penrith squad the best in NRL history, and their back to back Premiership winner status is solid proof that they are a fantastic squad. However, they lost a few key players over the off-season, and recently lost to St. Helens in the World Club Challenge.
The signatures they secured will help bolster their squad numbers, but I don’t think it will be enough for them to keep up with the top two in the league, despite the fact they still have one of the best players in the world in Nathan Cleary. If the injuries build up towards the back end of the season, I also think they will suffer an early unexpected play-off exit.
Melbourne Storm
2022 League Finish – 5th
2023 Predicted Finish – 2nd (NRL Champions)
Key Player – Cameron Munster
Arrivals – Eliesa Katoa, Tariq Sims, Joe Chan, Aaron Pene.
Departures – Felise Kaufusi, Brandon Smith, Jesse Bromwich, Kenny Bromwich, Cooper Johns.
Melbourne certainly underperformed last season. When you look at some of the names in their squad, you’d assume that they would be up there every year, and last year’s disappointment should spur them on to a great 2023. Coach Craig Bellamy does not take any lacklustre performances, and with the help of half-back Cameron Munster, he should whip his side into shape to deliver a fifth NRL title for them.
The Storm are another side that have offloaded some of their deadwood and replaced them with some exciting players. When you add that to the serious quality they already have, I have no doubt that they will achieve a top two finish in the ladder, and I think they will also become champions once again by winning the play-offs.
Sydney Roosters
2022 League Finish – 6th
2023 Predicted Finish – 1st (Minor Premiers)
Key Player – James Tedesco
Arrivals – Brandon Smith, Jake Turpin, Jaxson Paulo, Corey Allan.
Departures – Siosiua Taukeiaho, Daniel Suluka-Fifita, Oliver Gildart, Sam Verrills, Renouf Atoni.
If Sydney Roosters go from a 6th placed finish to being Minor Premiers in one year, then you would have to call it a huge success. However, I certainly don’t see this as far-fetched, in fact, I’m certain it will happen.
The Roosters squad last year was much better than the finish they got, and it’s only gone and got better. I think the wonderful James Tedesco will recover his Daily M form, and coach Trent Robinson will inspire his squad of individual stars to perform as a team week in week out, winning them the Minor Premiership, and taking them far into the play-offs.
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