My first thoughts:
- Top 3 probably correct, potentially in a different order, depending on injuries, etc
- I donât think there has ever been the same 8 teams in the finals in consecutive years (something to research when I have some time). On average there are 3 changes each year. Iâd have Raiders & Warriors as the most likely to drop out, with Sharks probably being the next.
- As much as I hate to say it (and most on this forum will hate to hear it) I think Parra are a good chance of being in the finals.
- Dolphins & Souths are the other 2 teams I think we might see threaten for the 8.
- Dragons are probably a lock for the spoon already.
- Knights & Titans are a complete lottery with new coaches.
- Payton likely to be first coach sacked, unless they start the season on fire
We will be in contention for sure.
Blaze has an almost full season under his belt including finals experience.
A grand final winner back up half in Cogger.
We have a genuine back up hooker in Freddy Lussick.
A long term future star is our backup fullback.
Plus the hunger of not playing in the big dance after 5 consecutive years must hurt
Was going take Blaze for Dally M and Clive Churchill - I think he will have a MASSIVE year
Top 8 prospects?
There are a lot of question mars on that ladder⌠I do agree that the Panthers will benefit from losing very little of their 2025 squad, unlike the past few seasons, they will benefit from not having to go through the ârebuildâ phase of past seasons.
Broncos⌠Iâm not 100% they can catch lightning twice. Every year the Broncos have a hot year⌠itâs followed by a cold one. Not sure they can sustain the rage.
Storm, yeah.. I mean even with losing a few this year they will still put in a solid season to end up on the pointy end.
Bulldogs⌠To me they seem like a bit of a myth. No matter how they arrange the team, unless Crichton is the one itâs built around, then it will collapse. I think they know that, and expect more chopping and changing to get them to fit. For me itâs a lower side of the top 8.
Warriors⌠lost a LOT of talent, and a lot of depth (surprisingly to us). Not sure if injuries happen in 2026 they will have the depth to recover. Their position is pretty much tied to their depth. Lower top 8 for me.
Raiders⌠same problem as the Warriors, lost a fair bit of talent and depth. They wonât have the luxury of a soft draw this year. Out of the 8 for me.
Roosters. Bought well, an will have a lot of the injury locked talent back on deck. I can see them finishing in the top 4.
Sharks. No changes⌠and that is the problem, Clearly something isnât working in the Shire, and they refuse the see the reality. Canât see them in the 8 this year.
Who will finish higher than they stated?
Eels. For me they will be in the 8. Their squad has been building over the past seasons, and I think in 2026 they will reap the benefit from. Mitch Moses is a solid operator and if fit can guide them a fair way into the finals.
Dolphins. Again another solid side that has been building, I fell they have got the mix right and will alos make a finals appearance.
Titans. They needed a clean out⌠and with Desâ departure got one. They have managed to retained a solid nucleus of young talent and experienced heads. Bringing in Josh Hannay as coach was a great call. I highly rate him as a coach (and a player), and will bring the best out of that team, Donât think they will make the finals this year, but a team to keep an eye on.
What did they get right?
Dragons⌠A team that doesnât look to be going anywhere, sometime looks like world beaters, the next week they look like they are playing their first match together.
Tigers⌠What a shitshow. Board wars over a jersey and the clubs upstairs in a mexican standoff. This will (as always) filter down to on field performance. They canât help themsleves, they are naturally self destructive. Hope Luai didnât trade his get out clause awayâŚ
My first, rushed run through of the draw came up with this ladder. Will put some more thought in closer to the season for a proper prediction, but I think it will probably be close to this.
Cannot believe you put Parra any higher than 17th. Gone soft in the off season? 
Now that Iâve had a bit more time to think about it, predictions are:
Panthers - 1st & Premiers - We would have learned a lot from last year, and will have the hunger to rise to the top again.
Roosters- 2nd & Runners Up - Another team that would have learned a lot from last year. The addition of DCE will give them more direction.
Eels - 3rd & Preliminary Finalists - The dark horse, they came home strong last year & Iâm expecting them to pick up where they left off.
Broncos - 4th & Preliminary finalists - Will go close to defending their premiership, but will fall short of the big dance.
Bulldogs - 5th & Semifinalists - Defence will have them at the pointy end of the season, but doubt they have the attack to get over the line.
Sharks - 6th & Qualifying Finalists - Will put in a decent showing, but get caught out in the finals.
Storm - 7th & Semifinalists - Probably the weakest Storm side in over 20 years, but you can never rule them out completely.
Dolphins - 8th & Qualifying Finalists - will make their finals debut, but no further than that.
Rabbitohs - 9th - could play finals if their big names remain fit & firing, but Mitchell & Fifita are too unreliable.
Raiders - 10th - wonât be catching people unaware this year. Will push hard for the finals, but fall agonisingly short.
Warriors - 11th - with Metcalfe mussing the start of the season, they will be playing from behind all year.
Cowboys - 12th - potentially a top 8 side, but I have a big question mark over the coaching.
Tigers - 13th - will put in a good showing, but inexperience will cost them key games.
Knights - 14th - a complete lottery with a new coach & spine. Canât tip them with any confidence until I see results.
Sea Eagles - 15th - at risk of their first ever wooden spoon.
Dragons - 16th - not much going on here.
Titans - 17th - a lottery with a new coach, but it is hard to see the holiday strip mentality changing in 1 season.
Itâs already starting to look dicey for a few teams only a few weeks in, in particular Cowboys, Dragons and the Sea Eagles.
The Dragons right now for all their effort canât string anything together in attack. Parramatta gave them so much opportunity to put the sword to them, and they just couldnât do it, panic plays, pushed passes, dropped balls, errors. Thatâs not to say Parramatta was playing polished football either, but they made the most of their attacking opportunities.
The Cowboys are just awful. Confused forward pack, confused halves, seemingly no communications on the field. On paper they have a strong side, so you have to ask is the coach out of answers? They might be the first team to start the coaching musical chairs. Their only win was over the Titans, and that isnât saying much.
The Sea Eagles⌠what can I say⌠another team that looks great on paper and look shot on the field. Maybe its the adjustment in the halves post DCE⌠there seems to be a lack of a voice out there, there is no leading from the halves and no leading from the forwards. They have players that can do that, but they donât. They could have won in Round 1, but they gave up a 14-6 lead at half time, to draw at the end of the second, and a lack of organisation virtually handed the Raiders the win. Then next week get thrashed by the Knights who themselves do not look like world beaters. A early bye may do them good, because if they keep things as they are, they could be looking at their maiden spoon.
All three of these coaches might be looking for a new job come the end of the season (or earlier).
I know that you are reading this and saying âSteve, what about the Titansâ, and yeah I hear you. Though Iâll cut the Titans some slack, Hannay has inherited a mess, overpaid players, a neglected roster, and thatâs just the tip of the iceberg. With the addition of Gorden Tallis and Matthew Johns to the ownership of the club, I would hope that Hannay gets the support they need to âright the shipâ. This will be a rebuilding year for them, and Hannay should get his shot to mould the club how he sees fit.
I donât think anyone had big ambitions for the Dragons.
Cowboys are one or two loses away from a change of coach.
The rumblings continue at Brisbane, they will implode this year, although Madge will probably keep his job.
Agree Manly are are a mess, but this weeks game will be a decider for more reasons than expected. A Manly win will start the rumblings about the Roosters (whatâs with DCE playing 5/8!!!), Teddy has had it.
The knights good start has subsided betting on the coach being first to go.
A movement of a coach in a team not mentioned above will be a shock, even Benji has an excuse now with Luai out for 6 weeks or so
At first it was dismissed as rumours, now you have Ben Teâo who was the Broncos Defensive Coach resigning from Brisbane because of clashes with Madge.
Which is surprising considering they have a long relationship spanning back to the South Sydney Premiership team that Madge coached.
A lot of h playing group had a lot of respect from Teâo and this will only enflame things more⌠Iâm not sure that Madge has the confidence of the playing group. Broncos management are in shock over the resignation, but getting rid of Madge would mean the Broncos going back to square one again, with no obvious candidate.
I guess we will see if this disharmony translates to on the field.
Which player or club official will come out first and say âwe have every confidence in coach xxxxâ
The classic death knell
Itâs been reported tonight that Manly has sacked Anthony Seibold. Who had him as the first to go in their âDead Poolâ?
I had Payten. He will probably be next week.
Facebook
Twitter
Youtube
Websites