Archive for December 2007
NRL Power Rankings 2008
(c) 2008 All content available for reproduction by contacting Warrick Nicolson at Nicolson Sports Consultancy (wdnicolson@optusnet.com.au).
2008 NRL power rankings
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Simply click on the above links to see the rankings of each team after each round.
NRL Power Rankings: Pre-Season Edition 1, TEAMS 11-16
NRL Power Rankings: Pre-Season Edition 1.
TEAMS 1-5 - TEAMS 6-10 - TEAMS 11-16
December 10, 2007
11.
WESTS TIGERS
Rocket up the Power Rankings with the signing Mathew Head to a contract for 2008. The club’s attacking style struggled for rhythm with Scott Prince’s departure to the Gold Coast and John Morris never looked comfortable in the #7 jersey. Head’s addition should open up the field for Benji Marshall at five-eighth and add a strong attacking kicking game that was severely lacking outside of hooker Robbie Farah. But the Tigers big concern is whether their underperforming (or simply outmatched in 2007) forward pack is capable of lifting itself to the level needed for the talented backline to work its magic.
12.
CANBERRA RAIDERS
Canberra’s young core went through growing pains in the second half of 2007 winning just 3 of their final 12 matches. In their 9 total victories they managed to beat just 3 finalists – Souths, Parramatta and the Warriors – and beat wooden spooner’s Penrith twice. But the team did manage to crack 30 points in a game 8 times. Talents like Todd Carney, William Zillman, Thom Learoyd-Lahrs, Neville Costigan and Michael Weyman suggest an exciting and competitive team is not far off, if the players in question can stay healthy (especially forward dynamos Learoyd-Lahrs and Weyman who are critical elements for success). Whether or not enough pieces are in place for a playoff run in 2008 however is the real question mark hanging over this squad.
13.
BULLDOGS
Dating back to the start of season 2005 the club has farewelled Johnathan Thurston, Steven Price, Roy Asotasi, Mark O’Meley, Braith Anasta, Brent Sherwin and now Willie Mason. A club has to bend if not break on the field eventually when you lose quality like that and don’t replace it. Now after reaching the Finals the past two seasons and haemorrhaging players, Sonny Bill Williams and Willie Tonga – the only two class players left on the roster – face an almighty task to keep the team off the bottom of the table in 2008. Watch for Ben Roberts and Nick Kouparitsas to turn heads in expanded roles but it won’t be enough to produce a winning season.
14.
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS
No Andrew Johns for the first time since the 1992 season (he debuted in 1993) and you’d think they have little hope of a title run as a result. That may be true but the team has signed some decent talent in Wes Naiqama, Danny Wicks and Ben Cross to cover for the loss of Adam Woolnough, Josh Perry, Daniel Abraham and of course Johns. Young halves Jarrod Mullen and Luke Walsh won’t start the season as rookies which is a big plus and having experienced stars Danny Buderus and Kurt Gidley alongside them will make the full transition to life without Joey that much easier. Could make the Finals if they have a strong start but 2009 looks more realistic for Brian Smith’s chosen roster.
15.
ST.GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS
Willie Mason was right not to head to the Dragons as they fit the bill of the team rebuilding – something he said he didn’t want to be a part of. Granted the Dragons didn’t finish that far behind the Roosters in 2007 (13th) but the team is very much in the restructuring process for the next season or two. Mark Gasnier should be on deck for the entire season which is a huge bonus but the only other class player on the roster is Jason Ryles. Matt Cooper, Dean Young, Ben Hornby and Ben Creagh are on the next tier down but they have been at that level for a few seasons now and no longer have the safety net of the Luke Baileys, Trent Barrett or Shaun Timmins taking the heat as the go-to guys anymore. Still there is reason to hope with the Morris brothers the most exciting siblings to come into the game since the Johns boys.
16.
PENRITH PANTHERS
Petero Civoniceva and Adam Woolnough will improve the go-forward to a level the Panthers haven’t had since Martin Lang retired in 2004. But the rest of the team has so many holes and question marks that this squad must look for gradual improvement in 2008 rather than thinking playoffs. Halfback is where the greatest worry lies with the inconsistent Joe Williams from Souths or the untested Josh McCrone from Canberra vying to replace the departed Craig Gower. Don’t rule out livewire utility Jarrod Sammut here either. Last year’s rookie sensation Michael Jennings should only get better and full seasons from Trent Waterhouse, Luke Rooney and Shane Rodney will be helpful but unless another teenager steps forward (Greg Waddell) the Panthers face a rough season at the foot of the ladder.
NRL Power Rankings: Pre-Season Edition 1, TEAMS 6-10
NRL Power Rankings: Pre-Season Edition 1.
TEAMS 1-5 – TEAMS 6-10 – TEAMS 11-16
December 10, 2007
6.
SYDNEY ROOSTERS
If there was any reason to think the Roosters late 2007 surge was a fluke, there isn’t now with the addition of Willie Mason to the prior purchases of Mark O’Meley and impressive young rake James Aubusson in the off-season. The team turned around a seemingly lost season with the instalment of a rookie coach in Brad Fittler (they won 5 of 8 to end the year) in place of the maligned Chris Anderson mid-year. South Sydney-bound Craig Wing (and to a lesser extent Chris Flannery and Ashley Harrison) will be missed but the pack looks stronger and more dynamic with Mason and O’Meley on board. A completely healthy Anthony Minichiello and a confident Mitchell Pearce are must haves however, if they are to push for the title.
7.
GOLD COAST TITANS
Received superb seasons from their big name purchases in 2007 (Scott Prince, Luke Bailey and Anthony Laffranchi) and finished a more than respectable 12th. Now with former Rooster Ashley Harrison aboard and props Michael Henderson and Brad Meyers back from injury, there isn’t any reason to think this team isn’t capable of reaching the playoffs for only the second time in Gold Coast history alongside the 1997 Chargers. Preston Campbell needs to fire at fullback now that Richie Mathers has gone back to the UK and enigmatic Chris Walker snapped his Achilles during the off-season. Another player going under the knife in the off-season was Mat Rogers who must see more ball at centre in 2008 as the club lacks another go-to three-quarter on the roster.
8.
WARRIORS
The Warriors missed a golden opportunity to make a title run in 2007 after taking some strong form into September. They failed to overcome an Eels team who played poorly in the Qualifying Final in Auckland and then capitulated up front against an under-manned Cowboys outfit in the Elimination Final in Townsville. Steven Price had arguably his best season in First Grade (in his 14th year) but like veteran Ruben Wiki; both players don’t have many seasons left in the tank at 33 and 34 respectively entering 2008. Halves Grant Rovelli and Michael Witt went missing in the Finals and need evaluating against the options Lance Hohaia offers the team during the pre-season. Last chance at a title with current group.
9.
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS
Would be settled nicely into the 6th or 7th spot if they had been selfish and told Peter Cusack he couldn’t go to Hull. Have welcomed back Craig Wing to Redfern but Cusack is a gigantic loss as he’d formed a powerful combination with Roy Asotasi in the engine room. Souths have to hope the likes of Scott Geddes, Jaiman Lowe and Luke Stuart can hold the fort until youngsters Michael Greenfield and Manase Manuokafoa are ready to step up. Wing adds a creative dimension the backline desperately needs and it will be interesting to see whether Fetuli Talanoa can retain the fullback role ahead of Nathan Merritt and Beau Champion.
10.
CRONULLA-SUTHERLAND SHARKS
Still light on strike weapons out wide (unless Karl Filiga is the second coming of Mal Meninga) but if they’d been able to snag Willie Mason that would’ve been a minor concern. The pack is strong and even if Greg Bird stays at five-eighth it is mobile. Up front Ben Ross should get back to his best alongside Luke Douglas and the return of Lance Thompson from injury will be a big boost. Brett Kearney was a surprising success at fullback last year before he got hurt so he should have the inside running on a position the Sharks have yet to fill permanently since David Peachey left.
