Well it's that time of year again, when most rugby league experts are asked their predictions for the upcoming season. Of course this is a waste of time, and mainly used for a space filler in most print media, but with the first round of trial games only a week and a half away, we here at NRL News thought we would contribute our thoughts.

So here we go, with our predictions, preminitions and crystal balling for "one of the most anticptaed seasons in rugby league history!"

Top Four Finish:-(in no particular order)

Melbourne Storm, Brisbane Broncos, Manly Sea-Eagles and Parramatta Eels.

Top Eight Finish:-

Melbourne, Manly, Brisbane, Parramatta, North QLD, New Zealand, South Sydney and Sydney Roosters

Top Eight Darkhorses:-

Gold Coast Titans and Cronulla Sharks

Wooden Spoon Contenders:-

Canberra Raiders and Wests Tigers

Best Signing of 2007:-

Peter Wallace (Brisbane Broncos)

Coach of the Year:-

Ivan Cleary (New Zealand Warriors)

Premiers:-

Brisbane Broncos or Manly Sea-Eagles

We will check back in eight months time, to see how accurate these predictions were.

We ran the same article at the same time last year, and we surprisingly did quite well.

* We correctly tipped 3 of the Top 4 (Melbourne, Manly and North QLD), with Canterbury finishing in sixth

* We correctly predicted 7 of the 8 finalists, with our smokies Newcastle finishing in 15th thanks to the retirement of Andrew Johns

* We correctly tipped Souths as a Top 8 darkhorse, with the Titans finishing twelfth, but Penrith finishing last

* Jamie Lyon and Ivan Cleary finishing prominently in the best signing and best coach awards

What are your thoughts - we would love to hear them.

Cheers,

StephenP

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Comment by james o

February 10th 2008 17:47

Thank's your insite to the 2008 season I agree on most of what you have have said. As for Herble Robbie u r a fuck head and stevie p you r the biggest goose on the face of the planet 4 your try hard insult. The pair of you should get at life. That is all.

Comment by frankybein

February 15th 2008 10:38

I think every1 will get a huge shock with the gold coast titans this year.

no one has really given them a chance in there 2nd season. with the bookies giving them 2nd to longest odds.. I think the clever punters stand to make some serious cash. paying $4 to make the 8 is serious good news as i was backing them to make the top 4 before the odds were released.

anyway i put $50,000 on them at $4 so come on you titans!!

Comment by StephenP

February 15th 2008 11:19

Hey there frankiebein,

Are you serious - you actually bet $50k?

I think they are a good chance of making the top 8, as long as they rectify their away from home percentage. They will be a tough force at the new Skilled Park, and have the potential to make the top 4, but I think that in a tight race to the semi's, they mat just miss out.

Still, that won't stop me from attending all their home games!

Good luck with your bet!

Cheers,

StephenP

Comment by Anonymous

March 1st 2008 11:02

I think the predictions are reasonable, except the broncos will not make the top 4, nor the top 8. Bennett will probably end up going halfway through the season. If lockyer gets injured - they are fucked.

Also I think the raiders will make the 8, they are no where near a wooden spoon team anyone who says that doesn't have a clue about good rugby league players. Sure they might not have big names but its a damn good team. I dont think other teams would pay $1 million for their players if they weren't.

The Gold coast won't make the 8, good luck with your bet though mate. The rabbits wont make the 8 and the bulldogs will run in the bottom 4.

Cheers.

Comment by clarky

March 3rd 2008 12:56

u guys need to wake up .....it is year of the dragons...

C'MON YOU DRAGONS

Comment by Bob Woods

March 6th 2008 10:39

Any team that loses key players during the season or in the aftermath always have difficulty rebuilding and that has certainly been the case with the knights, but hopefully Brian Smith can get the fans onside with his new look hopefuls and go okay this year and look to bigger and better things for '09. Teams like Manly, St. George, Parramatta (with Joey's help)look strong this year I think but bring it on for "08. Good luck to all teams I say. Bob.Your text goes hereYour text goes here

Comment by NZTiger

March 11th 2008 22:44

Tigers contender for Wooden Spoon? Pffft! I doubt it buddy - sure, the trials haven't gone well, but it's been like that 3 years now - they always turn up and play when the proper season starts - unluckily faced with injuries last year (most notably Robbie Farah) that killed their chances of a Top 8 finish...they'll rectify that this year and get back to their exciting 2005 form. Reduced interchanges are going to help the likes of Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah to carve up!!

GO YOU MIGHTY TIGERS!

Great site too, btw!

Comment by StephenP

March 11th 2008 22:54

Hey there NZTiger,

Thanks for the compliments - I would love to spend more time on this site and restructure it, but I am afraid that there is just not enough hours in the day mate!!

Given how close the NRL is now, basically any team can make the 8, which makes predictions for the wooden spoon that much more difficult. I don't think the Tigers are that bad a team, but in terms of depth in the halves , and indeed depth overall, I beleive that they may struggle this season. I would love to have them prove me wrong though, because the Tigers are one of the exciting, up and coming sides that will prosper in future seasons.

Thanks for the comments,

StephenP

Comment by NZTiger

March 12th 2008 00:51

I kiiinda agree with you there - Hopefully Matthew Head (and Benji for that matter) can stay fit and really nail the halves positions for the Tigers this year. The thought of those two commanding the ship really makes my mouth water. I'll be very interested to see how Moltzen goes off the bench on Sunday too - another possible exciting halves prospect.

God I can't wait for the season to start! It's gonna be HUGE!

[ Previous - NRL Club Analysis for Season '08 - Brisbane Broncos ]

[ Next - Bennett era comes to an end ]

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