Predictions from now.......

[milanja]

2002 rematch and result.

[Half time]

I am not buying the Dogs love at all. The Morris brothers are injury prone, their forward pack as a collective are big but too immobile, I don't like them on a hot steamy October evening, that said they will be watching the game from Bali or Coffs. Last year was there best chance when they arsed there way into the Grand Final but got pumped. We are a 20 point better side than they are. Brisbane and the Cowboys are our main danger.

I agree with everything you said. Dogs are over-rated by many in my view.

[rooster69]

Broncs/Cowboys will be gifted the Comp this year , pressures Nth of the Border will see another nicely manufactured result to fit .......

[redwhiteblue]

Broncs/Cowboys will be gifted the Comp this year , pressures Nth of the Border will see another nicely manufactured result to fit .......

My guess from February was the Cowboys next in line for the welfare trophy and there has been nothing to change my mind since. I knew from August last year that Souths were going to win and I said as much on here before. I'm happy for people to dig up my post and mock me later in the year if I'm wrong

[Johnny Tobin]

I am not buying the Dogs love at all. The Morris brothers are injury prone, their forward pack as a collective are big but too immobile, I don't like them on a hot steamy October evening, that said they will be watching the game from Bali or Coffs. Last year was there best chance when they arsed there way into the Grand Final but got pumped. We are a 20 point better side than they are. Brisbane and the Cowboys are our main danger.

They were at full strength and hopeless against Brisbane with all to play for. I rated them before that game. Now I don't.

I only see the cows as a threat.

If we are fit we will win the thing. Even with the poor completions we are a lot better than last season. We are even getting some penalties now.

[rwbfl]

The dogs always worry me

Last season they were complete shite for the last three months, and then went bang come finals time and made the GF.

I sense a similar trend this season

[Johnny Tobin]

The dogs always worry me

Last season they were complete shite for the last three months, and then went bang come finals time and made the GF.

I sense a similar trend this season

Des can always get them up for one game but their performance when they finally got there was horrendous.

[Guest]

They were at full strength and hopeless against Brisbane with all to play for. I rated them before that game. Now I don't.

I only see the cows as a threat.

If we are fit we will win the thing. Even with the poor completions we are a lot better than last season. We are even getting some penalties now.

If we do meet the Cowboys in the GF it is hard to imagine Thurston not handing Pearce a new arsehole.

[Tommy Smith]

True.

But I think our forwards and unstoppable back 5 will tear them a new arsehole first.

Defence wins Premierships. The Cowboys are a below average defensive side where as we're showing 2013 levels of desire in that aspect.

No side worries me tbh. Only ourselves. Of cou5rde snytanytanything can happen and who knows having said that we'll probably get rolled again by Penrith.

[mightyrooster]

From the very start of the year I said it's the Bronco's 'turn'.Nothing has happened since then to change my mind. They've been getting all the 50/50' calls. Their treatment from the refs has been very 2014 Souffs like. A QLD team hasn't won it for nearly 10 years. And then there's supercoach's fairtytale return and all that rubbish.....

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I'll say that if...and its a big if...we continue to get a fair cop from the refs...then we will be too good for the rest this year.

Cowboys likely big dance partner but my smoky is still the Dragons of the remainder.

[Original Stumpy]

Good thread as always Trew.
For me Blake Ferguson will be our single most influential player in winning the comp this year. I honestly believe that if he stays fit, we win.
The Titans game was a real worry. I was at the game and it was a bast&$d of a game but we jagged the 2 points. Ferguson steps up a notch and we carve up Penrith. No coincidence.
I think our pigs will always play at about 75-85% quality. Having Fergo doing crazy stuff out wide is an asset no other team has got.
I honestly think that the Cowboys will choke again. And if Thurston goes under they're gone. I don't like the prospects of any team winning a GF that relies so much on one player. You can get by week by week especially against the nuffies, but the Big Dance is something completely different.
Souths? --> all but gooorn
Dragons ---> No Rd 12 Premiers ever end up winning the comp - they won't make the 8
Brisbane - good top 4 team but missing crucial talent in some areas
Dogs - our biggest threat but they have gaps in quality
Warriors - more of the same from previous years .. they'll get the rattles again

We shouldn't lose another game this year. Then we'll win the comp. Say cheers to Jimmy and get the Hayne Plane ready to fly in 2016 *wink*

[Johnny Tobin]

If we do meet the Cowboys in the GF it is hard to imagine Thurston not handing Pearce a new arsehole.

I am not so sure. He certainly hasn't handed him one in clubland yet.

And they have another sixteen players to contend with - all of them better than their NQ counterparts as far as I am concerned (and that includes the props).

[Johnny Tobin]

Good thread as always Trew.
For me Blake Ferguson will be our single most influential player in winning the comp this year. I honestly believe that if he stays fit, we win.
The Titans game was a real worry. I was at the game and it was a bast&$d of a game but we jagged the 2 points. Ferguson steps up a notch and we carve up Penrith. No coincidence.
I think our pigs will always play at about 75-85% quality. Having Fergo doing crazy stuff out wide is an asset no other team has got.
I honestly think that the Cowboys will choke again. And if Thurston goes under they're gone. I don't like the prospects of any team winning a GF that relies so much on one player. You can get by week by week especially against the nuffies, but the Big Dance is something completely different.
Souths? --> all but gooorn
Dragons ---> No Rd 12 Premiers ever end up winning the comp - they won't make the 8
Brisbane - good top 4 team but missing crucial talent in some areas
Dogs - our biggest threat but they have gaps in quality
Warriors - more of the same from previous years .. they'll get the rattles again

We shouldn't lose another game this year. Then we'll win the comp. Say cheers to Jimmy and get the Hayne Plane ready to fly in 2016 *wink*

We always play to the level of the opposition. Been like that for years.

But none of those duds will be around in September - let alone October.

We will be.

[Guest]

I am not so sure. He certainly hasn't handed him one in clubland yet.

And they have another sixteen players to contend with - all of them better than their NQ counterparts as far as I am concerned (and that includes the props).

I hope you're right but I imagine Thurston has quite the psychological hold over Pearce at the moment. I agree we are the better team but Thurston is genuinely one of the only players in the NRL that can have such a decisive effect on the outcome of a game.