why are we favourites?

[OMR]

The way people are talking you'd think we are home and hosed for the title either in '18 or '19! I think the Cowboys who had made the GF will be strengthened by the return of Thurston and Scott. The Storm have not lost much by losing Cronk, and Parramatta and Penrith ( plus Maloney minus Moylan) still have same squad and. Cronulla swapped Maloney for Moylan.
Whilst gaining the services of Cronk and Tedesco is a great acquisition, we have lost plenty of first grade experience (SKD, Guerra, Watson, Pearce, Evans) , and we are not as clear cut above the rest of the comp as some may have us believe. Higher than realistic expectations can place undue pressure on the team, and we have enough of the spotlight on us at the moment and do not need any more.

[mattyh]

were as good a chance as anyone else, we have weaknesses no doubt - cronulla - ageing pack , no heighington / maloney this year, moylan is an unknown this year from all accounts a pisshead, storm - hunger ? cronk is a huge , huge loss so is tohu harris & mclean - dont underestimate that loss, penrith - all promise - not delivered much yet, potential dark horse, cowboys - are thurston / scott the same players , can jt , morgan maintain the rage - still a fairly average backline outside of the halves imo

[milanja]

Gives other fans more of a laugh at us when we try to buy premierships and then fail.

[Johnny Tobin]

I am concerned about our props and three-quarters. Not to mention our pathological inability to win a prelim final. We shouldn’t be favourites.

[ism22]

Gives other fans more of a laugh at us when we try to buy premierships and then fail.

Every team’s trying to buy a premiership and 15 fail each year. If one could simply buy a premiership then they would do that.

It’s such a myth that we buy premierships IMO. Our last premiership involved signing SBW, Maloney, Jennings, Moa and LOD as pretty much our only signings. It then came down to sheer luck that a wad of players found their form (including old hand Mini and a young RTS). Not only that, the refs tried to hand Manly the GF, and couldn’t because of 2 tries that came out of absolutely nowhere (freakish, uncontestable tries that upstairs couldn’t deny). In the NRL’s mind, a DCE-led Manly had won the premiership with 15 to go and they were hard pressed to see us winning. That wasn’t a bought premiership... basically all the stars aligned at the right time for us.

[The Axe]

With the exception of Connor Watson, I’m pleased with our player losses. Our gains are impressive. Possibly one to come?

i think our centres will be better this year but little depth. Didn’t Brian smith state it takes 40 games to make you a first grader?

[TheLoneRooster]

Agree with OMR, the Roosters should not be favourites despite the signing of Tedesco and Cronk. There are glaring weaknesses elsewhere in the team (see Tobin's post). I'm also of the opinion that the coach may play his part in stuffings things up again a la the prelim. Realise that's a bit harsh, but year after year under Robbo I see the team do things that they shouldn't.

[Bondicigar]

Its the cronk factor no doubt. What he brings to the chooks will deliver us a title. Im putting the house on us

[zac]

It's always a bit of a joke framing a market this far out, but we're looking better than most.
And remember we might be favourites, but we're not odds-on favourites, which is the same as saying that the bookies think we probably won't win the comp.

[kakaruk]

Have a look at the squad,that's why we are favorites.especially if we get young angus early but i doubt that.Its up to robinson now.Forget that trust in trent bullshit the bloke had a shocker the year before last, but there were a few things that contributed to that so i gave him the benefit of the doubt there.Last years finals series was a monumental coaching f**k up involving some of the worst team selections and game plans ive seen for many a moon,there was no team motivation in that prelim, they turned up wearing the red white and blue but thats about it,They got hammered by a team that was decimated by injuries but had the will to win and all that boys and girls is a coaching thing.So i reckon the real pressure to achieve next year is on the coach.

[ism22]

It's always a bit of a joke framing a market this far out, but we're looking better than most.
And remember we might be favourites, but we're not odds-on favourites, which is the same as saying that the bookies think we probably won't win the comp.

Agreed. Cronk goes down holding his shoulder during game 1, Teddy rolls his ankle and Cords comes off clutching his leg... who are the favourites now? Could happen to any team.

[HEGtheROOSTER]

Yep, Cowboys Grand Final team + Thurston, + Scott, + McLean = favourites in my book....

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I guess someone has to be....and the bookies always have us a few points shorter than we should be.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

Yep, Cowboys Grand Final team + Thurston, + Scott, + McLean = favourites in my book....

Agreed Cows probably should be the favorites, but with our acquisitions I would be very surprised/disappointed if we don't win at least 1 comp over the next 2 years.... 2 would be great but the NRL won't let that happen

[Guest]

Why should cowboys be favourites? had it not been for the Dragons shitting themselves in the last game of the season, the cowboys wouldn't have even made the finals. Scott is another year older, coming back from a bad injury, so too is thurston; and while he may be the best player of this generation, it's going to have an impact on his game.

The storm have lost their general and will no doubt have a premiership hangover.

The eels could be the dark horse but will be too inconsistent in my opinion.

We absolutely should be favourites. We finished second, were one game away from the GF and have only improved our squad.