PuntPal 2013 Season Preview (Trial Edition)

7/29/2019 PuntPal 2013 Season Preview (Trial Edition)

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PUNTPAL CRYSTAL BALL - 2

TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEW - 4


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The Crystal Ball 2013

Top 8

I know a lot of people will think that I am crazy tipping the Dragons to make the 8, but

I think they have an underrated squad and that the retirement of Ben Hornby and

Dean Young will prove to be a blessing in disguise.


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The obvious surprises here are Manly and Souths, who many people are picking to

make the top 4. I think Souths are overrated and Manly are extremely vulnerable due

to their aging squad and some reoccuring injury concerns.

New South Wales to win 2-1 and James Tamou to get player of the series. The biggest

risk is that the Blues selectors pick the wrong squad (again!).


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TEAM-BY-TEAMCTRL-CLICK TO GO THROUGH TO TEAM PREVIEW

Broncos

Bulldogs

Raiders

Sharks

Titans

Manly

Storm

Knights

Cowboys

Eels

Panthers

Souths

Dragons

Roosters

Warriors

Wests


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Brisbane Broncos

Additions - Scott Prince (Titans), David Stagg (Bulldogs)

Losses - Gerard Beale (Dragons), Petero Civoniceva (retired),

Ben Te'o (Rabbitohs), Dane Gagai (released, mid-season),

Mitchell Frei (Knights)

2013 Coach Anthony Griffin

The Broncos are known for regaining players that they have

let go in the past. True to form, in 2013 the Broncos welcome

back Scott Prince and David Stagg. Both of these former

Origin representatives have been recruited to the Broncos for

their experience. Following Lockyers retirement in 2011 the

Broncos looked dangerous at the start of last season, but

they then struggled towards the end of 2012, barely limping

into the finals. I think a lack of leadership and an inability to

cope with Origin was the cause of their surprise slump.

Prince seems a strange signing. After a few seasons below par

I thought that instead of Prince (aged 32), the Broncos should

be looking to Ben Hunt who seemed to finally play some

good footy in 2012. But on my ratings, Prince actually had a

decent year in 2012 and I think he could offer the Broncos

exact what they need in 2013.

I think Prince struggled at the Titans in recent years due to a

lack of stability in the halves and some poor outside backs.

Prince has all the skills the Broncos are missing and he could

be the short-term answer to the Broncos halves conundrum.

The other acquisition, David Stagg, is definitely an underrated

player and I am surprised he was let go by the Bulldogs. He is

not the most dynamic runner of the ball, but his support play

and defense is excellent. He will also become valuable overthe Origin period, with the Broncos missing Thaiday, Parker,

Hannant.

Losing Petero will not be a significant loss, as the legend of

the game started to give away too many penalties and miss

tackles. Josh McGuire has size, fitness and mobility - he will

step up just fine and he could break into Origin this year.

PuntPals Best XVII

1. Josh Hoffman2. Jharal Yow Yeh3. Justin Hodges4. Jack Reed5. Dale Copley *Maranata6. Corey Norman7. Peter Wallace8. Ben Hannant9. Andrew McCullough10. Josh McGuire11. Alex Glenn12. Sam Thaiday13. Corey Parker14. Matt Gillett15. Scott Prince16. David Stagg17. Mitchell Dodd


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However, the loss of Teo and Beale are significant. Beale was very good finisher on the wing

and he made a pretty handy backup fullback / centre . Teo was one of the best forwards in the

game towards the end of 2012 and his running game will be sorely missed.

The Broncos biggest risk is that Origin, again, disrupts their season and causes injuries. The

Origin series can really hurt the teams that have four or more representatives involved.

I backed the Broncos to win the competition in 2012 at odds of 14-1 (pre-season). By the half-

way mark I was feeling pretty chuffed as the Broncos and Storm looked on the way to the GF.

But there is no denying that the Broncos absolutely crumbled towards the end of the season

and their bundling out of the finals was disappointing to say the least!

The fundamentals of a great footy side are there in 2013. They are a young team that will only

be getting better, with the likes of McGuire, McCulloch, Glenn and Hoffman all set for big

years. I also think players like Ben Hunt, Mitchell Dodds and Brendon Gibb started to prove

their worth towards the end of the season.

The return of Yow Yeh should also not be overlooked, as he is one of the best finishers in the

game. His enthusiasm and energy will boost the Broncos, but Yow Yeh is still injured following

his horrific broken leg and now Dale Copley is out for the season, so the Broncos may be a

little thin out wide for the start of the season.

The Broncos forward pack looks very strong again, with guys like Hannant, Glenn, Thaiday and

Parker bringing oodles of experience to the park.

The key concerns for me are their halves and surprisingly, their coach. I initially thought that

Griffin was safe in his job, but with Prince slotting in, there are reports of unrest against thecoach. If Griffin cannot settle on the right halves pairing then this will plague their season and

ruin the Broncos chances. Failure to pick the right halves pairing could also be the end of what

was looking like a very promising career for Griffin. He has a top notch forward pack and one

of the classiest sets of outside backs in the competition. But that is all for nothing if the key

play-makers that he selects dont get the job done on a consistent basis.

Corey Norman, Peter Wallace, Scott Prince and Ben Hunt can all offer something, Griffin just

has to pick the right combination and I think the Broncos will again be a heavyweight

competitor in 2013.

PUNTPAL PREDICTED FINISH 4th

BEST PLAYER(S) Ben Hannant / Justin Hodges

PLAYERS TO WATCH Ben Hunt

KEY STRENGTHS Great forward pack and solid defense

KEY WEAKNESSES Their halves and the aftermath of the Origin period.


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Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

Additions - Krisnan Inu (Warriors, mid-season), Tony

Williams (Sea Eagles), Sam Perrett (Roosters, mid-

season), Drury Low (Raiders, mid-season), Mitch Brown

(Tigers, mid-season)

Losses - Sione Kite (Widness, mid-season), Michael Lett

(Illawarra Cutters, mid-season), Jonathan Wright

(Sharks), Jake Foster (Raiders), Luke MacDougall

(retired), Bryson Goodwin (Souths), David Stagg

(Broncos), James Gavet (Tigers)

2013 Coach Des Hasler

The Bulldogs have not lost anyone of significance from

2012 and the BIG signing for the Bulldogs in 2013 is

obviously Tony Williams. Although T-Rex missed a lot

of footy through suspension and injury in 2012, he is

one of the most devastating ball runners in the game.

If he runs off the shoulder of Kasiano and Pritchard, he

will score a ton of tries in 2013. He will replace Stagg,

and in the process add a whole new dimension to their

forward pack.

Des Hassler has cemented himself as one of the elite

coaches of the modern era. His ability to take over at a

new club (after being at Manly for decades) and take

the team to the minor premiership and the grand final

was extraordinary. The Bulldogs will also have a lot of

cohesion in 2013 and will hit the ground running.

But with a whole off-season of video analysis, rival

coaches may be better prepared in 2013. Hassler was

able to blindside the competition in 2012 by

employing a unique strategy of making full use of his

forwards ball skills. The Bulldogs might find it a little

trickier to make such inroads down the middle of the

ruck this year with the defensive structures of other

teams being better prepared to combat this tactic.

PuntPals Best XVII

1. Ben Barba2. Steve Turner3. Krisnan Inu4. Josh Morris5. Sam Perrett6. Josh Reynolds7. Kris Keating8. James Graham9. Michael Ennis10. Aiden Tolman11. Frank Pritchard12. Tony Williams13. Greg Eastwood14. Sam Kasiano15.Josh Jackson16. Dene Halatau17. Dale Finucane


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The Bulldogs have a lot of depth, a whole host of superstars and some rapidly improving young

players (such as Josh Jackson). They have a very good goal-kicker in Steve Turner and a great

back up kicker in Krisnan Inu.

But the surprise packet in 2012 was Josh Reynolds, who played fantastic footy once he

cemented himself as the starting five-eighth for the team. Kris Keating also had the best

seasons of his career and he will hold onto his starting spot if he can maintain that form. If the

Doggies are going to go one step better in 2013 they need their halves playing at the top of

their game. Keating is a good player but I do have some doubts as to whether he can pick up

with the same form in 2013.

Even the niggling Michael Ennis enjoyed a renaissance in form in 2013 and the amazing form of

Ben Barba needs no introduction. But once again, I think Ennis and Barba could both be

targeted in 2013. Ennis can be thrown off his game when he is niggled and for a captain he can

show poor discipline.

Barba is also vulnerable in my opinion and it amazes me teams havent made more of an

attempt to rough him up and put pressure on him when taking high balls. In the past it has

been a weakness and I am amazed teams dont bomb him every single kick they can. Barba

took a few terrific bombs early in the 2012 season and it seemed opposing teams gave up on

the tactic prematurely. You have to target a players weakness and the diminutive fullback is

certainly easy to out-jump under a well-placed bomb.

I think Aiden Tolman and James Graham are probably the two most important players for the

Doggies. The metres these guys make are invaluable and Tolman in particular has not beengiven enough credit for his amazing 2012 form.

A young player to watch out for is Drury Low, who has been let go by the Raiders after failing to

get a run in the first grade team. Tim Lafai has always impressed me too, so I think the Bulldogs

have plenty of competition for spots out wide.

There is no reason why the Doggies cannot win the competition in 2013 and I would be

surprised if they wont make the top 4.

But I do think the Doggies will find it hard to replicate their form from 2012 and will find the

going a little tougher in 2013.

PUNTPAL PREDICTED FINISH 3rd

BEST PLAYER(S) Ben Barba / James Graham

PLAYER TO WATCH Josh Jackson

KEY STRENGTHS Well coached, excellent defence.

KEY WEAKNESSES Small fullback and wingers could be exposed by high kicking game.


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Canberra Raiders

Additions - Sandor Earl (Panthers, mid-season), Joel

Edwards (Knights), Jake Foster (Bulldogs)

Losses - Michael Chee Kam (Sea Eagles), Drury Low

(Bulldogs, mid-season), Mark Ioane (Titans), TravisWaddell (released), Trevor Thurling (released),

Bronson Harrison (Dragons)

2013 Coach David Furner

The Raiders are probably the team that looks to

have undergone the least change over the off-

season. They have released the struggling Travis

Waddell and the injury-prone Trevor Thurling and

Bronson Harrison. In their place, they have

acquired the rugged Joel Edwards from the Knights

and unheralded Jake Foster from the Bulldogs.

So there is not really much to discuss in terms of

changes to their squad.

But I think the Raiders will only improve in 2013

with the return of some experienced players and

the development of some of their young stars.

Players like Josh McCrone, Reece Robinson, Sam

Williams, Josh Papalli and Sandor Earl exploded

onto the scene in 2012.

Over the second half of the 2012 season, the

Raiders were one of the form teams in the

competition. They won a long string of games and

overcame some serious injuries to key players.

It seems to have been forgotten by the pundits

that Brett White and Terry Campese missed the

majority of the 2012 season as a result of knee

reconstructions. Their big game experience is

something the Raiders clearly missed in the finals

last year, when they were bundled out by Souths in

very poor fashion.

PuntPals Best XVII

1. Josh Dugan2.

Reece Robinson

3. Jarrod Croker4. Blake Ferguson5. Sandor Earl6. Josh McCrone7. Sam Williams8. Brett White9. Matthew McIllwrick10. David Shillington11. Josh Papalli12. Shaun Fensom13. Terry Campese14.Joel Thompson15.Joel Edwards16. Tom Learoyd-Lars17. Dane Tilse


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If the Raiders impressive youth development program was ever going to pay dividends,

2013 is the year. No more rebuilding for this team, its all about delivery this year for

David Furners boys!

Out wide, they have superstars like Josh Dugan and Jarrod Croker that have been getting

better and better every season. A lot of people are tipping these two to get a run for the

Blues in 2013. Then there are the surprise packets, such as Reece Robison and Sandow

Earl. After being discarded by other clubs, these two excitement machines have

blossomed in the nations capital. Blake Ferguson is probably one of the most dynamic

outside backs in the game and I would be amazed if he doesnt play Origin this year.

But it gets even better for Raiders fans. They have some excellent depth to rely on. Jack

Wighton comes back from injury and he looked awesome in his first season, before a

freak trampoline accident ruined his season. Edrick Lee is also waiting in the wings to be

given another chance at the big league, so the competition for spots out wide is intense!

In terms of their forwards, Shillington, White, Papalli, Fensom, Thompson are a very solid

starting pack and even then, the Raiders have Tilse and Learoyd-Lars to come onto the

field at the 20 minute mark. The Raiders ability to make more metres than their

opponents was the back bone of their success in the latter half of 2012.

The one position that the Raiders have had trouble with since Simon Woolford retired

many years ago is the dummy-half position. In recent years they have tried Alan Tongue,

Glen Butriss, Travis Waddell and Shaun Berrigan. However none of these guys were able

to make the position their own.

In 2013, I think this will change and the Raiders will have a long-term dummy-half of a

very high standard Matt McIllwrick. Although only getting to play 4 NRL games in 2012,

there were some very promising signs for this New Zealand junior representative. From

all reports, he has been training the house down in the pre-season and is set to get first

crack at the number 9 jersey. McIllwrick is fast, strong and has a good footy brain. He

could well be the missing piece in the Raiders puzzle. The sky is the limit for this team

and I believe the resurgence of the Raiders could be the story of 2013.

PUNTPAL PREDICTED FINISH 5th

BEST PLAYER(S) Josh Dugan / David Shillington

PLAYER TO WATCH Matt McIllwrick

KEY STRENGTHS Depth and youth

KEY WEAKNESSES Inconsistency, slow starters.


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Cronulla Sharks

Additions - Michael Gordon (Panthers), Luke Lewis

(Panthers), Jonathan Wright (Bulldogs), Beau Ryan

(Tigers), Chris Heighington (Tigers)

Losses - Tyson Frizell (Dragons), Colin Best (retirement),

John Williams (retirement), Jeremy Smith (Knights), Josh

Cordoba (retired)

2013 Coach Shane Flanagan

The Sharks were, in the end, one of the more

unfortunate teams in 2012. Overshadowed by the rise

of Souths and the Doggies, many people forget just

how awesome the Sharks were for the first 20 rounds

of the 2012 season. Even in round 25, with 8 minutesleft in the match, they were beating the eventual

Premiers (Storm) in Melbourne by 10 points. Two quick

tries to the Storm led to a heartbreaking defeat that

the Sharks never really recovered from.

I think the way they were bundled out by the Raiders in

the finals was an unfair end to what was an impressive

year for the Sharks. The bookies have read too much

into the end of their season and I think the Sharks willsurprise (I mean really surprise!) in 2013.

Out of the all the teams that were in the top 8 last year,

they have recruited the most talent over the off-season

so I am surprised more people arent tipping them for

the Premiership.

The Sharks forward dominated their opponents last

year and its even better in 2013. It is chock-full of

experience and is hard as nails!

They have plenty of depth and two of the best players

in the competition (Carney and Gallen). I think so many

players have come to Cronulla recently because they

do appear to be on the cusp of a premiership.

Their bench looks incredibly strong and this is always a

sign of a top class footy team.

PuntPals Best XVII

1. Michael Gordon2.

Matthew Wright

3. Beau Ryan4. Ben Pomeroy5. Jonathon Wright6. Todd Carney7. Jeff Robson8. Bryce Gibbs9. Isaac De Gois10. Ben Ross11. Chris Heighnington12. Paul Gallen13. Luke Lewis14. Wade Graham15.Jason Bukuya16.Andrew Fifita17. Chad Townsend


12/13

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Watching the form of Luke Lewis will be interesting. After undergoing serious surgery to

remove a cancer from his neck and moving to a new club, it may take him a while to get settled.

But once settled he will form an awesome back row combination with Gallen and Heighington.

All of these guys are good ball players and lethal on the fringe of the ruck.

Jason Bukuya had a break out seasons and I am expecting him to pick up where he left off last

season. Ben Ross and Bryce Gibbs are probably the most underrated front row combination in

the NRL. Wade Graham is also the perfect player to come off the bench. He is so brutal in

defence and really improved his running game in 2012. They have a very well-rounded forward

pack that will match it with any team in the NRL.

Their backline looks pretty sleek too, though it may take a while for the new combinations to

form. Beau Ryan and Michael Gordon are great acquisitions that will add a lot of flair to a

backline that in recent years has struggled to capitalise on the field position they had been

given.

Todd Carney is likely to form an awesome combination with Michael Gordon and I expect these

two to create plenty of tries together. Gordon is a sensational talent and he will be one of the

most important pick-ups of the 2013 season.

The Sharks wingers are an unheralded bunch, but they are all pretty solid and with so much

depth, competition for spots will be fierce. Matthew Wright and Jonathon Wright are likely to

get first crack in the starting team, but Stewart Mills, Nathan Stapleton, Nathan Gardener and

Issac Gordon are all very capable wingers in their own right.

If Carney and Gallen stay relatively fit, then these guys have a very good chance of improving ontheir 2012 performance and making the Grand Final in 2013.

The Sharks are a well-coached side that will come very close to winning their long suffering fans

their first premiership since entering the competition 45 long years ago!

I know people may think that teams like the Bulldogs and Storm have form on the board, but

each year is different and in terms of talent, the Sharks have the best roster in the 2013 NRL

Premiership. I think Gallen might get the Dally M he deserves and Michael Gordon will ignite his

injury-riddled career.

PUNTPAL PREDICTED FINISH 1st

BEST PLAYERS Paul Gallen / Todd Carney

PLAYER TO WATCH Michael Gordon

KEY STRENGTHS Best forward pack and Todd Carney.

KEY WEAKNESSES Outside backs


13/13

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