The Top 8 has been settled and the finals are around the corner. It’s time to look back at our season preview, and see which teams have exceeded expectations, and which have caused some heartache for their fans.
The season preview can be found here: NRL 2021 Season Preview — Parallel Partners Books
Canterbury
16th. Prediction: 10th
I honestly though that the Bulldogs would be so much better this year. Cotric, Flanagan, Hetherington. They have gone backwards in a big way, but a big signing spree for 2022 and a 38-0 win over the hapless Wests Tigers in the final round offers some hope.
North Queensland
15th. Prediction: 14th
No surprises here. The Cows simply didn’t improve on their roster, and the retirement of Michael Morgan didn’t help, Hamiso Tabui-Fidow still looks like a future star,
Brisbane
14th. Prediction: 12th
I predicted new coach Kevin Walters would get the best out of Anthony Milford. I didn’t think it would take his signing with a new club to make that happen in the last month of the season. Adam Reynolds and Kurt Capewell could make the Broncos a contender in 2022.
Wests Tigers
13th. Prediction: 9th
Well, I was right about Daine Laurie, but wrong about just about everything else. The Tigers look like going down the familiar path of sacking their coach instead of addressing their roster management issues. They have been 10 years without a finals appearance - if they make it in the next five with their current management structure I’ll be amazed.
NZ Warriors
12th. Prediction: 16th
For most of the season, the Warriors fought like the third monkey on the ramp of Noah’s Ark. They couldn’t quite get there, but the development of Reece Walsh has been a success story of the year.
St George-Illawarra
11th. Prediction: 15th
So I guess they over-achieved. Still, before BBQ-Gate they were looking at a top eight finish. The Dragons have a great number of young players coming through, but I’m starting to think the Dragons may do better with a coach who understands the club culture. Jason Ryles and Dean Young could be in the mix. I’m still stunned they didn’t get Craig Fitzgibbon at the end of 2020.
Canberra
10th. Prediction: 3rd
I did say the Raiders would regret letting Aiden Sezer go after the 2019 Grand Final, and here we are. Canberra are looking for a new halfback after George Williams quit on the team midway through the season. The Raiders had other issues during the year, most notably fading in the second half of matches. They’ll be back in the finals sooner rather than later.
Cronulla
9th. Prediction: 13th
I figured the older Sharks players would hamper their chances of making the finals, but Cronulla unearthed some good young players during the year. Will Kennedy had a breakout year at fullback. New coach Craig Fitzgibbon should bring the Sharks close to the top eight in 2022, especially with the signings of Nicho Hynes and Cameron McInnes.
Gold Coast
8th. Prediction: 8th
I love it when I get one right! The Titans did just enough to sneak into the top 8. That is exactly where they should be, and I can’t really see them rising any further this year or next.
Newcastle
7th Prediction: 11th
The Knights looked dead and buried before Kalyn Ponga, Bradman Best and Mitchell Pearce returned from injury in the final weeks of the regular season. Daniel Saifiti has stepped up, and Kurt Mann continues to be one of the most under rated players in the league, They may even win at least one game in the finals.
Parramatta
6th. Prediction: 6th
Parramatta are exactly where I expected them to be. Fantastic on their day, but vulnerable against the top teams. The Reed Mahoney injury didn’t help. I’m a big Clint Gutherson fan. Isaiah Papali’i is just about the buy of the season. The halves still have a big question mark.
Sydney Roosters
5th. Prediction: 5th
Again, exactly what I thought, but in no way did I think the Roosters had the resilience to overcome injury forced retirements to Boyd Corner, Brett Morris and Jake Friend. The loss of Luke Keary also hasn’t helped. Sam Walker has been a breakout superstar, and under the circumstances should be named as Rookie of the Yearl The Roosters aren’t going away in a hurry.
Manly
4th. Prediction: 7th
0-4 after four rounds, and then Tom Trbojevic returned, His stats are incredible, but there’s also been the development of Schuster and Olakau’atu, and the improvement of Parker and Harper. Saab and Garrick have been amazing. They could still win this…
Souths
3rd. Prediction: 1st
I predicted Benji Marshall would be an x factor for the Bunnies, and as they go into the finals without Latrell Mitchell, his experience could be even more important. Alex Johnston has scored 27 tries this year already. No-one has topped 30 tries since Ray Preston for Newtown in 1954. The further the Rabbitohs go, the more likely Johnston gets 30 tries,
Penrith
2nd. Prediction: 4th
It’s not that I thought Penrith would go backwards. It’s just that losing a Grand Final is a setback that the teams just below can exploit. It didn’t happen for the Panthers, and they are in this competition up to their necks. Nathan Cleary and Jerome Luai look better for the post-Origin break.
Melbourne
1st. Prediction: 2nd
Ah, the premiers. What else can one say? Reimis Smith has been the breakout star I thought he would be, simply because of Craig Bellamy. Watch out for Nick Meaney in 2022. The Storm now have too many stars to fit into their weekly 17. How Bellamy handles Nicho Hynes, Brandon Smith, Harry Grant and Ryan Papenhuyzen in the finals will go along way to determine if the Storm can go back to back.
So, seven out of eight in the finals. I tipped Canberra, but Newcastle got there instead. Not a bad effort.
Enjoy the finals!