Season 2001 Preview

Well the 2001 NRL season is fast approching. Many belive that 12 of the 14 teams have a shot at the top 8. It could end up being one of the closet contested competitions in a long time there will be some blow out scorelines however it will still be hard to pick the winers of most games.

Here are my predictions for the 2001 NRL season.

1. Brisbane Broncos - They have lost a number of quaility players but they still have such names as Tallis, Webcke, Sailor, Tuqiri, Lockyer, De Vere and new signings Kelly and Prince.

MVP: Wendel Sailor and Lote Tuqiri - The 2 big wingers will be looked upon to take pressure off the forwards more so in 2001 then and previous season.

Biggest Question: Can Tallis and co cope with the new interchange rules. Bennett will do as much as possible but ultimatly it is Tallis, Webcke and the others who need to do the work during games.

2. Sydney Roosters - They played the Grand Final in 2000 but they have made some notible changes to that squad gone are David Solomona and Adrian Lam but they have gained Adrian Morley and Paul Green. They also have Fittler and Fletcher to lead the side.

MVP: Brad Fittler - The Australian captain will have to play for the 1st time at the Roosters without Adrian Lam next to him. How Fittler and Green combine will be vital to the Roosters chances

Biggest Question: Paul Green how will he fit into the side, will he combine well with Fittler and how will he handle fans and media expectations. If he does all well at Queensland #7 shirt could be his. If not then He'll soon have a Roosters 1st divison jersey.

3. St George-Illawarra Dragons - The side had a very bad year with such results as 10-70 against the Storm and 4-50 when the played the Cowboys in Townsville. The Dragons brightest moments came from Nathan Blacklock getting his 3rd consective top try scorer award and Trent Barrett winning the Dally M for player of the year and later getting selected for Australia in the World Cup.

MVP: Easily Trent Barrett as soon as Mundine left Barrett moved back to his prefered five eighth position and that came with immedate success for Barrett. The Dragons will be looking for him to show the form that got him international honours and awards galaore.

Biggest Question: Paul McGregor "Mary" returns after a year out of the game and will be looking for a good 2001. If he can fire he could well inspire the rest of the side to bounce back from a bad 2000.

4. Parramatta Eels - No real need to worry about the other sides as the Eels are going to take out the comp anyway. After coming so close in the last few years (1997 to 2000). The Eels will be looking to repete the run of the 80's when they came close from 77 to 80 then went on to win in 81, 82 and 83. The young players such as Richards, Lyon, Ryan, Hodgson and the Cayless and Hindmarsh brothers will need to perform. The Eels were problably the most active team in the player market picking up 9 players including David Solomona, Jason Taylor, Brad Drew and former Eel Michael Buettner.

MVP: Nathan Hindmarsh - Hindmarsh will thrive in the new interchange rules along with his brother they could end up forming the premier second row in the NRL both players have amazing endurance levels esspically when compared to players like Gorden Tallis and the recent RU convert Brad Thorn.

Biggest Question: Simply put can the young players over come the dreded 2nd year syndrome. If they play aswell as they did during the end of 2000. Then a premiership victory in 2001 is very possible if not problable.

5. Penrith Panthers - The Panthers will enter the 2001 season disapointed at how the 2000 season ended they had strong leads just before halftime in both games only to have the other side run away with the game in the 2nd half. Injuries stayed away from the Panthers during the hit but hit them with a vengance in the finals. By the end of the Panthers last game Gower, Carter, Geyer, Puletua and Adamson all had injuries.

MVP: Ryan Girdler - The point scoring wiz played easily his best year in 2000. He scored 13 tries and must have set up at least 20 more. He also kicked 78 goals and added 2 field goals for good measure. Inspriational captain Steve Carter, hooker Craig Gower and the classy 2nd rowers in Adamson, T.Puleuta and Sattler are also vital cogs in the Penrith machine.

Biggest Question: As always with the Panthers their season will ride on the injuries the sustain if they keep them down to a minimum esspecially on the top 4 (Carter, Girdler, Gower and Rodwell) then the Panthers may get into the clubs first Grand Final since 1991. If those 4 players spend a lot of time on the sidelines then they Panthers could miss the 8.

6. Newcastle Knights - The Knights have lost a lot of quaility players heading the list is Matt Johns, David Fairleigh and long serving Tony Butterfield even with these losses the Knights still have Andrew Johns, Matt Gidley, Danny Buderus, Bill Peden and Timana Tahu.

MVP: Andrew Johns - He is the key to the Knights side should he have a bad year with injuries or form then the Knights could finish out of the 8. If Johns has a great year the Knights could win the comp. Johns is also the sides only noted goalkicker.

Biggest Question: They biggest question surrounding the Knights is can they overcome the loss of all the players that left at the end of 99 mainly Matt Johns. Gidley will fill in at 5/8 how well he goes there will set a platform for the Knights sucess or failure in 2001.

7. The Bulldogs - They now have the speed they need in new signings Luke Patten, Nigel Vagana and Brett Howland however they did lose the best goalkicker in history in Darryl Halligan. The Dogs halves could also be a major problem although Brent Sherwin in a good player who could play either halfback or 5/8 they don't really have anyone to fill in the other spot. Braith Anasta may be asked to play 5/8 with Sherwin going to halfback but an inexpeirence halfs combination could hurt the Doggies in 2001.

MVP: Hasem El Masri - He is the key to the Bulldogs in 2001 if he plays well including his kicks at goal then the Dogs should do well but if he fails then the Dogs will find it very difficult to make the 8.

Biggest Question: Goalkicking althought El Masri kicked good while Halligan was away in 2001 He'll need to kick all year and may end up failing. If he doesn't work out there arn't really many players left who can kick and are ready for 1st grade.

8. Northern Eagles - They have recruited very well for the backs but still lack a tough forward they have enough class players in the pack with Menzies, Kosef and Muir but apart from O'Mealey the pack is the softest in the NRL. If O'Mealey has injury problems in 2001 then the side may not see Kimmorley's class.

MVP: Brett Kimmorley - He is the Australian and NSW halfback for now but if the forward pack doesn't perform then he will lose the jumpers very quickly. He will need to movitate to pack to play tougher then they did last year if he want's to stay in the representive scene.

Biggest Question: The forward pack if they play as bad as they did in 2000 then players like Kimmorley, Beckett and Walker will be useless.

9. Wests Tigers - Unlucky toward the end of 2000 with injuries and suspension ruining their year after starting the year like comp favs. The Tigers faded at the end of the year and missed the 8 despite fans and officials saying they were safe in the 8 at the halfway mark.

MVP: Luke O'Donnell - Burst onto the scene in 2000 and a suspension at the end of the year for an eblow on Dragon's half Luke Branighan ruined any hope of Luke winning the rookie of the year. May not make his rep debut in 2001 but he will be in the top 2 or 3 Second rowers in the country in the next couple of years.

Biggest Question: There are really two for the Tigers first can they stay suspension and injury free, secondly can O'Donnell continue his form. If both are yes then the Tigers could make the top 8.

10. Melbourne Storm - They have lost Kimmorley and Tony Martin and picked up Orford and Brook Martin. If they can get Orford playing well and Brook to fill Tony's shoes then they could make the top 8 again however the Storm have gone backwards when teams that finished below them last year improved.

MVP: Scott Hill - With Kimmorley gone and Lavea and Orford very inexperienced. Scott Hill will be looked at to lead the Storm attack in 2001. He was a revelation at lock in 2000 and will need to play his best if the Storm want to play in the 2001 finals series.

Biggest Question: Can the Storm overcome the loss of Kimmorley. Orford has a lot of pressure on him and will need to play well to give the Storm hope. A lot of the Storm's play was centered on Kimmorley in previous years in 2001. They need to accomidate for having 2 players that are basically rookies in the 6 and 7 jerseys.

11. Canberra Raiders - They have lost Daley, Furner and Mullins all of whom were long time Raiders. Combined with the recent losses of Stuart and Clyde the Raiders early 90 supersides have all gone. The new faces to lead the Raiders are names like McFadden, Lolesi, Tounge and new buys Schifcofske, Mapp and Hodgson.

MVP: Jason Croker - He will be looked on as the leader of the side with Daley in retirment and will need to play one of his best season to give Raiders hope along with youngers players like McFadden. Croker will hold the Raiders 2001 success in his hands.

Biggest Question: Can they play without Daley. For the past few years many Raiders fans and officials have been saying that the Super Macs will take over from Stuart and Daley when the retire well it is time for the Macs to prove if they are capable or not.

12. Cronulla Sharks - They will play without ET for the first time in 16 years and without Healey for the 1st time in 13 years. The loss of ET will be harder for the Sharks to overcome and pressure will rest on the shoulders of Mat Rogers, David Peachey and Jason Stevens to lead the side in 2001.

MVP: David Peachey - If he fires the Sharks are a hope of not effectivly finishing last as the Warriors and Cowboys will likley both finish at least 6 pts behind 12th.

Biggest Question: Can the Sharks overcome the retirement of ET. Many other sides have crashed after the retirment of long serving leaders. Parra did after Price left and Penrith after Simmions are 2 of the more recent examples.

13. New Zealand Warriors - The Warriors are up to there 4th owner in their existence hopefully this one will keep the club finacially healthy. The Warriors turmoil in the 2000 off season has hurt any hope the Warriors had of competing for a higher position in 2001. They have a decent squad if all players can stay healthy with Campion, Jones, Lauititi, Swann and Cleary in the team.

MVP: Stacey Jones - He is the best player in the Warriors sqaud and the best Kiwi halfback since Freeman problably also the best Kiwi player since Freeman. If he plays well the Warriors are in with a chance against most teams if he doesn't play well the Warriors could easily lose by 30.

Biggest Question: Can the owners keep the team finacially stable. If the new owners can then the Warriors can start conentrating on the team on the field rather then the team in the board room. If not then the Warriors will contiue to finish in the bottom two.

14. North Queensland Cowboys - The Cowboys lost one of the best players they had in Scott Prince. Tim Brasher has also sustained a major injury during the off season which will keep him out untill at least Origin 1. Along with continual problems with the coach and chief executive the Cowboys are again favorites to win the wooden spoon.

MVP: Julian O'Neill - With Prince gone and Brasher out for a long period. O'Neill will assume the role of the leader of the Cowboys. He has arguably played his best RL with the Cowboys and will need to play even better at least untill Brasher returns. Paul Bowman will also be looked at to lead the side.

Biggest Question: Will this be the year Tim Sheens gets fired. Despite being a good coach Sheens obviousloy isn't working for the Cowboys and until the fire him and Rabie Krayhem the Cowboys will win the spoon.