Following on from earlier Part 1, below are the remaining eight teams as we look at the upcoming 2020 season.
Newcastle Knights
Recruitment Grade: D
Jayden Brailey arrives from the Sharks and will be the club's new number nine, while Tuala and Shibasaki are squad signings.
Some big names have departed in SKD, and Ramien while Buhrer and Levi are former rep players, but in reality, Newcastle hasn't lost much.
Star Player: Kalyn Ponga
The superstar number one has curiously been linked to a monster contract that supposedly allows a chance to play for the All Blacks.
Ponga needs to justify said contract after an up and down 2019 season. He's proven his best position is in the custodian role, let's hope he refinds his 2018 form.
Prediction: 10th
Last year we tipped the Knights to play finals and they burned us. We can't predict the same again this year.
Outside of Pearce and Ponga, the backs look thin. We don't like their options at 6. Their pack is monstrous but this side relies way too heavily on its three star players.
North Queensland Cowboys
Recruitment Grade: A
Valentine Holmes is probably the biggest signing of the off-season, and although it may take time for the premiership winner to re-adjust, expect him to be a genuine game-changer.
Reece Robson is a brilliant low key pick up and will play plenty of nine this season. Marsters strengthens a position of weakness.
Star Player: Michael Morgan
This became Morgan's side after the retirement of Thurston and although 2019 didn't go to plan, he's still the man in Townsville.
He'll have a much stronger backline and a quality halves partner to work with this year. Expect a huge bounce-back year from the Cowboys to be led by their skipper.
Prediction: 6th
I like this Cowboys side. No doubt I have them ranked much higher than most but the Holmes inclusion is massive.
Scott Drinkwater is an absolute star. It would be criminal if he's left out of the run on squad. Expect a big year from Coen Hess after a dire 2019.
Parramatta Eels
Recruitment Grade: A
The Eels have signed a former Origin prop and a future Origin second-rower in Campbell Gillard and Matterson.
Only Ma'u leaves from the top squad leaving the Eels with a stronger side than that which played finals footy last year.
Star Player: Mitch Moses
Moses had a magnificent 2019 and will be the blue and gold's main man again in their title charge.
He has all the pieces around him. Expectations are high but we expect him to leave a big stamp on the 2020 season.
Prediction: 3rd
We're going out on a limb here but expect something very big in this club's near future.
The forward pack is deadly, their wingers are worldly and Moses is set for a monster season. A lot will rely on young Dylan Brown and Reed Mahoney.
Penrith Panthers
Recruitment Grade: B
The Panthers have arguably lost more than they've gained, with main man James Maloney leaving. RCG is a big out but looked as though he needed a fresh start.
That said, Koroisau is a huge in and will completely change the game plan. Kurt Capewell is super versatile and very underrated.
Star Player: Nathan Cleary
The absence of James Maloney proves one thing; this is Nathan Clearys team now. He'll be expected to deliver.
It's almost unbelievable that Clearly is still only 22 years old given what he has achieved. He's keen given the keys and has all the talent to take this side places as he hits his peak.
Prediction: 11th
Api and Clearly are special players but otherwise, the Panthers spine looks razor thin.
Naden and To'o were incredible finds last year but again the backs look light on. Kikau is a freak of nature and surely a short favourite to win second rower of the year but again, outside of him there aren't any game-breakers.
Penrith have a side capable of a top few finish but a lot is going to have to go right for that to happen. Can't see it happening.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Recruitment Grade: C
On paper, the Bunnies have lost Burgess, Inglis, Sutton and Doueihi while they've picked up a centre to play fullback.
Turns out that centre is arguably the most destructive back in the competition on his day. The challenge will be ensuring his play is more consistent.
Star Player: Adam Reynolds
Very tempted to put Cook or Mitchell but Reynolds is the main man at Redfern.
His kicking game is still arguably the best in the competition while his combination with Cody Walker has premiership-winning potential.
Prediction: 4th
Souths have lost some magical talent but this side is stacked!!! Latrell is a massive in and could be the difference between a prelim and a Grand Final.
The halves are top few, the backline is ridiculously talented, the forwards are beasts and Cook is arguably the best hooker in the game.
Bennett will hand over the reins at seasons end and could do so having delivered yet another title.
St George Illawarra Dragons
Recruitment Grade: B
Although Widdop and Leilua are big outs, the inclusion of Merrin finally fixes their issue at 13, allowing Frizell to return wider.
Wiliame will be pressing for a position in the outside backs while the signing of Luke becomes very important given the injury suffered by McInnes.
Star Player: Ben Hunt
Hunt decides opinion in almost all circles. Social media, selectors, even Dragons fans, but he's undisputedly the Dragons' most important player.
The three into two issue of last year is no longer there which should allow Hunt and Norman to build a formidable halves combination.
Prediction: 13th
There are rep players across the park but also glaring issues of weakness.
The halves did not play well together last year, there's no recognized starting number one. The backline is all or nothing and McInnes is out for possibly a month.
The future of Tyson Frizell looks to add another distraction they do not need. Plenty of talent but they don't look much improved from last year.
Sydney Roosters
Recruitment Grade: D
They lost arguably the most complete halfback of the modern era and unarguably the most successful. They also lost arguably the most destructive centre in the game on his day.
Coming in is a largely untested rookie who's last first-grade game is best remembered for kneeing an opponent who was on his knees leading to a momentum-shifting penalty.
No pressure.
Star Player: Luke Keary
Keary ascended to rare heights in 2019 and is one of the games elite playmakers. We're expecting even better this year.
A Dally M Medal is not beyond the future Origin number six as he takes ownership of the side.
Prediction: 5th
I know, I know! We can hear the Roosters fans in the comments already. This is based purely on the fact there's no Cooper Cronk to guide this incredible side around.
There's still premiership-winning potential there and this side is very capable of creating next level history, however, it'll have to come sans the maestro.
Wests Tigers
Recruitment Grade: B
This is a tough one as they lost their best forward in Matterson and attacking centre in Marsters.
Coming in however, are replacements in Leilua x 2 and an upgrade at fullback in Doueihi. Billy Walters is a player of big potential.
They missed out on some superstar talent but have improved.
Star Player: Luke Brooks
This has to be the year Brooks takes this side to a finals return. He's a former Dally M Halfback of the Year and has plenty of experience.
He wasn't able to stand up in the do or die match against the Sharks but has a more settled squad this year.
Prediction: 12th
Of course, the easy option here is to predict ninth, however, we just see 11 better sides.
Bj Leilua can be freaking but to say he has a mistake in him is not unfair. They don't look settled at 6 or 9 with under a week to kick off.
Another story has Parramatta First! Then winning the Grand Final. In this one you have them third . Make up your minds!
A year ago Parramatta played Penrith in a trial game & beat them easily (20-0), at Penrith. Then defeated them a couple of weeks later , again at Penrith.
Last weekend at Bega, it was 22-22.
It’s only a trial, true !!! May well mean nothing at all.
Still, in a local derby game . Both teams want to win. Parramatta put out an all but full strength team including the forwards, in the first half. Didn’t see them overpowering a Penrith forward pack that was arguably four forwards light of their best possible first grade line up.
You’re all saying how great they are already. That’s a big weight to carry.
EOD Parra were in 4th gear for the whole game and still managed a draw.
If we had put in our full effort the score would have been as ugly as a Penrith slapper 😁
Just on Penrith…
I think you’re correct about the Penrith backline. However, despite Edwards re-signing. I see Charlie Staines, as the next big name out of Penrith. At Fullback.
I heard Soward saying that Burton should go back to fullback, as he could offer a lot from there. That’s an interesting thought. I still see Burton as the a real first grade 5:8th there. With possibly Luai at centre in the future & Staines at fullback. It doesn’t hurt that at 19 y.o., Burton is 90 k.g.’s . Luai can offer something extra from centre .
If they need another centre? I noticed Gideon Gela-Mosby has no team , according to this site? He may be a bit unpredictable, but he’d be cheap & offers a ton of pace.
You’re dreaming Kev…
Only virtually all the second half penalties & repeat sets . Plus some scrappy Penrith kicking , got Parramatta a draw. Without all the second half field position, Parramatta were going down.
Weren’t trying in a derby? Doubt it…
Roosters vs Manly grand final in 2020.
Prediction: 5th
“I know, I know! We can hear the Roosters fans in the comments already”
Yes we all can.
“Latrell, please come back, we are sorry, we love you, we can’t stop crying, Robbo loves Taree, Nick will make you a life member, we can’t take this anymore”😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
TwentyOne March 6, 2020 at 6:36 pm
“Yes we all can.
“Latrell, please come back, we are sorry, we love you, we can’t stop crying, Robbo loves Taree, Nick will make you a life member, we can’t take this anymore”😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭”
I think we’ll manage, seeing a certain back-to-back premiership winning No.6 in our lineup every week who you lot discarded will do us just fine. Get back to me when ur 2nd biggest achievement in the last 50 years is something more than being rated higher than us on this list.
Twenty one
We couldn’t match the huge offer Souths Sombreros paid MIT he’ll.
You said it yourself last year… Souths will get MIT hell, they will double thenRoosters offer… this did happen
In saying that
You guys have choked 2 years in a row now
You personally are EXTREMELY JEALOUS of the Roosters 6 titles in 7 years
Your Sombreros are trying to buy everyone that comes on th market
Your last 50 years have been an embarrassing failure
If you don’t win this year it will embarrassing
Love y’all buddy ❤️
TheMole52 March 7, 2020 at 6:40 am
“Twenty one
We couldn’t match the huge offer Souths Sombreros paid MIT he’ll.
You said it yourself last year… Souths will get MIT hell, they will double thenRoosters offer… this did happen”
Nice try slops, stop crying and making up stories to hide the humiliation and despair Latrell caused by coming home to Souths.
Welcome home Latrell.
Jealous rambles can not deny the enjoyment that The back to back World Champs have given our fans
Welcome home champs with your 6 titles in 7 years
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆
Come on you Easts guys, you know why Souths didn’t achieve success for all those years , it’s been explained before , not that you didn’t know it already, the bottom line here is , AGAIN, you cannot fabricate history, regardless of what era’s contain, the fact is Souths have more premierships than Easts, the fact we were illegially kicked out didn’t see Easts get anywhere closer.
Easts now want revenge for Mitchell signing with Souths for $200K less a season, by trying to sign Murray, which is admittance from them that he is a class above Radley, Murray has rejected Easts straight out with no hope of signing him , he hates the place and this is just the start of Easts downfall as rumour has it Keary will be leaving after his contact finishes end of next year.
Easts have had a great run in recent times, and good luck to them, but their time is running out, the fact they don’t harvest grass root juniors will come back to haunt them big time, sure the losers on this site carry on about grooming players for first grade , but the fact is they don’t invest in juniors from an early age and clubs who do are starting to protect them from the vultures of clubs like Easts.
You Easts supporters can say what you like , but the bottom line here is that Easts are a club that has no real members, even though your been successful for many years, and that has to be a concern, your future will be in relocation where after another name change will be permanent
Dream on penis0, the Roosters have young player agents throwing themselves at the Roosters from all over Australua and NZ ……because we have the best coaching stratergies in place to turn young talent, into premiership winning rep players.
As for that scrawny little weenie Murray, that is all media jumbo like the media drummed up the need to buy toilet paper. Not one Rooster coach, official or fan wants that overrated girl who chokes in the big games at the mighty Sydney Roosters.
Radley in two seasons has acheived two Premiership victories and two World Club Trophies and played for the junior Australian Kangaroos. Radley is a legend with four major trophies in two years.
Since rugby League went to the 6 tackle rule The Roosters have won 6 premierships and played in 11 grand finals to Soufths 1 premiership and 1 grand final. The Roosters just keep on developing young players into NRL superstars and will continue to do so for the next 100yrs. Soufths on the other hand have reverted to buy established superstars and try to buy a premiership at any cost.
But again yo uh r team Soufths will choke in 2020 and beyond with that policy.
Sorry penis0 I am human and made an error. Please allow me to correct the fact….
Since rugby League went to the 6 tackle rule The Roosters have won 6 premierships and played in TWELVE grand finals to Soufths 1 premiership and 1 grand final
Thats 12 grand finals since League went to the y tackle rule in 1972.
@Forever in the Roosters Shadow.
Hey Adam, everything i said you did and more . shows your true intelligence
So penis0, lets put those stats into perspective.
There are 48 completed seasons since the 6 tackle rule introduction in 1972.
48÷12=4…..Every four years since 1972 the Roosters on average play in a grand final. On the other hand ……
Soufths 48÷1=48 🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Play in a grand final once every 48 years. Get the pictue ….. clown
Understand……..pen🤡is0 ?????
🤣😂🤣😂🤣
Again Adam you prove my point, you just don’t get it do you.
pensoMarch 7, 2020 at 8:26 pm
Hey Adam, everything i said you did and more . shows your true intelligence
We are talking about how Rugby League is played professionally today after the introduction of the six tackle rule.
When Soufths won 16 those twenty comps against a 8 team comp and with unlimited tackle rule.
It did not even resemble the game of rugby league. It was virtually a completely diferent game only known as rugby league. Then the game evolved into a four tackle rule, Soufths won four comps the rule evolved to the six tackles and Soufths could not adapt to profesionalism. Facts penso.
……..reply to TwentyOne from………
TheMole52
You did say it jealous boy… search your posts.. I have included it below for you.
You had inside info that Souths Cheating Sombreros would pay big dollars to get him and you were right.. well done Jealous guy.
In reply to woody.chook.
Souths will offer latrel mitchell double his money at the Roosters to go to souths his whole family are pushing hard for latrell to go to the the rabbitohs where his dad matt mitchell played family members are wanting latrell to go to souths money talks
Looks like the numbnutt TwentyOne has been busted willing his team to be a Sombrero Transit.Lounge club. And he is busted for being a bullamakanka artist. 😂🤣💪🤣👍
penso
March 7, 2020 at 6:11 pm
“Easts now want revenge for Mitchell signing with Souths.”
Pens0 we dont give two hoots about Mitchell. Rooster fans have well and truley moved on. It is Mitchell that will have major regret after leaving the club that turned him into a star.
We know he wanted to play fullback, but that was always impossible at Sydney with The best player in the comp DallyM champion Tedesco blocking his desire.
The Roosters have no vacancies for any Souths players except Mitchell as a centre. There is not one player other than Mitchell that could fit into the back to back World Club Champions.
So you can throw that silly theory out the window. Soufths have a team of chokers who are weaker than last seasons Soufths. The Roosters are still strong enough to win the premiership for a third time. Even with the ridiculous hard draw leading into the semis that the Nrl handed The Premiers.
Hey Adam, looks like you’re just posting to yourself?
Seek professional help before it’s too late.
That was good penso..
I love how AdamOfRedFloppyShiesWood was so devastated by the things you wrote. That he had to reply again & again. With almost never ending stories.
You’re absolutely correct about the Nuggets & their move. They know they can’t survive without juniors. That’s why they’ve chopped & changed with areas they’ve tried to take over. Used to be Wyong . Didn’t like that , so now it’s the central coast in general. Also working out of North Sydney. They’re getting in there to take those juniors. To try & cut Manly & Newcastle out of the picture for that area. It makes more sense for Manly to be more heavily involved in that area & with its juniors. Then, not be in Blacktown.
Either that, or Newcastle to take some control of the central coast.
If it does come down to having a healthy junior area in the future, or you’ gone? The obviously weaker clubs in that area, are the Nuggets & Manly. That’s why Manly has pushed into the west.
Really, it should be Manly become Manly / Central Coast. Nuggets move to another area . Like the North Coast, Perth, or somewhere in Queensland.
Everyone other than the Nuggets supporters know it’s true. Most of the inner Sydney clubs have disappeared from first grade. Such as Newtown, Balmain & others before them. The only inner Sydney club, should be South’s .
EOD it’s not hard to figure out Adams motives, he gives himself away all the time, as I said , he simply doesn’t get it , and never will, a juvenile mentality that will never mature.
That was good, I love how ClownOfPenriff was so devastated by the things I wrote. That he has to reply again & again. With a never ending story of his same old crapp.
Makes my day reading a cut persons response. 🎣Penis0 is very similar. 🤣🎣🤣🎣😉🎣😊🎣🤣🎣
Word of advise ClownOfPenis0 ……please refrain from writing novel length replies. Time I finish reading the garbage I have cobwebs all over myself.
Barry BeathMarch 8, 2020 at 11:27 am
Hey Adam, looks like you’re just posting to yourself.
I expext stupid remarks like that from a nit.wit who forgets to read the first paragraph of whom I am replying to. Baza Beefball, get some glasses
🤓
That’s interesting AdamOfDimWood…
Altogether, without the many AdamDimTitles & spaces. Without your 36 lines plus spaces, Titles ( SydRoisters, MoleDumb52 ). You’ve put about 127 lines of crap under this article. .
I’ve now put about 85. Without the same things.
So cobweb away Adam el DimWood.
See your problem ClownOfDivide is that you have caught penis0itus….he was the other clown who was so paranoid like you, that he beleived every Rooster fan on here was me. But alas Clo🤡wn, there is no truth in that theory. I have but only three logins. Adam Howard TwentyOne a d Terddy123 are all me. 😂
TwentyOne March 7, 2020 at 10:57 am
Nice try slops, stop crying and making up stories to hide the humiliation and despair Latrell caused by coming home to Souths.
Welcome home Latrell.
Jealous guy.. the only humiliation and despair was felt by you at halftime after the drubb8ng we gave you in the finals last year.
That was actually one of the games I have watched over and over in the off season
Each time I can feeelmyour dispair bahahahahahah
I didn’t mean to hurt you… I’m sorry that I made you cry..bahahahahahah love that Jealous guy song.