Ok, I know not a tackle has been made (in earnest), and most of you will be somewhat biased anyway BUT taking your Maroon & White Goggles off how do you rate our chances for the 2015 Premiership, and which team(s) are the biggest threat.
I'll start by saying,
I like our depth for 2015, despite no big name purchase we have filled many of the gaps that started to show at the end of 2014. We have a metre gainer big Prop, we lost a ball playing forward but gained another, we have some young guns champing at the bit and we still have the best 1/6/7/9 combination in the League (although I do admit there are better players in each of those roles but not all at one club). Add to that a very good backline with Skivvy / Killer and some good wingers (and a number of them which will ensure some competition for the spots).
Regardless of what anyone says (about form), we lost last years finals because we ran out of troops just at the wrong time of the year, and I'm sure you'll have to agree that the loss of both Ballin & Ferris in Round 26 really hurt our cause, we did not have the forwards to go all the way but still managed to "almost" get there in the qualifier.
And for the first time in as long as I can remember we actually have players coming through seriously challenging for positions with players like Gutho, Jake & Tom Turbo (although maybe not Tom this year) really pushing for spots in the top 17, and add to them Leary / MCK and others.
The negatives (without wanting to start another thread that just rehashes what's already being said) that I can see are the re-signing drama's, and how that might affect our on field performance, and the coaching performance of 2V........not that I am bringing this into question BUT the perception is he's had some great teams and hasn't won much as yet, and the constant (albeit paper talk) discussion about him not getting on with the players, how these two issues affect us is as yet unknown.
Overall I think we are in with a decent shot, whilst we have lost some players overall we look better than last year, how the new rule changes affect us (or mores the point how we adapt to them compared to other teams) we don't as yet know, hopefully its positive as far as we are concerned.
Souths are still the team to beat, Bulldogs and Panthers will be up there as well, and I think Brisbane under Bennett will be much stronger.
I still reckon top 4, but possibly not equal first (on points), my prediction 3rd or 4th.
I'll start by saying,
I like our depth for 2015, despite no big name purchase we have filled many of the gaps that started to show at the end of 2014. We have a metre gainer big Prop, we lost a ball playing forward but gained another, we have some young guns champing at the bit and we still have the best 1/6/7/9 combination in the League (although I do admit there are better players in each of those roles but not all at one club). Add to that a very good backline with Skivvy / Killer and some good wingers (and a number of them which will ensure some competition for the spots).
Regardless of what anyone says (about form), we lost last years finals because we ran out of troops just at the wrong time of the year, and I'm sure you'll have to agree that the loss of both Ballin & Ferris in Round 26 really hurt our cause, we did not have the forwards to go all the way but still managed to "almost" get there in the qualifier.
And for the first time in as long as I can remember we actually have players coming through seriously challenging for positions with players like Gutho, Jake & Tom Turbo (although maybe not Tom this year) really pushing for spots in the top 17, and add to them Leary / MCK and others.
The negatives (without wanting to start another thread that just rehashes what's already being said) that I can see are the re-signing drama's, and how that might affect our on field performance, and the coaching performance of 2V........not that I am bringing this into question BUT the perception is he's had some great teams and hasn't won much as yet, and the constant (albeit paper talk) discussion about him not getting on with the players, how these two issues affect us is as yet unknown.
Overall I think we are in with a decent shot, whilst we have lost some players overall we look better than last year, how the new rule changes affect us (or mores the point how we adapt to them compared to other teams) we don't as yet know, hopefully its positive as far as we are concerned.
Souths are still the team to beat, Bulldogs and Panthers will be up there as well, and I think Brisbane under Bennett will be much stronger.
I still reckon top 4, but possibly not equal first (on points), my prediction 3rd or 4th.