CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTIONS
On the eve of the 2023 NRL season, our experts have cast their eyes over all the teams – and players – to determine who is going to have the biggest impact. And some of their assessments might surprise you!
Manly to make the top four. They’ve been outstanding in the trials, even without Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic. This side has some of the best emerging youngsters in the game and new coach Anthony Seibold won’t be afraid to use them. They are also especially strong with their edge forwards, emerging star Haumole Olakau’atu and new signing Kelma Tuilagi.
MICHAEL CARAYANNIS
An NRL club reaches out to Michael Cheika. Fresh from his success at the World Cup with Lebanon, Cheika will come on the radar of at least one NRL club after he finishes his rugby commitments with Argentina.
BRENT READ
Billy Slater performed miracles last year with the Maroons. Another series win could spell the end for Brad Fittler, who is in the last year of his deal with the Blues. Even if Fittler does survive, don’t be surprised if the NSWRL reaches out to Craig Bellamy. There is every chance the Storm maestro stands down from Melbourne at the end of the year, meaning he will be freed to help the Blues. Bellamy has unfinished business in Origin.
PETER BADEL
Jason Taumalolo to play Origin for Queensland. The ARL Commission will bow to pressure and change eligibility rules that allow Poms and Kiwis to play State of Origin. New Zealand-born Tongan Taumalolo will look good in
Maroon.
DAVID RICCIO
Adam O’Brien needed convincing that Kalyn Ponga should be moved from fullback to five-eighth. If the Knights are struggling to find their rhythm by mid-year, I won’t be shocked if Ponga is moved
back to fullback.
PAUL CRAWLEY
Latrell Mitchell to inspire NSW to State of Origin victory, the Rabbitohs to historic NRL premiership, and top it off with the Dally M Medal. Now 25, Mitchell is in the prime of his career. We already know that on his day he is a one-man wrecking machine capable of tearing apart any opposition. But the time has come for him to back that freakish talent up with week-to-week consistency. If he does, there will be no stopping the Bunnies being No.1 this season.
PAUL KENT
The NRL’s 17th team, the Dolphins, to just miss out on the top eight in their first season. While they haven’t landed a marquee player, Wayne Bennett was successful in gutting the Storm’s pack with the acquisition of New Zealand internationals Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, as well as Queensland Origin forward Felise Kaufusi. Going for substance over style, if the Dolphins can earn a reputation for being tough to beat, they can finish ahead of Queensland rivals the Gold Coast and Brisbane in what would rate as a successful debut season.
DEAN RITCHIE
The Rabbitohs to play the Roosters in the first alleastern Sydney grand final in 88 years. Both clubs have high-profile, powerhouse rosters, mixed with a hatred for one another. If you thought last year’s two emotion-charged fixtures at the new Allianz Stadium were intense, imagine this bitter rivalry in the grand final. Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook, Jai Arrow, Tom Burgess, Cody Walker and Cameron Murray against James Tedesco, Joseph Sua’ali’i, Angus Crichton, Luke Keary, Victor Radley, Brandon Smith and Joseph Manu – bring it on.
FATIMA KDOUH
He couldn’t make a name for himself as a premier backrower at the Warriors but Eliesa Katoa will have a breakout season under the direction of Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy. He’ll earn honours as “buy of the year” ahead of the likes of John Bateman and Api Koroisau, at the Tigers, and Viliame Kikau, at the Bulldogs.
MATT ENCARNACION
Can I “see boldly” for my prediction? Matter of fact I can, and I can see the batch of young Sea Eagles in Tolu Koula, Kaeo Weekes and Josh Schuster flying out of the nest under their new coach. Throw in a healthy Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans and Manly has all the ingredients needed for a shock run at the top four, and maybe even a crack against the Roosters in the decider. See boldly, Anthony will be coach of the year.
PAMELA WHALEY
Josh Hodgson will have the best season of his career, at the Eels. Once one of the best players in the NRL, he helped change the way No.9s attacked at the ruck, and his running game and speed will blossom again behind that big Parramatta forward pack. His positive and calm leadership is exactly what the Eels need.
TRAVIS MEYN
Parramatta will crash out of premiership contention on the back of last year’s grand final loss. The Eels have lost some quality players in Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i, Marata Niukore and Ray
Stone, with an ageing Josh Hodgson their only notable signing. The Eels missed their chance of a drought-breaking premiership last year and face a tough road to get back into the title mix.
ROBERT CRADDOCK coaching
Des Hasler will be again in the NRL by July on a multi-year deal worth $900,000 a season. The veteran clipboard holder was sacked as Manly coach last October and is facing a legal battle with his former club, but won’t be afraid of parachuting in to help save a season of a struggling club.
STEVE ROACH
The Cowboys to improve on last season’s heartbreaking preliminary final loss to the Eels and go one better in 2023 by making the grand final.
BRAITH ANASTA
Under new coach Cameron Ciraldo, the Bulldogs will make the top eight for the first time since 2016, ending the NRL’s second-longest finals drought, behind the Tigers (2011).
YVONNE SAMPSON
Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins will win their first NRL game against the Sydney Roosters for the inaugural Arthur Beetson Cup.
GREG ALEXANDER
The battle for the top eight will be the tightest we’ve witnessed in a number of years. Expect a log jam throughout the year and the top four and top eight to be decided in the final round of the season.
ANDREW VOSS
The Tigers are my bold prediction – I think a massive turnaround from woodenspooners to big jump up the ladder, to potentially playing in the finals. That would be some story with Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall in the fold, I think it would be one of the feel-good stories of the year.
BRYAN FLETCHER
Manly back in the eight, after a disastrous couple of years.