who will go up and down this year and why?

[rented tracksuit]

As always the key is injuries. All premiers have a great run with injures. They need to. We had the luck in our premiership years. Look at Panthers the last 2 years. No major injuries. Last year Melbourne lost their front rower and fullback early on. That really hurt them. Souths have had no major injuries either.

If we can keep most of our squad on the field we’ll be as good as anyone.

Their unfit, lazy fat fullback will go down at some point.

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

I'm not sold on Penrith this season, have a feeling that wedding will cause a division in the camp similar to Manly's pride jersey.
They still will be playing finals but just feel there will be ego's getting in the way.

If the dogs don't make the 8 then there season is a failure with all the players and coaching staff they have invested in, I see them just missing out.

Melbourne will still be there, they always find handy replacements when players retire or move on.

Manly will move into the top 8

Canberra dropping out.

Parramatta window has closed, Moses will take the big $$$ elsewhere and just coast into 2024.

1: Easts 2: Souths 3: Melbourne 4: Penrith 5: Cronulla 6: Manly 7: Nth Queensland 8: Parramatta

If we don't have any major injuries I can't see how we can not win the premiership.
As with every year I want a East v Manly grand final (brother is a big Manly fan)

[Steakface]

I'm not sold on Penrith this season, have a feeling that wedding will cause a division in the camp similar to Manly's pride jersey.
They still will be playing finals but just feel there will be ego's getting in the way.

Yeah, agree.

The level of ego within that squad is off the charts.

I don't think we saw that really in the Roosters 2018/2019 squad that dominated - i think because Robbo, and the leadership crew of Cords, Friend, Cronk etc were too old school and would not let that shit fly.

The Panthers dont have that no nonsense old school element. They have a number of show ponies in the squad who never get reined in over the past year. No doubt as a result there will be internal effects before long

[Mickie Lane]

I don’t think I could physically watch a roosters v souffffs grand final - at the ground or on tv. Would have to go to the movies and leave my phone at home and check the score after

It would be the best especially if the Chooks won.
Ive been wanting a Roosters v Souths GF for years.
Now on cue the Big dog of The Chookpen will reply to my post.

[ism22]

We finished 6th and were then knocked out by the 7th placed team last year.

IMO we'll be winners. Whereas, last year's top-5 and the 7th ranked team (basically all the rest of the top-8) will all drop.

The rest don't matter. Doggies are hoping that sacking their coach and doing some aggressive recruitment will turn around their fortunes. At best I reckon they'll replace the Faders at #8 on the ladder, but that's assuming Tommy Trbo doesn't have an injury-free season (he's due one!) and that Trent Barrett was more than a scapegoat. I just don't think the model of having know-it-all Gus Gould trying to puppet the head coach and fiddle with recruitment decisions is a model that works. Though, I think he's good at setting up systems and selecting talent (e.g. with Easts and the Riff).

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

I've picked the same top 8 as last year.

Canterbury and Wests might spend some time around 7th or 8th at different stages, but ultimately lack of depth will cruel them.

Newcastle and St George to fight it out for the spoon.

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

I'm surprised to read ppl writing off the Riff. They will be a top 2 side.... hopefully behind us

[SupermanSupportsEasts4Eva]

1. Roosters (surely injuries don't get us 4 seasons in a row)
2. Penriff (if Cleary stays fit otherwise they are fkd)
3. Souffs (if Fatrell stays fit, kfc will get him otherwise)
4. Drizzle (2nd best spine behind ours)
5. Parra (could finish anywhere from 5-8, window closed)
6. Manly (if Turbo plays out the 2nd half of the season)
7. Sharks (like parra could finish anywhere from 5-8)
8. Cows (favourable draw last season)
9. Faiders (might push Cows for 8th but nothing higher)
10. Finns (old bugger didn't recruit well enough)
11. Drongos (can't play as a team, fkd if AR gets injured)
12. Worriers (still sh*t, 12th is probably generous)
13. Dogs (better than last year, but Gus will get in the way)
14. Tigpies (even with Sheens/Benji they will still be shit)
15. St Merge (season highlight will be Hook getting sacked)
16. Tits (still making up the numbers)
17. Newcastle (I can see Ponga derailing their season)

[weplayforprems]

As always the key is injuries. All premiers have a great run with injures. They need to. We had the luck in our premiership years. Look at Panthers the last 2 years. No major injuries. Last year Melbourne lost their front rower and fullback early on. That really hurt them. Souths have had no major injuries either.

If we can keep most of our squad on the field we’ll be as good as anyone.

That’s all I want this year. Get to September with nearly all our squad in decent nick. If we lose from there, fair cop.

In all Robbo’s three premierships, even though some guys weren’t fully fit (Boyd 13, Cooper 18, Friendy 19) we essentially had full squads to pick from on grand final day.

[Johnny Brass]

Panthers have dominated the comp over the last two seasons and are the team to beat, Clearys boot gives them a massive advantage over the rest of the comp but they have been up for a long time with relative few season ending injuries to their guns. Storm with that spine and Souths are the other contenders that we will have to overcome if we are to win it.
Hopefully a better year injury wise for us we are overdue for a change of luck in that department. The dogs i expect will start to improve with some canny purchases though the top 8 might be beyond them this year.

[SamKerrSimp]

Everyone from 12 to 17 are equally as bad as each other and any spot can be interchangeable

1. Panthers
2. Rabbitohs
3. Roosters
4. Storm
5. Eels
6. Cowboys
7. Raiders
8. Sharks
9. Broncos
10. Tigers
11. Bulldogs
12. Titans
13. Warriors
14. Dragons
15. Sea Eagles
16. Knights
17. Dolphins

[Mickie Lane]

Everyone from 12 to 17 are equally as bad as each other and any spot can be interchangeable

1. Panthers
2. Rabbitohs
3. Roosters
4. Storm
5. Eels
6. Cowboys
7. Raiders
8. Sharks
9. Broncos
10. Tigers
11. Bulldogs
12. Titans
13. Warriors
14. Dragons
15. Sea Eagles
16. Knights
17. Dolphins

I bet my life that the Dolphin's dont come last.
No matter what you think of ol Wayne he knows how to coach & he wont come last, trust me. The Dolphins will play with heaps of spirit & be better than what people think.

[trewhella]

Wayne can people manage better than anyone.
the problem is that he is getting so old the generation gap is a generation chasm

the dolphins just don’t have the players

if not last, second last

[weplayforprems]

Wayne can people manage better than anyone.
the problem is that he is getting so old the generation gap is a generation chasm

the dolphins just don’t have the players

if not last, second last

Yep. Their first 17 is terrible and they have no depth. If they get a few injuries good teams should be pumping them by 50.

[Bruce Pickett]

Wayne can people manage better than anyone.
the problem is that he is getting so old the generation gap is a generation chasm

the dolphins just don’t have the players

if not last, second last

People have been underestimating Bennett for decades. I've learnt you underestimate Bennet coached teams at your own peril. He will have Kaufusi on a seek & destroy mission against us.

This priik is a grub loves to maim our blokes such as Cordner etc.