Low Down After Round 6
Teams in Alphabetical order.
Won:1
Drew:0
Lost:5
Current Placing:20th on points difference.
Best Game so Far: v Canterbury Round Three Won 22 - 20
Worst Game so Far: v Penrith Round Four Lost 12 - 54
The Key: The Rams this season seem to lack the go forward and a class back to take the pressure off Noel Goldthorpe. Tony Iro is a good ball playing forward who seems to be on the interchange bench a lot. The rams would be better served for him to be in the starting line up. Without someone to take the pressure of Goldthorpe and Craig Kimmorley they look headed for a long season.
My Prediction:20th
Won:2
Drew:0
Lost:4
Current Placing:16 on points difference.
Best Game so Far: v Melbourne Round Five Won 16 - 12
Worst Game so Far: v North Sydney Round Six Lost 26 - 44
The Key: The Warriors have again fallen into the trap of producing the goods at Ericsson Stadium but seem to fall apart in the second half on Australian Grounds. Matthew Ridge needs to take more conrtol in games as do the wingers, they did it well against Melbourne and won but were hardly sighted against Norths and they got smacked. Stacey Jones is their top performer and Steven Kearney can be relied on to take the ball up many a time but those around them need to put in every game not those ones in Auckland.
My Prediction:12th - 14th
Won:5
Drew:0
Lost:1
Current Placing: 3rd on points difference.
Best Game so Far: v Gold Coast Round 1 Won 40 - 6
Worst Game so Far: V North Queensland Round 2 Lost 2 - 26
The Key: The Tigers have to keep going the way they are going for the entire season to have a chance of being their on Grand Final Day. With four wins in a row they are on a roll but as proved so far this season any team is good enough to beat any other team. The tigers are playing a team and that is what has won the games for them. Shayne Dunley has excelled at Halfback as has Lock Ben Duckworth.
My Prediction:5th - 10th
Won:5
Drew:0
Lost:1
Current Placing: 1st on points difference.
Best Game so Far: v North Queensland Round 5 Won 58 -4
Worst Game so Far: v Manly Round 6 Lost 4 - 28
The Key: Allan Langer has the Broncos going forward well and the backline is clicking as it showed against the Cowboys. The Manly game was a hiccup and I believe they will beat the Bears just this weekend. Some of the broncos have points to prove missing out on test selection. Brad Thorn is having a good season to date as is Steve Renouf.
My Prediction:1st - 4th
Won:2
Drew:0
Lost:4
Current Placing:11th on points difference.
Best Game so far: v Manly Round 5 Won 26 - 20
Worst Game so far: v North Queensland Round 4 Lost 12 - 14
The Key: Laurie Daleys fitness, If he his fit and playing well I belive the raiders will be in the top 10 if not they could finish as low as 16. When he is on the field he give the younger players in the team more direction. Bradley Clyde leads from the front but he alone cannot get the raiders home. Young halves Mark McLinden and Andrew McFadden will get better with everygame.
Jason Croker and Ben Kennedy have been preforing well so far this season.
My Prediction:8th - 12th
Won:2
Drew:0
Lost:4
Current Placing:10th on points difference.
Best game so far: v Gold Coast Round 6 Won 56 - 10
Worst game so far: v Balmain Round 4 Lost 10 - 24
The Key: The Bulldogs trademark defence. If they win the forward battle they can go on with games like they did against the Gold Coast. The Halfs are still a problem and I can't understand why Rod Silva isn't in the top team. The Bulldogs seem to lack an impact back and Daryl Halligan must surely win the award for being the slowest winger just ahead of Ian Herron
My Prediction: 10th - 14th
Won:2
Drew:0
Lost:4
Current Placing:15th on points difference.
Best Game so far: v St. George Round 2 Won 20 - 14
Worst Game so far: v Sydney City Round 1 Lost 14 - 36
The Key: To keep injury free. The sharks have had some shocking injuries with two players Craig Greenhill and Paul Donaghy Breaking their necks in different places. With Paul Green on the sideline and several forwards the sharks have lost their direction. David Peachey is low on confidence and that shows in his form. They must solve their problems before a top 10 pplace becomes out of their reach.
MY Prediction: 10th - 14th
Won:1
Drew:0
Lost:5
Current Placing:19th on points difference.
Best Game so far: v Adelaide Round 5 Won 16 - 8
Worst Game so far: v Canterbury Round 6 Lost 10 - 56
The Key:To play as a team. The chargers have no individual superstars and when playing for themselves they get caned. The chargers last year have a very good defence but without the workaholic Jeremy Schloss and Martin Bella their defence has sprung some leaks. Against the Broncos and the Bulldogs they had 96 points scored against them. It is going to be a long season for the chargers if they don't do something quick.
My Prediction: 17th - 19th
Won:2
Drew:0
Lost:4
Current Placing:14th on points difference.
Best Game so far: v Canberra Round 6 Won 22 - 20
Worst Game so far: v Sydney City Round 3 Lost 16 - 30
The Key: Paul McGregors involvement. When Paul McGregor was involved in the canberra game the steelers looked very good. They seemed to be able to get over the advantage line with ease. When he turned off they steelers were flat and the raiders scored a try and had one dissalowed in that period. When The steelers have all players on deck they can be as good as any team. Against canberra they were missing Rod Wishart, David Walsh and Brad Mackay. If they can find a consistant level they will be pushing for a top ten spot at the seasons close.
My Prediction:10th - 16th
Won:2
Drew:0
Lost:4
Current Placing:13th on points diffenence.
Best Game so far: v Brisbane Round 6 Won 28 - 4
Worst Game so far: v Brisbane Round 1 Lost 6 - 22
The Key: Scoring Early. If the Sea Eagles score a try early and take the lead they go on with the game but if they have a try against them early their current front row seem to switch off for the rest of the game and don't put in 100%. Geoff Toovey leads from the front as always but teams now target Cliff Lyons but having big men run at him to try and knock his confindence out for the rest of the game. If they keep playing the same way as they did against Brisbane in round 6 they will defentily be in the top four. Lookout souths next week.
My Prediction:8th - 14th
The Rest of the teams.
Email: hoverdpr@kp.planet.gen.nz
