Trial by Team List

Matt Ryan was surprisingly selected on the bench for the Eels

We are finally a day away from the start of the NRL season and that means we now have the team lists for the Round 1 matches. Whilst I already had thoughts on teams that would do better or worse in 2013, sometimes you really need to see what a team is putting out on the field to realise where they have improved or gotten worse.

As there are every year, there were certainly a few things I found surprising when I read the team lists yesterday, including some players I hadn’t even realised had changed clubs or had forgotten they had changed clubs until I was reminded by seeing their name.

Manly are still going to be a good team and have one of the best young halves combinations in the league, but their success is finally catching up with them as I was surprised by some of the names they picked. I knew Glenn Stewart was out and that Jamie Buhrer would fill in at 13, but I didn’t realise how weak they had become at prop. Brent Kite and new recruit Brenton Lawrence would have to be up there with the worst starting prop combinations in the league. They get the trusty Jason King back in Round 2, which helps enormously, but losing Darcy Lussick to Parramatta in the offseason means the Eagles will be hoping their youngsters (and Ritchie Fa’aoso) really step up and fill the void, because one thing we know is you need a platoon of props to get through the NRL season.

Justin Horo starting in the second row will also be interesting. He is one of those guys I forgot changed clubs and perhaps the change of scenery away from Parramatta will do him wonders as he is very talented.

Parramatta kick the Ricky Stuart era off on Saturday against the Warriors and I must admit how shocked I am that Matt Ryan is named on the bench. I thought he was going to be the direct replacement for Nathan Hindmarsh as the no nonsense tackle machine every team needs, especially Parramatta. Reni Maitua, Ben Smith and Joseph Paulo aren’t a bad back row, but for mine Ryan should be starting and playing near on 80 minutes. Also I still think Ben Roberts might just be the worst player in the NRL, but at least he isn’t starting anymore so that’s an improvement I guess.

The Warriors in the same match have named back rower Elijah Taylor at hooker and he has got to be the biggest hooker I can remember, at least in the modern era. The Warriors have a solid pack, strike weapons outside and I like Matt Elliott as a coach, but they are one of those teams that will live and die by how many points their halves can create. Shaun Johnson took a step backwards last year and needs to find an instant partnership with Thomas Leuluai for the Warriors to get back to winning ways.

The Bulldogs come into the season with four big names all out with Barba and Graham suspended and Kasiano and Pritchard injured. It is a testament to their depth that they are putting out a very solid team across the park anyway. A few years ago whilst at Canberra, Drury Low tore the Under 20’s competition apart, so it will be interesting to see how he goes on the wing for the Bulldogs while Barba gets his life together.

The Cowboys bench is scary. The idea of the Sims brothers and Jason Taumalolo coming on when the likes of Scott and Tamou need a break is frightening. They need young halfback Ray Thompson and new English hooker Sam Moore to complement Thurston and Bowen, but if they do they should be good. That being said, the Cowboys have underachieved before and if they do again this year it might spell the end of Neil Henry.

The Raiders backline depth is also quite staggering. In a game where both Dugan and Croker are out they have still named a fantastic backline. Reece Robinson would start at fullback for half the league and is only playing there because Dugan is out. Frankly if I were David Furner, Croker would struggle to get back into the side given his defensive frailties. Also… EDRICK LEE!

If I didn’t hate the Dragons (as any good Rabbitohs fan should) I would feel sorry for them. Their team just isn’t particularly good this year. Their best player is a winger and as good as he is a winger can’t carry you through a season. I think they have the worst halves combination in the league and whilst their forwards are all serviceable, they don’t have enough attacking potency in the squad. My tip is that Steve Price will be first coach fired in 2013 and watching them in the Charity Shield only made that belief stronger.

The Sharks team is interesting. They had a good year in 2012 but tapered off towards the end. As per usual their forward pack is very good and the signing of Michael Gordon is a big one (should he stay fit) and Beau Ryan should continue his solid play. I do wonder if they should have found a spot for Nathan Gardner somewhere as he is too talented to play reserve grade. I would have picked him over Jono Wright on the wing, despite Gardner’s lack of size. Once again the Sharks fortunes will rely on Todd Carney and he is coming back from a pretty nasty injury, so it is a real wait and see thing with the Sharks this year.

Finally I was surprised and happy to see the Tigers pick Jacob Miller at halfback and move Benji back to five-eighth. They signed Anasta but at this point I think the back row is the right place for him and Miller has been so good at Under 20’s level for so long that it is time he gets a real opportunity to make the halfback spot his own. They have to be patient with him, but if the Tigers want their premiership window to re-open I think Miller at 7 has to be part of that plan.

Obviously I didn’t touch on all teams but that is because the others were all right about what I expected of them. The Rabbitohs and Roosters should be a cracking season opener, even for a neutral and I’ll see you all at the footy.