Monthly Archives: March 2012
Thorpedo Disarmed
Now the waters of the South Australian Aquatic Centre have stagnated, Ian Thorpe’s London Olympic dream can finally be declared, to borrow a cockney term, ‘Brown Bread’.
The Thorpedo has sunk at the deep end; a now harmless Olympic relic condemned to a life of rotting on the pool bed, the chlorine slowly rusting its shell casing with the demise of the once potent weapon juxtaposed against the ‘no bombing’ sign that hangs poolside.
Maybe I’m erring on the side of the dramatic here, but the last few weeks have certainly been no picnic for our former Olympic champ and it’s safe to say that Crowded Houses’ ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ might be on high rotation at Thorpe Manor for some time to come.
Thorpey’s demise puts us Aussie sports fans at a crossroads. We can either break out the violins and soothe Ian with a concerto of former glories or participate in the great Aussie pastime of Thorpe-bashing, an activity from which I derive more pleasure than Margaret Court does from removing ‘The queens’ from every deck of cards she comes across.
Let’s be clear about one thing; this comeback was risky business. So much so that we would not have begrudged the Thorpster sliding out onto the pool deck wearing only a business shirt, some white socks, a pair of Wayfarers and his speedos whilst urging the crowd to take their old records off the shelf.
This risk clearly did not pay off, with the repercussions of Thorpe’s failure to even qualify for the events finals resonating far beyond his spot on the team bound for London.
For starters, his name can immediately be stricken from the record from any previous and future ‘greatest swimmers of all time’ debates. His reputation as an athlete has been more ‘soiled’ than simply ‘tarnished’ and no amount of glory-laden-chlorinated-water from the likes of Sydney or Athens will be able to wash it clean.
The question must be asked – why did he fail so miserably? Are money troubles the wrong motivation for a return to sport? Was it the bag of gold paid by Swimming Australia to fund the comeback hidden somewhere in the budgey smugglers that slowed Thorpey down? Have the next wave of swimmers taken the sport to a level that is unattainable for his post-prime body?
Whatever the reason, it now means that all bets are off, Mr Thorpe. We tolerated your foray into men’s fashion, because of the golden accessories you had hanging around your neck when you stood on the podium. We put up with your vomit inducing tv program (somehow ‘nauseating’ didn’t quite do it justice) because you were superhuman in the pool and retired at your peak.
But now, at 29 years of age, you’re the 12th best swimmer in Australia in your pet event, the 200-free. I doubt the big brands are going to be knocking one another over in the race to sign you to a long term deal and the general public will be far less accepting of your side projects. Personally, I’d be more likely to shell out my hard earned to come and see you in the touring circus as ‘Flipper-man’ than I would to see you as an after dinner speaker.
At risk of patting the Stereotype Dog here, swimmers are largely uninteresting people. It might have something to do with it being a largely lonesome profession, where the black line must be travelled over and over again in preparation for big races. There’ve been a few exceptions to the bland rule over the years – Leisel Jones certainly showed some verve when she burst onto the scene but that might have had something to do with the fact she was only one year out of ‘floaties’ when she competed in her first Olympics, Hayley Lewis had enough personality to talk us into eating more bananas and Kieran Perkins at least entertained us with his ability to swim amazing times with an rather large chip rested on his shoulder. Ian Thorpe is not one of these exceptions.
I don’t profess to have a crystal ball, but at this point the best I can see for you Ian, is pandering to Bruce McAvany on network Seven’s Olympic coverage or maybe a spot flogging ab-machines on day time television.
Hindsight is always 20-20, but maybe you should have thought twice before following in the comeback footsteps of Huegil, Trickett & every rock and roll band on this year’s “A Day on the Green” bill. Like these aging rockers, you also now forced to trade only on hits of the past, because your failure has cost you your superhuman allure, and all the dollar signs that come with it.
I don’t to know Ian personally and cannot speak of his preferences, but if the rumours that have dogged him throughout his career hold any water, then he still has one option to reinvigorate his ailing career. Yes, the ‘Magda Makeover’ could provide the vocation resuscitation the Thorpeado is in dire need of. Between the range of pearl necklaces for men (an instant punchline), the fruity vocal undertones, the regular appearances on Australia’s next top model & the West End Musical poses (see below), you’d be hard up finding someone who was genuinely surprised if Thorpe came out. If it were to happen, it may just open a few doors for the former swimming champion and that is by no means just a reference to the one from the closet.
Sometimes, sport gets it right.
With every passing day, our world seems to get a little more cynical. The need to deconstruct things, to peer behind the curtain, to find the irony, generally to meme-ify our lives is very strong. One moment you’re a Ugandan warlord leading an army of soul-destroyed children and the next, George Clooney is coming after you. One day you make a celebrated film uncovering said warlord, and 72 hours later you’re a hashtag punchline.
It’s hard to find a lot of joy in our world anymore. Raw emotion is tempered by the public eye, or at least guarded, while we wait for the other shoe to drop.
This is as true in sport as it is in life. Often, our love of a game is overshadowed by the behaviour of the players, the administrators and the fans. When it comes to cynicism in sport, the pinnacle is surely the sport of football. And the cynical elite of football remains the English Premier League.
The 2011-2012 season has been a dark one for English Football. The Premier League has been beset by incidents of racism, one of which lead to the resignation of the national manager. Puerile behaviour has been seen from two of its most prominent, popular clubs – Manchester United and Liverpool – that threaten to push future clashes into the violent days of yesteryear. Highly paid superstars underperform (or refuse to play at all), coaches are thrown to the wolves and the usual drunken incidents and occasional arrests still pepper the English tabloids. All of this – and without once mentioning Joey Barton’s Twitter account, or Wayne Rooney’s hair.
Last Saturday, however, an incident occurred during an FA Cup quarter-final tie which – for the briefest of moments – cut through the rubbish and narcissism and reminded us that the players, the fans and administrators are all very human.
With 5 minutes remaining in the first half, the score tied at 1-1, Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapsed untouched to the ground, his heart no longer beating. In an instant, referee Howard Webb and players – many of them Tottenham opposition – were frantically waving medical staff on to the ground.
Fabrice Muamba is 23 years old. He is hardly much older than his 3 year old son Josh, and younger than his 27 year old fiancee, Shauna.
As he lay on the turf of Tottenham’s White Hart Lane, the actions of medical staff making it obvious to the crowd that CPR was being administered, managers and players looked on in horror. The audience fell silent, followed by sporadic, confused bursts of applause. The Bolton fans began to chant Muamba’s name and their Tottenham opposites followed, hoping their calls would be heard by a young man on the brink of death. Muamba was rushed to a waiting ambulance, medics shocking his chest with a defibrillator along the way. The referee ordered disconsolate players into the dressing sheds and the game was swiftly abandoned.
In the days that followed this sad incident, the reaction of the sporting community brought momentary joy to a cynical world.
Mention the names Christiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez or Jermaine Defoe to any football lover and you will be met with varying degrees of gushing praise or spitting vitriol. These are controversial, talented men who at times have demonstrated gross vanity and poor behaviour.
Playing against Muamba that evening, Defoe was photographed in tears, standing over the frantic medics, being embraced by his teammate Gareth Bale. Behind them, Rafael Van der Vaart clasped his hands together in prayer and looked towards the heavens. The following morning, Defoe was in the carpark of the London Chest Hospital, arm-in-arm with his mother, to visit his Bolton opposition.
Luis Suarez did very little, but like so many other players, did what little he could. He dedicated his FA Cup goal to Muamba and went to his Twitter account – so recently employed to apologise, or mount a misguided defence of his acts, to say simply “Keep fighting buddy. Don’t give up”.
A world away from Bolton, at the Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, Christiano Ronaldo and many of his teammates took the field wearing shirts that read “Get Well Soon Muamba.”
There was something for everyone in this sporting story that was bigger than any game.
The scientists among us will point to the professionalism of the Tottenham and Bolton medical staff, and the presence of ambulances and paramedics at all fixtures. The response in those first few moments are undoubtedly why Muamba is alive today. Imagine if this had been a local kick-around, if that man was your husband or partner or friend…
The religious will give thanks for the spontaneous eruption of prayer, urged on by the spreading tweets of footballing superstars and the undershirt of Gary Cahill – a former Bolton teammate of Muamba’s, who now plays for Chelsea. We have gotten so used to players lifting their shirts to reveal personal messages like “Why Always Me?”, it was nice to see an absence of “me” in the simple message “Pray 4 Muamba”. This gesture escaped a booking, though back in October, Mario Balotelli was not so lucky. Imagine Gary Cahill taking the field as a defender and friend, wearing that sentiment on your chest, trusting yourself to score…
The humanists will scoff at the talk of deities and take inspiration from the Tottenham season ticket holder – Dr. Andrew Deaner, a cardiologist – who made his way onto the turf and ended up riding in the ambulance with Muamba and Bolton manager Owen Coyle. The religious will say God put him there, but perhaps we can all agree it is a good story. Imagine being the ground steward – normally the subject of drunken abuse and violence – suddenly asked to allow a doctor on to the pitch as confusion reigned…
The romantics will relate the stories of the White Hart Lane crowd, who fell silent at the collapse of an enemy combatant. Suddenly creed and colour held little meaning, as horrified supporters watched doctors trying to restart a young man’s heart. Imagine being part of that crowd, cheering the man’s name, willing him to his feet, applauding the cancellation of the game and then filing out of the stands silently into the North London chill…
More than anything, the incident served to remind us of the ridiculous, idle nature of the sporting contest. Barring the odd UFC fan, we are not Caesars. Nobody is meant to die. I would like to think that if captain Scott Parker had turned to the Tottenham crowd, he would have seen 36,000 thumbs all turned upwards, held high in the air. We love our rolling circus of sport, but when the whistle blows, everybody is meant to walk away.
Thankfully – perhaps improbably – Muamba is alive. He has spoken to his family, is moving his limbs and doctors are hopeful of a recovery. It is still a sad story – a young man and his family have been shaken, his health and career in jeopardy, but sometimes the world of sport throws colour on our gray world. Sometimes, sport gets it right.
The Buck Must Stop With Roman
If you listen closely enough, you can almost hear the managerial guillotine being sharpened by one of Roman Abramovich’s heavies round Stamford Bridge way. With Carlo Ancelotti’s claret barely dry, even the pseudo-mobster doing the sharpening probably thought it would have been longer than this before he was preparing the blade for what has now become a yearly ritual.
The ever filling basket of heads contains some of the biggest names in management – world cup winners, self-ordained special ones and others that have won virtually every club trophy up for grabs on the continent. But the soon to be latest victim, Andres Villas Boas was by far the biggest ‘experiment’ of the bunch – brought in with the fanfare and expense of a star player but waving a C.V. that had fewer lines than a limerick.
But due to fractions amongst the squad, a poor run of results and some very public spats with some of the club’s ageing stars, the metaphorical destiny of the young Portuguese looks more and more assured to involve a rolling cranium.
For Villas Boas, the writing has been on the wall since Mr Abramovich began showing up to the Chelsea training grounds with the regularity of a vegetarian, which one could only suspect, lead the young manager to suffer a few unwanted bowel movements himself. Then, following the Champions league game against Napoli, the Chelsea owner demanded to know why the experienced trio of Lampard, Cole & Essien did not start during the 3-1 defeat.
Since that time it’s all gone a bit Young & the Restless at Chelsea – with Lampard (the restless) describing his relationship with the manager as ‘not ideal’, the Manager in turn joking that he and Lampard were not married to each other and David Luiz (the young) implying in an interview given in Portuguese that Lampard should remember he is only an ‘employee’. This unfolding soap opera has been very embarrassing to the club and is fairly concrete proof that the dressing room divisions are beyond repair.
Many believe that the only reason AVB has received a stay of execution thus far, has been the costs that would be incurred by Abramovich if he were to remove him. With an initial outlay of around £28 million spent bringing Villa Boas in from Porto, his hiring has turned out to be the most expensive failed experiment since John Travolta tried to take Scientology to the big screen.
Despite implementing a bottomless pockets policy since taking charge at Chelsea and being a regular on the Forbes rich list, even a man like Abramovich begins to feel the sting of £64 million pounds spent over the last 4 years on managerial changes alone.
It is with this in mind that I must suggest that Roman Abramovich should for once keep his supersized wallet (or more accurately diamond encrusted money clip) in his pocket, and after removing Villas Boas, take the Chelsea management role himself.
Now, here me out – whilst I’d agree that this seems like an suggestion that borders on the ridiculous, don’t you think the Chelsea players might just find something extra during the second half with a well connected Russian giving the half time talks? After all, he came out of the other side of the ‘Russian Aluminium Wars’ with a fortune and a face full of hardened stubble, and that feuding over the control of the smelters was said to have cost around 100 lives.
Who would ever doubt he could excel in the area of premier league diva motivation? Never underestimate fear as the greatest motivator of all.
The back four may just tighten up significantly if they knew that shipping a couple more goals could see Polonium 210 winding up in the drink bottles. Torres might find his goal scoring mojo if he thought his wife and child might be kidnapped by burly henchmen . Even Raul Meireles, a man with a hardened image and the ink of death row inmate, would probably find an extra yard of pace.
This whole scenario seems as likely as Tony Soprano taking charge at the New York Red Bulls, which itself is an imaginative scenario worth contemplating. I could just see Thierry Henry telling locker room stories about his undefeated season at Arsenal, only to be cut short by Mr Soprano with a menacing reminder that he’s only ever as good as his last envelope.
But for the Russian billionaire Abramovich, his last 9 years have been spent closely monitoring the football club, attended training sessions, watched countless matches and at times making his presence known in the locker room. Half the reason he has been forced to install a revolving door at Chelsea, for managers use only, are his strong opinions regarding squad recruitment and who should be playing.
Isn’t it time for the Gremlin with access to the Kremlin to take full control of his beloved Chelsea, particularly as it has been his unyielding views which have been the main problem for the various managers he has put in place. Granted, I can’t imagine to the it would attract a huge number of Europe’s top players to Chelsea, but there is little doubt their current squad might start to play as though their lives depended on it.
NRL 2012 – Fearless Predictions
With the 2012 NRL season only hours away, I thought it was high time to commit my thoughts on the season to the internet for posterity. If nothing else they should provide a good laugh in about six months time.
Increasingly, predicting the top 8 sides at the start of the season is an impossible task. Who would have thought 12 months ago that the Roosters, Titans and Raiders would figure amongst the also rans in 2011, or that Manly Warringah, a team which had fallen over the line into 8th place the previous season before losing their young halfback to Canterbury, would finish 2nd on their way to winning the premiership?
Despite this, I have stuck my neck out and predicted the finishing position of all 16 teams. Further, I have separated the teams into four groups
- Will not make the 8
- May make the 8
- Should make the 8
- Will make the 8
When I am wrong about sides in the middle two groups, I will claim that those reading were given fair warning about the uncertain nature of the prediction.
For each team, I am providing a summary of some vital statistics before getting into the rationale behind my prediction. This includes their 2011 finishing position, an ‘expert’ consensus in the form of aggregated predictions from the Rugby League journalists at the Sydney Morning Herald and the Daily Telegraph, as well as the percentage chance each team has of winning the premiership and making the finals, as implied by Betfair’s odds on the 29th February.
The ‘Expert Consensus’ finishing position was calculated by scoring each of the expert top 8 predictions (8 pts for 1st place, 7 points for 2nd place and so on) and then ranking the total points for each team, and the ‘Chance of Finals’ is simply what proportion of the experts tipped that team to make the 8.
For each team I have separately discussed the changes to the roster and my prediction for 2012. The Roster analysis section aims to highlight not just the major offseason signings, but also teams which were missing key players for a significant amount of time in 2011, with the implication being that having these players fully fit for 2012 can provide a similar boost to signing a new face.
A quick analysis of the betfair odds illustrates the difficulty of my task – even those teams ranked at the bottom of the league are felt to have a roughly 30% chance of making the 8! It is this uncertainty that makes every fan approach each season with such hope and expectation.
I will offer no prediction for the eventual premier, other than to say that I think they will definitely come from my ‘Will make the finals’ group.
Without further ado, onto the predictions
Will not make the 8
16. Penrith Panthers
2011 Season – 12th (9 – 15)
Expert Consensus – 15th (14% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 31% chance of finals, 3% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
Penrith have lost significant experience and quality from their pack with Petero Civoniceva, 2003 premiership winner Trent Waterhouse and Matthew Bell all departing. Off season recruitment has focussed on partially replenishing the depth of the forwards; however Clint Newton, Chris Armit, Cameron Ciraldo and Danny Galea all seem to lack the quality of the key departures. Sam Mckendry and Tim Grant will be given the opportunity to step up and become leaders of the pack. A fully fit Michael Gordon (played only 9 matches in 2011), Luke Lewis (14) and Michael Jennings (15) are expected to provide a boost.
2012 Outlook
The side which finished 2nd in the 2011 home and away rounds struggled to get out of the blocks in 2012, and never really threatened to reach the finals. The kicking game which had led to so many tries in 2011 did not prove as effective in 2012 which often led to the Panthers struggling to score points, and injuries to key personal did not help. The roster appears to have gone backwards since last year, and their does seem to be a sense out Penrith way that this will be a rebuilding year under new coach Ivan Cleary, with football boss Phil Gould recently stating that the teams goal for the year was to train hard, play hard, and compete every week. Penrith’s hopes of making the 8 this season rely on the fitness of the key outside backs and Luke Walsh’s ability to spark them – significant improvement is required in this area from 2011. They may not come last, but it is hard to see them figuring in the finals of what looks to be an exceptionally even competition.
15. Gold Coast Titans
2011 Season – 16th (6 – 18)
Expert Consensus – 16th(0% chance of finals)
Welcome to the GC, bitch!
Betfair Odds – 38% chance of finals, 2% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The Titans were constantly in the news last season as they signed several of the biggest free agent names. Jamal Idris and Beau Champion arrive to bolster a backline that looked undersized and short of strike power last season, while Nate Myles and Luke Douglas will be welcome additions to the ageing pack. Myles should be a like for like replacement for the departing Anthony Laffranchi, while the inspirational Preston Campbell will leave a hole in the Titans playmaking ranks that has struggled since the departure of Matt Rogers. The loss of Nathan Friend will not be felt given he was restricted to 4 matches last season. A full year from Ashley Harrison (played 13 matches in 2011) and winger Kevin Gordon (2) would provide a boost.
2012 Outlook
From an early point last season the focus for the Titans seemed to be more recruitment for 2012 rather than performance in 2011. On paper, the team closely resembled the highly successful outfit of 2009-10, however several of the older stars who had been integral to that success seemed to noticeably slow in 2011, and the younger players of the Gold Coast were unable to pick up the load. The Coast has recruited well and on paper are a side that could easily trouble the top 8. Concerns surround the lack of a 2nd playmaking option to support Scott Prince, and the downturn in Prince’s form last year. The former Tigers playmaker was consistently excellent throughout his three seasons with the joint venture club, and was the key player in the Titan’s first four seasons. At 32 (Happy Birthday for Monday, Scott!) it seems unlikely that Prince will rediscover top form, and without that, I don’t see the titans making the 8.
14. Sydney Roosters
2011 Season – 16th (10 – 14)
Expert Consensus – 12th (10% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 37% chance of finals, 3% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The key departures of Todd Carney, Nate Myles and Jason Ryles have not been matched by the quality of the arrivals, but some may consider it a case of addition by subtraction with Carney and Myles (rightly or wrongly) blamed for much of the unrest at the club last season. Young prop Martin Kennedy sparked origin talk after several damaging performances early last season, however injury cut his contribution to just 8 games last year. A full season from him will go a long way to offsetting the losses in the forwards. Young centre Tautau Moga is expected to make an impact during his first season in first grade. A lot more playmaking weight will fall on the shoulders of blues half Mitchell Pearce in the absence of Carney.
2012 Outlook
"Junior, Junior, Junior, Junior......"
The Roosters season fell apart after round 4 last year, and it did not take long before all the journos who had praised Carney and Brian Smith came to bury them with relish. This is a huge season for Mitchell Pearce. His predecessors in the NSW number 7 jersey, Brett Kimmorley and Andrew Johns, made a habit of leading their teams into September each season. Pearce will have his hands full getting this squad to the finals, but if he is able to it will be the coming of age of him as a player. The Roosters finished last season in great style winning their last four matches, and will be hoping to continue that roll early in 2012.
13. South Sydney Rabittohs
2011 Season – 10th (11 – 13)
Expert Consensus – 8th (57% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 47% chance of finals, 5% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The major off season addition was Matt King, whom the red and green will be hoping has a bit more left in the tank than Matt Orford did upon his return from England. Sam Burgess and Roy Asotasi played a combined 12 matches last year so expect the bunnies pack to be even stronger in 2012 if those two take the field regularly, though an injury free season may seem an optimistic expectation for Roy given his history at the Rabbitohs. The task of replacing Chris Sandow will fall to rookie Adam Reynolds and it is here that Souths appear significantly weaker than last season. Reynolds will need to produce a Cherry – Evans type debut season to adequately replicate the impact Sandow had upon the club during 2011.
2012 Outlook
Each of the last four seasons has commenced with high hopes for the Rabbitohs, but they are yet to add to their one finals appearance since reinstatement to the competition. Chris Sandow was immense for the bunnies last year and his absence will be keenly felt. Daly Cherry-Evans has raised the bar for rookie halfbacks coming into the league and Adam Reynolds will certainly be feeling the pressure to perform. The Rabbitohs have enough class in the pack and strikepower in the backs to cause problems for any team on their day. Service to the outside men has been a problem in the past, with Greg Inglis underutilised last season, and unless the bunnies can fix this they are unlikely to make the 8. That they will be relying on a rookie to address this leads me to conclude they will not be playing in September this season.
12. St.George-Illawarra Dragons
2011 Season – 5th (14 – 1 – 9)
Expert Consensus – 10th (38% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 52% chance of finals, 5% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The Dragons backline has lost a lot of strikepower due to the departure of Darius Boyd and the retirement of Mark Gasnier. Those gaps are expected to be filled by the locally produced Stanley brothers, Chase and Kyle. The loss of several bench forwards should be ably filled if youngsters Mitch Rein and Jack De Belin flourish.
2012 Outlook
Will Jamie see enough chances at goal to get the Dragons to September?
Following an incredible two and a half season run at the top of the league, during which they amassed a 44 – 15 record, the Dragons came right back to the pack over the 2nd half of last season. The 2012 side is not hugely weaker than the previous edition, but it is weaker all the same. Throughout their dominant run the Dragons built their victories methodically, by playing risk free football, taking the points on offer, and relying upon their superior defensive ability to hold the lead. I expect their defensive standards to be maintained under new coach Steve Price, but their reduced ability to put points on the board without Boyd and Gasnier will put too much pressure on the defence to restrict opponents to low scores. The Dragons won only 4 of their last 14 matches last season (including finals) and while I expect their win % to be better than that in 2012, it won’t be sufficient to get them into the 8.
May make the 8
11. Cronulla Sharks
2011 Season – 13th (7 – 17)
Expert Consensus – 13th (14% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 38% chance of finals, 3% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
Todd Carney is the biggest name in an impressive recruiting class that includes Isaac De Gois, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Fifita and Ben Ross. Fifita, Gibbs and Ross provide readymade replacements for the two key offseason departures, Luke Douglas and Kade Snowden.
"I'll never drink again!"
2012 Outlook
The Sharks have pinned their hopes on the undeniable talent and questionable commitment of Todd Carney who has been shown the road by his previous team due to behavioural issues. The last time that happened, his new team reached the Grand Final, and Carney won the Dally M medal. So it is understandable that the hopes of Sharks fans are sky high this preseason. I certainly expect an improved performance from both the Sharks this season, as Carney will bring the flair and playmaking ability that the Sharks have lacked in recent years. The forward pack is strong and they will be in the match most weeks, but ultimately they lack the strike power out wide and will rely too much on Carney in the playmaking area to make the finals.
10. Parramatta Eels
2011 Season – 14th (6 – 1 – 17)
Expert Consensus – 14th (24% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 39% chance of finals, 4% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
It says a lot about Parramatta’s recent halfbacks that new number 7 Chris Sandow is being touted as a replacement for a man who retired 22 years ago, rather than Jeff Robson. Overshadowed by the Sandow hype are the arrivals of fellow backs Willie Tonga, Esi Tonga and Ben Roberts. Justin Poore can essentially be regarded as a new recruit given his
"Chris who?"
negligible number of matches played since his arrival at the club. None of the departing players had any significant impact on the 2011 campaign.
2012 Outlook
Stephen Kearney’s second season in charge finds him better equipped for success than in 2011. The Eels have recruited well and the arrival of Sandow will ensure that Jarryd Hayne will not have to take over the roles of both ballplayer and ball runner, which he attempted to do all too often last season. The Eels showed impressive fight last season, and were well in the contest for the majority of their losses. The arrival of Sandow should convert several of those close losses into wins this season, however I’m predicting that while they will remain in the finals race until the closing stages, they will fall just short. Sandow played the season of his life last year and could not get Souths to September. He’ll need to produce a similar effort this year if the Eels are to make it.
9. New Zealand Warriors
2011 Season – 6th (14 – 10)
Expert Consensus – 6th (62% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 60% chance of finals, 10% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The Warriors return with a very similar 17 to that which contested last year’s Grand Final, with Lance Hohaia and Aaron Heremaia the only departures. The gap at the hooking spot is expected to be filled by Nathan Friend. Several graduates of the premiership winning Under 20’s side are expected to press for spots in first grade throughout the year, with damaging centre Konrad Hurrell the one most likely to impress.
2012 Outlook
The Warrior’s talent and roster is certainly capable of seeing finals action for what would be the 3rd straight year. However, I feel that this team is the most likely of the favourites to drop out of the 8. James Maloney’s impending departure has the potential to be a distraction. Shaun Johnson has tremendous talent but will it will likely take a few seasons of maturation before finding the week to week consistency that is required. The victory over hot favourites the Storm in the preliminary final last year showed the heights that the Warriors are capable of scaling, yet two weeks previous they were humbled by 40 in Brisbane, and they were seconds away from exiting the finals in straight sets before Inu’s miraculous try vs the Tigers. At their best the Warriors are a definite top 4 side and premiership contender, however I am predicting their campaign will reach those heights infrequently enough to see them finish just outside the 8.
Should make the 8
8. Canterbury Bulldogs
2011 Season – 9th (12 – 12)
Expert Consensus – 9th (57% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 52% chance of finals, 5% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The Dogs high profile recruit for 2012, James Graham, arrives with a workhorse reputation forged during an exceptional career in the English super league. He will have justified his fee if he can replicate the impact of recent English arrivals Gareth Ellis and Sam Burgess. Jamal Idris took his extreme raw talent and questionable work rate to the Titans in the offseason which along with the retirement of captain Andrew Ryan were the notable losses from the roster which finished 9th last year. New captain Michael Ennis was restricted to only 12 matches during 2011 and you would have to think that if available during the closing weeks of the season he would’ve made the difference between making the finals and missing out.
"Don't worry big fella... I will never leave"
2012 Outlook
2011 was a tumultuous year for the Dogs off the field, as the club sacked their coach mid-season for the first time in their history, before achieving the unlikely coup of attracting premiership coach Des Hasler to Belmore. On field, Canterbury started brightly and lead the competition early behind the brilliant form of Jamal Idris, before fading over the 2nd half of the year. New captain Michael Ennis is the key to everything the dogs produce in attack and I’m expecting that an injury free year from him combined with the positive influence of Hasler and new recruit Graham will see the dogs sneak into the 8 in 2012.
7. Canberra Raiders
2011 Season – 15th (6 – 18)
Expert Consensus – 11th (24% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 33% chance of finals, 4% chance of premiership
The end of the Raider's 2010 season. And 2011.
Roster Analysis
With Shaun Berrigan the only significant newcomer, the improvement in the Raider’s line-up is almost entirely due to the prospect of their stars having better luck with injury in 2012. Terry Campese’s 8 minute long season has been well documented, but in addition Josh Dugan managed only 13 matches for the lime green in 2011 and Tom Learoyd Lahrs played only 12. The retirement of inspirational captain Allan Tongue will leave a hole in the dressing room.
2012 Outlook
I am tipping the Raiders to be the big improvers of 2012. The combination of huge forwards, a great ball running and ball playing half and fast backs proved impossible to handle for the majority of sides over the back half of 2010. 2011 started in similar fashion with a thrashing of the Sharks but after round 1 the Raiders went on to win only 5 of the next 23 matches to only narrowly avoid the wooden spoon on for and against. As the losses snowballed, confidence drained out of the young side and several of their defeats were more self-inflicted than due to great play by the opposition. If Campese can return to the form of 2010 and Dugan can stay on the paddock for the full season, I’m tipping a return to the finals for the Green Machine. A strong start to the season will be crucial to regain confidence from the horrors of 2011.
6. North Queensland Cowboys
2011 Season – 7th (14 – 10)
Expert Consensus – 7th (38% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 52% chance of finals, 6% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The roster is largely unchanged from 2011. Willie Tonga has left for Parramatta, and his centre spot will be filled by either new arrival Kane Linnett or Antonia Winterstein, whose promising 2011 season was reduced cut short at 9 matches due to injury. If Robert Lui can overcome his off field problems, he will challenge the incumbent Ray Thompson for the right to partner Johnathon Thurston in the halves. Toyota Cup cannonball Jason Taumalolo has huge potential and should play a major role in the Cowboys season.
2012 Outlook
big. unit.
The Cowboys rediscovered their mojo in 2011, after cutting loose a lot of the dead wood that had dragged down the 2010 campaign. They have the best halfback and best prop in the game, and Dairy Farmers Stadium is once again a fortress after the Cowboys won 9 of 12 there last season. There is significant upside for the club if Tariq Sims continues to emerge as one of the most damaging backrowers in the league, if Jason Taumalolo can have the expected impact and if Robert Lui can form a dangerous partnership with JT. The roster is strong enough to ensure a return to the finals. Concerns will arise if Willie Tonga’s finishing is unable to be replaced or if Thurston’s domination of the ball stunts the development of his young halves partners – it is not for no reason that the cowboys have been unable to find a permanent halves partner for Thurston since his arrival in 2005.
Will make the 8
5. Brisbane Broncos
2011 Season – 3rd (18 – 6)
Expert Consensus – 5th (76% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 60% chance of finals, 9% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
A 34 yr old departs, a 36 yr old arrives. Petero Civoniceva is well known to Bronco’s fans, and he will add depth and experience to an already impressive pack. Corey Norman will be given the unenviable task of filling Lockyer’s enormous shoes at five eighth.
Yow Yeh's aerial ability has helped Broncos fans forget about whatsisname
2012 Outlook
Ordinarily, a club which won 18 matches with a young exceptionally talented line-up, and which was retaining every player except a 34 yr old would be raging premiership favourites. But when that player is future immortal Darren Lockyer the equation is not that simple. The Broncos have divided opinion this off season like few teams I can remember – some think that they will miss the finals, some expect them to win the premiership. The potential is there for both. I think that Lockyer’s absence will be felt most in the big games, and that the team will not quite reach the heights of 2011. However given they were 6 wins ahead of 9th place last season, they can afford to slip a little and still comfortably make the finals.
4. Newcastle Knights
2011 Season – 8th (12 – 12)
Expert Consensus – 3rd (100% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 67% chance of finals, 10% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
Nathan Tinkler and Wayne Bennett wasted no time in attracting some big names to the Knights cause. Darius Boyd and up and coming star Alex McKinnon have followed their mentor up the F3, while Tahu, Buderus and Snowden have all been persuaded to return home. The Knights roster is undoubtedly stronger than in 2011, with Isaac De Gois Cameron Ciraldo and Adam Macdougall the key losses.
"It's a new day"
2012 Outlook
It’s a new day in Newcastle. One of the poorest clubs in the league became one of the wealthiest overnight upon Nathan Tinkler’s wildly popular takeover of the club. Along with a decidedly stronger squad came supercoach Wayne Bennett. Bennett’s impact on St.George-Illawarra cannot be overstated. He took essentially the same squad that had scraped into 7th in 2008 and led them to back to back minor premierships and a first premiership in 31 years by instilling a strong defensive mentality and disciplined attacking system. He arguably has more to work with talent wise than he did at the Dragons and accordingly expectations are high of a return to the glory days. This could be a huge year for Kurt Gidley, who often has seemed guilty of trying to do too much in recent seasons. If Bennett can bring some direction and focus to the Knights the squad is strong enough for top 4 honours.
3. Wests Tigers
2011 Season – 4th (15 – 9)
Expert Consensus – 1st (95% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 71% chance of finals, 12% chance of premiership
It all clicked for the Tigers in week 1 of the finals. Seven days later, they were gone.
Roster Analysis
The signing of Adam Blair and resultant departures of Bryce Gibbs and Andrew Fifita appeared to cause major disruption to the Tiger’s 2011 campaign. The club will be expecting that the NZ vice-captain will repay them during 2012 with his distinctive mix of strength and skill. Robert Lui’s halfback spot will be (at least initially) filled by Tim Moltzen, with 19 yr old James Tedesco taking over at fullback. Chris Lawrence and Lote Tuqiri played only 9 matches each during 2011 and their return to full fitness will be a big boost to what was already one of the NRL’s most potent backlines.
2012 Outlook
The Tigers looked premiership winners at times during their 9 game winning streak last year, however for the 2nd consecutive year were unable to hold a halftime lead in a finals game, exiting to a 79th minute Krisnan Inu try that was as heartbreaking in both its unorthodox nature and the ease to which it could have been prevented. The deep gloom hanging over Tigers fans was partially lifted by the news that crowd favourite Tim Moltzen would be remaining for at least one more season. At their best, the Tigers have the squad to win the premiership, with an international studded pack that rivals the fearsome Balmain 6 of the late 80’s, and a potent backline sparked by Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence. They can also be maddeningly inconsistent – it is worth remembering that prior to the 9 game streak they sat at 7 – 9 and looked unlikely to make the finals. The key determinant of the Tigers success this year appears to be the halves partnership. If Tim Moltzen can make a success of it and reduce the pressure on Marshall the Tigers should expect top 4.
2. Manly Sea Eagles
2011 Season – 2nd (18 – 6)
Expert Consensus – 4th (90% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 57% chance of finals, 8% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
The bulk of the premier’s squad returns to defend the title, with wingers William Hopoate and Michael Robertson the only departures. Their spots will be taken by the fit again David Williams and Michael Oldfield. Jason King missed the back end of the premiership season through injury and his return will boost the forward pack.
2012 Outlook
Manly’s 2012 season will offer fascinating empirical evidence on the question “How important is a coach to the team’s success?” If Hasler were still taking the reins at Narrabeen, the defending premiers would expect to be on the front line of premiership betting. As it is, after a disruptive off season, the side containing all the key players from last year’s triumph is only rated 5th favourites on Betfair. Key performers Brett and Glenn Stewart, Watmough and Lyon are all in the prime of their careers, while young stars Daly Cherry Evans, Kieran Foran and Tony Williams figure to reach greater heights as they gain experience. DCE plays like a veteran and would not seem to be a prime candidate to suffer the dreaded 2nd year syndrome that has effected other playmakers in recent years (Ahem.. Tim Smith.. cough cough). It would take a major premiership hangover to see the Sea Eagles miss the top 4.
1. Melbourne Storm
2011 Season – 1st (19 – 5)
Expert Consensus – 2nd (100% chance of finals)
Betfair Odds – 67% chance of finals, 11% chance of premiership
Roster Analysis
Another big name from the glory days departs in the form of Adam Blair, while recent arrival Beau Champion has left for the sunnier climate of the Gold Coast. Two veteran forwards, Jason Ryles and Ryan Hoffman, arrive to be rejuvenated by the Bellamy methods.
2012 Outlook
The storm roster appears slightly weaker than in 2011, but as long as they retain the best ‘spine’ in the league they are a strong chance of being thereabouts in September. Last year was the 4th time in the last 6 seasons that the Storm have finished on top after the premiership rounds, and they won the grand final in one of those other two seasons. Some felt that they overachieved to finish first in 2011 however with a stable playing roster, imposing home record and a Craig Bellamy inspired consistency of effort and performance that is the envy of the league, I’m tipping them to repeat the does in 2012. 
