If your club did not qualify for the finals, who would you like to see win the 2019 NRL premiership?
With the regular home-and-away season complete, many supporters of the bottom-eight clubs will be looking to jump on a bandwagon for this yearโs finals series.
Some fans of the bottom-eight clubs may choose to remain neutral and may not have any interest as to which team goes on to claim the premiership, let me make a case for each of the top eight clubs as to why you should choose them as your bandwagon team.
Melbourne Storm
This yearโs minor premiers, the Melbourne Storm are once again the benchmark. We continue to be in awe of the Stormโs system, their ability to continue developing young superstars, their long-term success and their professionalism.
Losing the likes of Billy Slater and Cooper Cronk, it shows how great their coach Craig Bellamy and captain Cameron Smith are as leaders of this club. Another Storm premiership would raise the bar even higher for every other club in the competition to strive for.
Sydney Roostersย
A foundation club with a long, proud history. The eastern suburbs-based team is arguably one of the best run clubs with one of the top playing rosters in the competition. Theyโre the reigning premiers and have a chance to become the first team in 26 years to win back-to-back titles.
This is the last hurrah for one of the gameโs modern greats, halfback Cooper Cronk, who has the opportunity to win a third straight premiership.
South Sydney Rabbitohsย
South Sydney are the most successful club in Australian rugby league history, with 21 premierships, but theyโve won only one title in the past 48 years. Sustained success is very important for a foundation club with a long, proud history, and history is very important for rugby league.
A second consecutive top-four finish, but this time with master coach Wayne Bennett at the helm to guide them through the finals. A fairytale premiership would be a fitting end for the retiring John Sutton, the Rabbitohsโ most-capped player in the clubโs history.
Canberra Raidersย
A club thatโs teased with so much potential over the past few years but havenโt turned that potential into premierships. Always an attacking threat, their defensive resolve this year has seen them return to the finals for the first time since 2016.
Winning this yearโs competition would be a dream-come-true for long suffering fans from the nationโs capital, ending a 25-year premiership drought for the Raiders.
Parramatta Eelsย
Speaking of premiership droughts and long-suffering fans, the Eels havenโt won anything since 1986 โ the longest run without a premiership of all current NRL clubs, besides the Warriors and Titans, who have never lifted the trophy.
Thereโs an entire generation of Eels supporters who are yet to experience the feeling of watching their team win a premiership.
From wooden-spooners to finalists, itโs been an admirable turn around. Coach Brad Arthur deserves much credit for what heโs done with the team, especially getting the best out of his halfback Mitchell Moses.
Manly-Warringah Sea Eaglesย
Itโs hard not to be impressed with Manly in 2019, after a couple of seasons of turmoil both on and off the field. Their unexpected finals appearance comes down to the Des effect.
Widely tipped to finish near the bottom of the ladder, coach Des Hasler has instilled a belief in his team both individually and collectively and has them playing to their potential. With the injury to fullback Tom Trbojevic and some key players missing, theyโll go into the finals series with the underdog tag.
Cronulla Sharks
Scraping into the top eight by winning their last game of the season, the Sharks qualify for their fifth consecutive finals appearance. Itโs been an up-and-down, controversial and injury-riddled season for the Shire-based club, so theyโve done well to get this far.
However, with the amount of talent and big match experience in their side, they have what it takes to replicate what the Cowboys did in 2017 and make the grand final from outside the top four, which would be a fitting end for retiring great and one-club stalwart Paul Gallen.
Brisbane Broncos
The NRLโs glamour club, with six premierships since their inception in 1988, have a prestigious and proud history and are the most supported club in the competition. Itโs hard to fathom that a club of such ilk hasnโt won a competition in 13 years.
They possess one of the youngest and most potent forward packs in the competition, but many would believe theyโre simply making up the numbers this finals series. It would be a hell of a fairytale if they can make it to the grand final.
Whichever club goes on to win this yearโs premiership, there will be a fairytale, feel-good or an in-awe story attached to it.
If youโre a supporter of a club that wonโt be featuring in this yearโs finals series or if your finals-bound club is eliminated before the grand final, itโs up to you which story appeals to you most when deciding which bandwagon you wish to jump on.
In order of preference:
Eels (for obvious reasons)
Raiders
Souths
Sharks
Roosters
Big gap (about the size of the Grand Canyon)
Storm
Broncos
Armageddon
Armageddon II (get it right this time)
Manly
Broncos and Sea Eagles making up numbers
Rabbits to choke and bow out in straight sets to the Sharks, classic sharks storm major semi, Roosters/Storm GF, hopefully refs are fair, and the Roosters go back to back.
Best case Storm go out in straight sets but not holding my breath
Melbourne Storm 1st, 2nd and 3rd then Raiders, then any other team. Very last would be the drug/salarycap/illegal coach/backdated penalties cheating Sharks.
Canberra
Souths
Parra
Manly
Brisbane
Easts
Melb
Cronulla
My tips this week.
Roosters by 4
Storm by 6
Sharks by 8
Eels by 1
if you’re a complete tosser, jump on the Storm, Roosters, Parramatta, Canberra, Sharks.
if you’re just going along with the crowd and don’t have a clue (and probably missing some teeth) Rabbitohs, Broncos
If you want to support a real team – Manly
Frankfurter comments “Burried my dice a couple of inches deep snake eyes with a touch of pepper, cover with dirt”
So your the culprit that caused all the drama at Lottoland this week?
It was Frank’s pepper, not asbestos as it turned out.
A little paranoid wouldn’t you say Franky?
Given Cordner, Tetevano (cleared) and after tonight very possibly Maria Hargrub free to play when Sam given 1 week for hair grooming, the credibility of the judiciary well and truly at its lowest. Should rooster supporters feel a little embarrassed?
Not at all,
This is the club with a culture of “who cares how we do it, win at any cost”
Explains the dismal and depleting membership numbers every year.
All opportunity presented on a platter for a rooster win on the table with no excuses for a loss after 2 hidings from Souths this year.
Given Cordner, Tetevano (cleared) and after tonight very possibly Hargreaves free to play when Sam given 1 week for hair grooming, the credibility of the judiciary well and truly at its lowest. Should rooster supporters feel a little embarrassed?
Not at all,
This is the club with a culture of “who cares how we do it, win at any cost”
Explains the dismal and depleting membership numbers every year.
All opportunity presented on a platter for a rooster win on the table with no excuses for a loss after 2 hidings from Souths this year.