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Zero Tackle’s NRL 2022 crystal ball: Premiers, wooden spoon, Dally M and more

All the big tips from our team ahead of the season kicking off!

Published by
Scott Pryde

The NRL season is here, with kick-off set down for tonight in Penrith as the Panthers take on the Sea Eagles.

Before things get going though, we asked our team at Zero Tackle to tip everything from the premiers, to the wooden spooners, to the State of Origin winners and Dally M Medal.

Read on for all of our 2022 NRL tips and predictions.

Jake Benoiton

Premiers: Melbourne Storm
Runners-up: Penrith Panthers
Wooden spoon:
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Nathan Cleary
Biggest surprise: Tom Trbojevic misses top three in Dally M
Biggest disappointment: Sydney Roosters to miss top four
Most improved player: Trey Mooney
Best young gun: Ezra Mam

Nick Bishop

Premiers: Penrith Panthers
Runners-up: Sydney Roosters
Wooden spoon: Wests Tigers
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Nathan Cleary
Biggest surprise: Cronulla Sharks sneak into top four
Biggest disappointment: Wests Tigers high hopes fall flat
Most improved player: Will Kennedy and Nicho Hynes
Best young gun: Joseph Suaalii and Izack Tago

Ed Carmine

Premiers: Penrith Panthers
Runners-up: Manly Sea Eagles
Wooden spoon: North Queensland Cowboys
State of Origin winners: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Tom Trbojevic
Biggest surprise: Parramatta claim double chance
Biggest disappointment: Newcastle Knights
Most improved player: Blake Taaffe
Best young gun: Ezra Mam

Max Delaney

Premiers: Manly Sea Eagles
Runners-up: Penrith Panthers
Wooden spoon: Newcastle Knights
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Nathan Cleary
Biggest surprise: North Queensland Cowboys making the top eight
Biggest disappointment: Canterbury Bulldogs
Most improved player: Moses Suli
Best young gun: Franklin Pele

Jack Fitzpatrick

Premiers: Melbourne Storm
Runners-up: Penrith Panthers
Wooden spoon: New Zealand Warriors
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Tom Trbojevic
Biggest surprise: Storm win minor premiership... Again.
Biggest disappointment: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Most improved player: Xavier Coates
Best young gun: Jason Saab

Mitch Keating

Premiers: Sydney Roosters
Runners-up: Penrith Panthers
Wooden spoon: New Zealand Warriors
State of Origin: New South Wales (3-0)
Dally M Medal: Nicho Hynes
Biggest surprise: Cronulla Sharks
Biggest disappointment: Brisbane Broncos
Most improved player: Sam Walker
Best young gun: Dominic Young

Matt Lane

Premiers: Sydney Roosters
Runners-up: Penrith Panthers
Wooden spoon: Newcastle Knights
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Luke Keary
Biggest surprise: Cronulla Sharks
Biggest disappointment: Canberra Raiders
Most improved player: Connor Watson or Nicho Hynes
Best young gun: Dominic Young

Dan Nicholls

Premiers: Penrith Panthers
Runners-up: Sydney Roosters
Wooden spoon: North Queensland Cowboys
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Nathan Cleary
Biggest surprise: Newcastle Knights (in a negative way)
Biggest disappointment: North Queensland Cowboys
Most improved player: Ronaldo Mulitalo
Best young gun: Tyrell Sloan

Xavier Pegum

Premiers: Parramatta Eels
Runners-up: Sydney Roosters
Wooden spoon: North Queensland Cowboys
State of Origin: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: Tom Trbojevic
Biggest surprise: Canterbury Bulldogs
Biggest disappointment: Cooper Johns
Most improved player: Matt Burton
Best young gun: Lachlan Ilias

Scott Pryde

Premiers: Sydney Roosters
Runners-up: Manly Sea Eagles
Wooden spoon: North Queensland Cowboys
State of Origin winners: New South Wales
Dally M Medal: James Tedesco
Biggest surprise: Brisbane Broncos to make top eight
Biggest disappointment: Canberra Raiders
Most improved player: Ashley Taylor
Best young gun: Tyrell Sloan

Stuart Thomas

Premiers: Penrith Panthers
Runners-up: Manly Sea Eagles
Wooden spoon: Wests Tigers
State of Origin: New South Wales 2-1
Dally M Medal: Nathan Cleary
Biggest surprise: St George Illawarra Dragons
Biggest disappointment: South Sydney Rabbitohs
Most improved player: Nick Meaney
Best young gun: Dominic Young

Published by
Scott Pryde