David Edwards
NormReport Time - NRL
September 11th 2006 12:50
As last week we were unable to finish completely the review of the NRL teams out of the competition, today we will review all sides already out of the premiership race.
South Sydney Rabbitohs (finished 15th, 3 wins – 21 losses, 429 PF – 772 PA). Since their re-introduction into the league, the Rabbitohs have been the whipping boy of the competition, but at least this year they were able to raise their heads a bit higher. True they had the worst defeat in the club’s history, but they were able to scrape together two wins in a row in the tail end of the competition. Next year they are picking up a few good players, such as Asotasi and Kidwell. Plus giving Jason Taylor the reigns on the team is obviously a step in the right direction. If the Rabbitohs are able to play smartly in 2007, they could be seen jumping up a few spots on the ladder.
2006 Rating: 4/10 Potential: 6/10 Overall: 5/10
Sydney Roosters (finished 14th, 8 wins – 16 losses, 528 PF – 650 PA). The biggest disappointment this season has to be the Sydney Roosters. This fall from grace was so big that the impact might hit the club for a few more seasons ahead. Suspensions and injuries throughout the season, they never could get a strong foothold in the comp, winning only five games by the round 13, and adding only three more victories to that overall. But every side is allowed to have one bad patch, the Roosters should be able to claw back from this in no time, just not for a little while.
2006 Rating: 3/10 Potential: 6/10 Overall: 4/10
Cronulla Sharks (finished 13th, 9 wins – 15 losses, 515 PF – 544 PA). The problem with the Sharks this year was that they could never really hold onto their winning form. Up to Round 16, they had dropped only five games this season, but from there they did not win another game for the season. Their season form is summed up with their loss against Penrith, who in Round 24 was able to steal victory despite being 20 points down with only 20 minutes remaining. In 2006 Cronulla were good, but could not hold onto their form for the great finish. All this means is that they have the goods, and in 2007 they have to formulate, with or without coach Raper, how to grasp onto victory.
2006 Rating: 6/10 Potential: 7/10 Overall: 7/10
Penrith Panthers (finished 12th, 10 wins – 14 losses, 510 PF – 587 PA) Its easy to say that Penrith’s form this year was similar to the Sharks, but I think there is one important difference. Whilst Cronulla had a winning combination early in the season but dropped off, Penrith couldn’t seem to get it right from day one. It seemed that throughout 2006 the Panthers could only have a winning form for a couple of games before dropping two or three more. This is a serious flaw in their squad, and it means that they will have to seriously redevelop their team before 2007. In all honesty this could be the Panther’s form for some years unless some major changes are made.
2006 Rating: 5/10 Potential: 5/10 Overall: 5/10
West Tigers (finished 11th, 10 -14 losses, 490 PF – 565 PA). The West Tigers did in fact go through a massive premiership hangover, however it was not simply the missing drive for the championship that left their season in tatters. Players falling from injuries left, right and centre, including their young superstar Benji Marshall who suffered from an season ending knee injury, was a massive factor for their drop. But injuries aside, the Tigers were simply a shadow of their side in 2005. Without Marshall and other key figures, it was an impossible task to make a impact on the ladder, and hence from the later stages of the comp all they could effectively do is hope for a better year in 2007, and that Marshall will be fit and ready to attack for the Tigers.
2006 Rating: 4/10 Potential: 7/10 Overall: 5/10
New Zealand Warriors (finished 10th, 12 wins – 12 losses, 552 PF – 463 PA). Even before the 2006 season started, the Warriors started on the back foot. Struck with salary cap breaches, and penalised 4 points, they were always going to fight to earn any decent ladder standing this season. The Warriors were essentially the Warriors, the one side of the competition that is always a risk factor. In 2006 alone, they went down to Penrith who finished below them, 36-6, yet two weeks later they broke the Olympic Park graveyard curse and defeated the minor premiers Melbourne Storm 24-20. What is in store for them next season? In all honesty, only time will tell.
2006 Rating: 6/10 Potential: 7/10 Overall: 7/10
North Queensland Cowboys (finished 9th, 11 wins – 13 losses, 450 PF – 463 PA) If they ever show an example of how a team can self-implode in a single season, they only have to point to the Cowboys. In the first six rounds, they were unstoppable. Undefeated, everyone was toting how last year’s finalists will be able to earn the crown this year. From there everything went off plan. The club went under sex and drug scandals, and from Round 6 they just did not look like the same side. Only winning five more games for the rest of the season, they fell sharply from the top to out of contention rather quickly. But most sides are able to have a horrible season, and even though this would have hit the Cowboys hard as this looked like to be their year, they have the potential and talent to make 2007 their season to shine.
2006 Rating: 3/10 Potential: 8/10 Overall: 4/10
Parramatta Eels (finished 8th, 12 wins – 12 losses, 506 PF – 483 PA, knocked out in Qual Final against Melbourne) If the Cowboys were the prime example of self-implosion, then the Eels were a true rags to riches story. To Round 12 this season, they had only won three games, and the club was in tatters due to drink driving scandals by quite a few players of the club. However it all changed when coach Brian Smith walked out of the club when yet another player arrived drunk, and left it in the hands of assistant coach Jason Taylor. Taylor was able to single-handedly change the side around, and before anyone could realise, the Eels had won nine in a row and were able to compete in the finals. However, losing two games in the final stages of the season gave them the horror finals start against the Storm, and their fairytale dream soon ended. But 2006 showed how much potential the club has in its list at the moment, and when new coach comes in 2007, this is one side that the entire will have to watch out for.
2006 Rating: 8/10 Potential: 9/10 Overall: 7/10
Canberra Raiders (finished 7th, 13 wins – 11 losses, 525 PF – 573 PA Defeated in Qual. Final against Canterbury) The Raider essentially did what they do every season, perform solidly without any real flair. They did play well in 2006, but in fact they had to earn the victories the hard way, with eight of their 13 wins were decided by a try or less. They were always in contention for the finals, but not many people really considered that they could go much further than that. In all honestly I believe that they will perform at the same level next year, where they will be threat on the ladder, but not for the premiership
2006 Rating: 5/10 Potential: 4/10 Overall: 5/10
This is it for the NRL Report, stay tuned every Monday night as we review in more detail how the freshly departed sides in both AFL and NRL performed in 2006. Tomorrow we look at the AFL, and how the sides competed against the might from across the nation.
Until next time, sports minds.
South Sydney Rabbitohs (finished 15th, 3 wins – 21 losses, 429 PF – 772 PA). Since their re-introduction into the league, the Rabbitohs have been the whipping boy of the competition, but at least this year they were able to raise their heads a bit higher. True they had the worst defeat in the club’s history, but they were able to scrape together two wins in a row in the tail end of the competition. Next year they are picking up a few good players, such as Asotasi and Kidwell. Plus giving Jason Taylor the reigns on the team is obviously a step in the right direction. If the Rabbitohs are able to play smartly in 2007, they could be seen jumping up a few spots on the ladder.
Sydney Roosters (finished 14th, 8 wins – 16 losses, 528 PF – 650 PA). The biggest disappointment this season has to be the Sydney Roosters. This fall from grace was so big that the impact might hit the club for a few more seasons ahead. Suspensions and injuries throughout the season, they never could get a strong foothold in the comp, winning only five games by the round 13, and adding only three more victories to that overall. But every side is allowed to have one bad patch, the Roosters should be able to claw back from this in no time, just not for a little while.
2006 Rating: 3/10 Potential: 6/10 Overall: 4/10
Cronulla Sharks (finished 13th, 9 wins – 15 losses, 515 PF – 544 PA). The problem with the Sharks this year was that they could never really hold onto their winning form. Up to Round 16, they had dropped only five games this season, but from there they did not win another game for the season. Their season form is summed up with their loss against Penrith, who in Round 24 was able to steal victory despite being 20 points down with only 20 minutes remaining. In 2006 Cronulla were good, but could not hold onto their form for the great finish. All this means is that they have the goods, and in 2007 they have to formulate, with or without coach Raper, how to grasp onto victory.
Penrith Panthers (finished 12th, 10 wins – 14 losses, 510 PF – 587 PA) Its easy to say that Penrith’s form this year was similar to the Sharks, but I think there is one important difference. Whilst Cronulla had a winning combination early in the season but dropped off, Penrith couldn’t seem to get it right from day one. It seemed that throughout 2006 the Panthers could only have a winning form for a couple of games before dropping two or three more. This is a serious flaw in their squad, and it means that they will have to seriously redevelop their team before 2007. In all honesty this could be the Panther’s form for some years unless some major changes are made.
2006 Rating: 5/10 Potential: 5/10 Overall: 5/10
West Tigers (finished 11th, 10 -14 losses, 490 PF – 565 PA). The West Tigers did in fact go through a massive premiership hangover, however it was not simply the missing drive for the championship that left their season in tatters. Players falling from injuries left, right and centre, including their young superstar Benji Marshall who suffered from an season ending knee injury, was a massive factor for their drop. But injuries aside, the Tigers were simply a shadow of their side in 2005. Without Marshall and other key figures, it was an impossible task to make a impact on the ladder, and hence from the later stages of the comp all they could effectively do is hope for a better year in 2007, and that Marshall will be fit and ready to attack for the Tigers.
2006 Rating: 4/10 Potential: 7/10 Overall: 5/10
New Zealand Warriors (finished 10th, 12 wins – 12 losses, 552 PF – 463 PA). Even before the 2006 season started, the Warriors started on the back foot. Struck with salary cap breaches, and penalised 4 points, they were always going to fight to earn any decent ladder standing this season. The Warriors were essentially the Warriors, the one side of the competition that is always a risk factor. In 2006 alone, they went down to Penrith who finished below them, 36-6, yet two weeks later they broke the Olympic Park graveyard curse and defeated the minor premiers Melbourne Storm 24-20. What is in store for them next season? In all honesty, only time will tell.
2006 Rating: 6/10 Potential: 7/10 Overall: 7/10
North Queensland Cowboys (finished 9th, 11 wins – 13 losses, 450 PF – 463 PA) If they ever show an example of how a team can self-implode in a single season, they only have to point to the Cowboys. In the first six rounds, they were unstoppable. Undefeated, everyone was toting how last year’s finalists will be able to earn the crown this year. From there everything went off plan. The club went under sex and drug scandals, and from Round 6 they just did not look like the same side. Only winning five more games for the rest of the season, they fell sharply from the top to out of contention rather quickly. But most sides are able to have a horrible season, and even though this would have hit the Cowboys hard as this looked like to be their year, they have the potential and talent to make 2007 their season to shine.
2006 Rating: 3/10 Potential: 8/10 Overall: 4/10
Parramatta Eels (finished 8th, 12 wins – 12 losses, 506 PF – 483 PA, knocked out in Qual Final against Melbourne) If the Cowboys were the prime example of self-implosion, then the Eels were a true rags to riches story. To Round 12 this season, they had only won three games, and the club was in tatters due to drink driving scandals by quite a few players of the club. However it all changed when coach Brian Smith walked out of the club when yet another player arrived drunk, and left it in the hands of assistant coach Jason Taylor. Taylor was able to single-handedly change the side around, and before anyone could realise, the Eels had won nine in a row and were able to compete in the finals. However, losing two games in the final stages of the season gave them the horror finals start against the Storm, and their fairytale dream soon ended. But 2006 showed how much potential the club has in its list at the moment, and when new coach comes in 2007, this is one side that the entire will have to watch out for.
2006 Rating: 8/10 Potential: 9/10 Overall: 7/10
Canberra Raiders (finished 7th, 13 wins – 11 losses, 525 PF – 573 PA Defeated in Qual. Final against Canterbury) The Raider essentially did what they do every season, perform solidly without any real flair. They did play well in 2006, but in fact they had to earn the victories the hard way, with eight of their 13 wins were decided by a try or less. They were always in contention for the finals, but not many people really considered that they could go much further than that. In all honestly I believe that they will perform at the same level next year, where they will be threat on the ladder, but not for the premiership
2006 Rating: 5/10 Potential: 4/10 Overall: 5/10
This is it for the NRL Report, stay tuned every Monday night as we review in more detail how the freshly departed sides in both AFL and NRL performed in 2006. Tomorrow we look at the AFL, and how the sides competed against the might from across the nation.
Until next time, sports minds.
| 54 |
| Vote |
