2011 NRL Preview - Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders

The 2011 NRL season season is just eight days away season, but in typical fashion, any goodwill and hype has been overshadowed by off-field scandal.

Less than 24 hours after the NRL launched the new season – complete with a veiled swipe at AFL attempts to invade league’s western Sydney heartland – it was plunged back into disgrace.

On a day of unprecedented drama:

·                     Leading player agent Sam Ayoub – whose clients include Jonathon Thurston, arguably the game’s best player – and former NRL player John Elias were charged with “attempt to obtain financial advantage by deception” as part of a long-running investigation into a failed betting sting on a Bulldogs-Cowboy match late last season.

·                     Bulldogs forward Ryan Tandy – another of Ayob’s clients - pleaded not guilty to four charges providing false evidence to police in relation to the game in question.

·                     NRL chief David Gallop threatened life bans for anyone involved in match-fixing.

·                     Reigning Dally M Medallist Todd Carney was fined $10,000 and warned his career was in jeopardy after being caught drink-driving last Saturday.

·                     The Newcastle Knights board debated a $100 million takeover bid from billionaire mining magnate Nathan Tinkler.

·                     And the Melbourne Storm attempted to exorcise the demons of last year’s salary cap scandal by launching their 2011 campaign.

All this, in the space of a few hours!

The links can take you to the in-depth stories on all the tumult; I am merely here to start my eight-part series of predictions on how the 16 teams will fare.

First up: the Brisbane Broncos and Canberra Raiders – two former powers heading in opposite directions, fast.

Brisbane Broncos

Home Ground: Suncorp Stadium 
 

Coach: Anthony Griffin 

Premierships: 6 (1992, 1993, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2006)

2010 finish: 10th

First five rounds: Cowboys (h), Raiders (a), Titans (a), Panthers (h), Knights (h)

IN: Ben Hannant, 25, prop (Canterbury-Bankstown), Dane Carlaw, 30, back row (Catalans Dragons - Super League), John Te Reo, 24, hooker (Wynnum Manly - Queensland Cup).

OUT: Israel Folau, Ashton Sims, Korbin Sims, Tariq Sims, Antonio Winterstein, Lagi Setu.

Why they can win it: Darren Lockyer remains the best five-eighth in the game not named ‘Benji’. Solid-offseason recruiting in the form of Hannant and Carlaw. Loss of Folau tempered by return of Justin Hodges.

Why they can’t: Absolute farce earlier this month when they sacked Ivan Henjak as coach only three weeks before kick-off. Anthony Griffin will have to put his stamp on the club, and quickly. Will the Broncs subconsciously be looking to next year and the expected return of the messiah, Wayne Bennett? Many had Peter Wallace pegged as the next big thing at halfback, but he’s been disappointing.

Prediction: 10th

 

Canberra Raiders

Home Ground: Canberra Stadium 

Coach: David Furner

Premierships: 3 (1989, 1990, 1994)

2010 finish: 7th

First five rounds: Sharks (h), Broncos (h), Wests (a), Titans (h), Penrith (a).

IN: Blake Ferguson, 20, wing (Cronulla), Brett White, 28, prop (Melbourne Storm), Matt Orford, 32, halfback (Bradford Bulls - Super League), Nathan Massey, 19, fullback (Canterbury-Bankstown).

OUT: Justin Carney (Sydney Roosters), Scott Logan (Retired), Troy Thompson (Melbourne Storm), Adam Mogg (Retired), Marc Herbert (Bradford Bulls - Super League), Joel Monaghan (Warrington Wolves).

Why they can win it: Forget Souths – THIS is the biggest, baddest pack in the league. Shillington, Leahroyd-Lars and White will form a fearsome troika at prop. Josh Dugan is the game’s next superstar at fullback. Orford guided a team to a premiership and Terry Campese won’t miss the whole season, as was first feared. Canberra also boast one of the fastest, most dynamic backlines in the comp.

Why they can’t: It’s going to take time for the likes of Orford to gel – Canberra can’t afford a slow start to the season. Campese won’t be as good when he does get back onto the field. Lacked creativity in opposition red zones last year.

Prediction: 3rd


Tomorrow: Canterbury-Bankstown and Cronulla-Sutherland.