Today, two teams that have a bit in common - they came into the competition as part of rugby league's brave new world in 1995, both made a grand final only to lose and have been up-and-down during their respective histories. One will probably have a good season, the other is my pick for the dreaded wooden spoon.
New Zealand Warriors
Home Ground: Ericsson Stadium
Coach: Ivan Cleary
Premierships: Nil
2010 finish: 5th
First five rounds: Eels (h), Wests (a), Dragons (h), Sharks (a), Roosters (h)
IN: Krisnan Inu, 23, centre (Parramatta), Feleti Mateo, 26, five-eighth/back row (Parramatta), Shaun Berrigan, 32, hooker (Hull FC), Steve Rapira, 22, back row (North Queensland Cowboys).
OUT: Brent Tate (North Queensland Cowboys), Siuatonga Likiliki (Newcastle Knights), Ian Henderson (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Elijah Niko (Melbourne Storm), Patrick Ah Van (Bradford Bulls - Super League), Mark Ioane (Canberra), Nafe Seluini (Penrith), Steve Price (Retired), Jesse Royal (Retired).
Why they can win it: Big, angry pack of forwards. Pretty slick backline. If the new faces of Inu, Mateo and Berrigan are at their best, the Warriors will be one of the most formidable and dangerous teams in the comp. Big if. The sheer mention of Manu Vatuvei’s name sends a chill down the spine of rival wingers.
Why they can’t: Inconsistent. Can’t win across the Tasman. Look the goods so often, only to slip up when it counts(last year’s finals, anyone?)
Prediction: 7th
North Queensland Cowboys
Home Ground: Dairy Farmers Stadium
Coach: Neil Henry
Premierships: Nil
2010 finish: 15th
First five rounds: Broncos (a), Knights (a), Storm (h), Eels (a), Titans (h)
IN: Antonio Winterstein, 22, wing (Brisbane Broncos), Ashton Sims, 25, prop (Brisbane Broncos), Ben Jones, 20, centre/five-eighth/hooker (Sydney Roosters), Blake Leary, 20, back row (Melbourne Storm), Brent Tate, 28, centre (Warriors), Dallas Johnson, 28, back row (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Dominic Walsh, 19, centre (Gold Coast Titans), Gavin Cooper, 25, back row (Penrith), Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa, 20, centre (St George Illawarra), Lancen Joudo, 22, hooker (Cronulla), Rick Thorby, 25, back row/prop (St George Illawarra), Tariq Sims, 20, prop: (Brisbane Broncos).
IN: Antonio Winterstein, 22, wing (Brisbane Broncos), Ashton Sims, 25, prop (Brisbane Broncos), Ben Jones, 20, centre/five-eighth/hooker (Sydney Roosters), Blake Leary, 20, back row (Melbourne Storm), Brent Tate, 28, centre (Warriors), Dallas Johnson, 28, back row (Catalans Dragons - Super League), Dominic Walsh, 19, centre (Gold Coast Titans), Gavin Cooper, 25, back row (Penrith), Kalifa Fai-Fai Loa, 20, centre (St George Illawarra), Lancen Joudo, 22, hooker (Cronulla), Rick Thorby, 25, back row/prop (St George Illawarra), Tariq Sims, 20, prop: (Brisbane Broncos).
OUT: Steve Rapira (Warriors), Anthony Watts (Sydney Roosters), Luke O'Donnell (Huddersfield Giants - Super League), Ty Williams (Retired), Carl Webb (Parramatta), Nick Slyney (Released), Willie Mason (Hull Kingston Rovers - Super League), Arana Taumata (Penrith), John Williams (Cronulla).
Why they can win it: That Jonathon Thurston can play a bit. Fai-Fai Loa could be a revelation catching Thurston’s insane cut-out balls and using lighting footwork to make defenders look foolish.
Why they can’t: Neil Henry could well be the first coach sacked after the season starts. He has virtually a new team to incorporate, which is good after a sad-sack side was only saved the wooden spoon by the naughty boys in Melbourne. However, the new faces look like scraps and cast-offs from other clubs. Sometimes, one man’s trash is another man’s trash.
Prediction: Unless someone has been cooking the books again, they will get the spoon this year.
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