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Message: [QUOTE="The True King, post: 2958394, member: 9651"] Second thesis incoming. I think [B]Souths[/B] are the clear front runner for the premiership. Their roster has almost the perfect balance of experience and skill with massive amounts of speed in key positions. They can flick the switch at any moment and they've shown that their defence is solid too. I know we beat them but its important we remember they were without their pack leader and best player. The only thing I can see derailing their chances would be an injury to Adam Reynolds. Aside from halfback, they have quality depth all over. [I]Key player[/I]: [I]Reynolds[/I] I think the [B]Storm[/B] are missing Tohu Harris more than Cronk at this point in time. Hoffman has been less than impressive and they can't seem to get Finucane fit. If they had J Bromwich and Finucane fit I would say their pack is still good enough to win it but I suspect not even Smith and Slater can carry them through finals when they come up against bigger packs. Behind the Rabbits I think they are probably the next best chance of winning the thing. [I]Key player: Smith[/I] The [B]Roosters[/B] are a genuine chance just based on the quality of the starting side. I think their bench is average and the pack really lacks a solid lock but once they get origin blokes back and Matterson returns they will be a better team with the likes of Radley off the bench. They are yet to really hit their stride or show attacking flair and with five of the remaining eight games against teams in the bottom half I think they'll make top 4 easily and then they're a real threat. Yet to see the best from Tedesco, Latrell and Cronk so that really worries me. [I]Key player: Tedesco[/I] [B]Broncos[/B] I have below the teams above in terms of our chances but we are starting to hit our stride at the right time. Despite being poor early in the season we have kept up and now have a real chance of making top 4. Provided we can avoid the Storm, who are our kryptonite in finals, I believe we can beat most teams on our day. The secret to our success is going to be covering Nikorima's liabilities. If teams can exploit his lack of game management and unsettle him it will really turn the screws on Milford and despite having one of the best packs in the competition (even without Gillett) I think we may fall just short. [I]Key player: Milford[/I] Putting last week aside because the Warriors sucked, [B]Penrith[/B] have not really impressed me of late. They showed signs early in the season that they would be a premiership threat but without Campbell-Gillard the pack has stuttered. His return will give a better indication of where they are really at and obviously can't read too much into their form through origin with Cleary and Maloney distracted. Impressive thing for me is that they have managed to keep pace with top 4 despite the amount of injuries to their backs. Throw Mansour back in there and they're an outside chance but for me the biggest loss has been Dylan Edwards. Next year I think Penrith will be even better. [I]Key player: Maloney[/I] Not going to go too much into the [B]Dragons[/B] because I simply don't think that even with the quality of Widdop that they will be able to cover the cracks that will appear in Ben Hunt's game in finals footy. He's going to inevitably choke and even the biggest pack in the competition will struggle to overcome that. Throw in the liability that is Nightingale's defence out wide and teams will exploit them relatively easily I feel. [I]Key player: Widdop[/I] The [B]Sharks[/B] are an outside chance just because their pack is monstrous and they've managed to keep their key players well rested through origin and added depth with Woods. Injuries have hit them hard but blokes like Graham, Lewis and Dugan are on the way back. Moylan has managed to avoid controversy so far and any side with him and Fifita is certainly dangerous. Ramien is a seriously good footy player and the key to their attack but aside from him and Holmes I am not so worried about them scoring enough points. I don't expect them to challenge in the finals given how up and down their season has been and the inconsistency of their spine is an issue.[I] Key player: Fifita[/I] Personally believe the [B]Warriors[/B] are there just to make up the numbers at this point. Mentioned it on another threat but their attack is toothless without Tohu Harris. Add the liability of Hiku's defence and the inconsistency of Luke and it's hard to know what is going on or predict anything. I don't think their pack is good enough and aside from Tuivasa-Sheck, Fusitu'a and Johnson there really isn't much to worry about when Tohu isn't on the field. [I]Key player: Harris[/I] (should be able to tell by now I have a man-crush on this guy) Edit: decided I liked the whole key player thing so threw that in there after posting. It's not really who I think is the best player but more the bloke they could least afford to lose. [/QUOTE]

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