We look ahead to the end of local footy season with 31 bold predictions for the remainder of 2023
With local footy leagues around NSW fast approaching finals, it’s time to bring out the crystal ball. We make 31 bold predictions for the rest of the season across the biggest leagues in the state.
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As we approach the business end of the season, local league competitions across New South Wales are starting to heat up.
With finals well on the radar, it’s time to get out the crystal ball and look ahead to what will happen in the near future.
Here are 31 bold predictions for the remainder of the 2023 local rugby league season:
SYDNEY METRO
WOMEN’S COMP RUNS THROUGH WENTY
In what has been a competitive Metro Combined Open Women’s competition, just one loss separates the top five teams.
Wentworthville sits atop the standings with a solitary loss to Marrickville their only blemish.
With the best defensive unit in the league, they can build off that and show how strong their pathways are by taking out the title.
HARBORD TO QUALIFY FOR METRO GF
The Devils currently sit in fourth on the Metro Combined Open ladder, but they’ve shown enough that they can be there when it counts.
We’re backing them to make the grand final, likely against Cromer who have been the benchmark throughout the season so far.
Harbord went within two minutes of a draw with the Kingfishers earlier in the year, and that’s enough to suggest they can be there on the final day of the season.
MASCOT TO MAKE THE FINALS
It’s incredible to think a team that started 0-9 can make the finals, but that’s exactly what we’re tipping Mascot to do.
In a two-week span they downed Coogee and La Perouse to immediately put themselves in the frame as they chase down fifth spot.
They’ll need to keep winning and take down some good teams in the process, but they have the confidence and momentum to make a run.
GYEMORE SET TO CLAIM SCORING CROWN
He was a mid-season addition to the Redfern All Blacks and fullback/winger Joven Gyemore has wasted no time adding to the scoresheet.
The Dragons SG Ball player has crossed five times so far, just one behind leaders Viliami Mailangi (Mascot), Lewis Radley (South Eastern) and Allan McGrath (La Perouse).
With a good team in front of him and some explosive skills, we’re predicting he can rank top when all is said and done.
MATRAVILLE WILL REIGN SUPREME ONCE AGAIN
There’s been some ups and downs in recent weeks, but we still think Matraville has the artillery to make it back-to-back titles in the Souths Juniors comp.
The middle part of the season hasn’t been kind, but at full strength we believe they remain the top of the tree.
Redfern looks the main danger, especially with Kareel Phillips stamping himself as one of the best big-game players in the league, but we’re with the Tigers to get it done.
OAKDALE TO CONTEST GRAND FINAL
Reigning premiers Camden are on track to defend their Macarthur Rugby League title. Currently in first spot, the Rams will be eyeing Mittagong who have only tasted defeat once in 11 outings.
With six rounds remaining we’ve jumped on the Oakdale bandwagon. Currently on a seven-match winning streak, the Workers have climbed to third and with size and mobility, they’ll be tough to stop.
THIRLMERE A MACARTHUR SMOKY
That said, fourth placed Thirlmere are by no means out of the race. Behind a reliable pack, the Roosters field a potent backline guided by former NRL stars Curtis Scott and Tim Simona.
Still on track to make the top three, Thirlmere’s gritty defence is the best in the league and we can see them pounding on the door when the whips are cracking.
THE OAKS ON THE REBOUND
After missing the finals last year, The Oaks have been sitting pretty among the top five for most of the season.
A tough month has seen them slide to sixth, but with a friendly run home we expect them to sneak past East Campbelltown and qualify for the finals.
MITTAGONG TRIFECTA
The Lions and Camden are streets ahead of the pack when it comes to crossing the stripe. And when it comes to individuals there’s none better than Mittagong’s James Coyne.
Currently topping the chart with 16 tries, the classy fullback is four clear of teammate Blake Barbuto. Backrower Liam Cassidy isn’t far off the pace with 11, and by the end of the final round it wouldn't surprise if he’s alongside his teammates in the top three.
COLLIES TO FINISH UNDEFEATED
Last season Campbelltown Collegians rallied from fourth place to claim the Macarthur Women’s crown.
Now unbeaten and five points clear of second placed Camden, we can see the Collies girls going all the way with an unblemished record.
WHALER TO STAY TOP
Laura Whaler is still only playing her second season of rugby league, but there’s little stopping the Camden winger once the floodgates open.
With nine four-pointers in six starts she tops the Macarthur list, and with six matches still to play we can’t see anyone catching the former Aussie sprint star.
ST PATRICKS TO STRIKE LATE AT PENRITH
It looks like a three horse race in the Penrith Open competition. With four rounds to play St Marys have all but secured the minor premiership and should progress through to the grand final.
As for who they face in the decider, we like third placed St Patricks from Blacktown, especially after last month’s narrow victory over fellow contender Emu Plains.
BRUMBIES BOLT CLEAR IN PARRAMATTA
The Baulkham Hills Brumbies are galloping clear of the field in the Sunday Opens competition at Parramatta.
Yet to taste defeat in eight games, they’ve only conceded 58 points while scoring 85 more than their nearest rival. It’s hardly bold, but we can’t see them meeting a legitimate contender.
NORTHERN NSW
A GRAND FINAL REMATCH
It might not seem like such a bold prediction given that they’re sitting in first and second place on the ladder, but we’re predicting an Erina v Toukley grand final rematch in this year’s big dance on the Central Coast.
While they have clearly been the best two teams in the competition so far this season, that’s where the comparisons end: the Eagles have blown teams away with their blistering attack while the Hawks have crushed their opponents with brutal defence in what has been an interesting clash of styles.
After Toukley came out of the blocks firing in last year’s grand final to claim a historic first premiership, Erina would love a chance of redemption to knock the Hawks off their perch.
ROOSTERS TO MAKE THE SEMIS
If anyone had have predicted one month ago that Woy Woy would go on to make the semis, they would have been laughed off any football field on the Central Coast. But that’s exactly what we think will happen after a head-turning run of form.
After winning just one of their first six games, the Roosters have flipped the script with three wins and a draw from their last five games, including a thumping 36-6 victory over defending premiers Toukley, to give themselves an outside chance of making the top four.
And while they are still in sixth and need to win all three of their remaining games to qualify, we think momentum will carry the Roosters over the line.
PANTHERS’ WOMEN TO CREATE HISTORY
While it has been a tough season for the club’s men’s sides, we’re tipping Berkeley Vale to create history by claiming the inaugural Central Coast women’s tackle premiership.
With the best attack and most miserly defence, the Panthers have been standouts so far this season, along with The Entrance.
With these two sides looming as the most serious premiership contenders, the Berkeley Vale players will be looking to avenge their narrow 18-14 loss in round three to etch their names into history.
BILAMBIL TO MAKE FOUR GRAND FINALS
Bilambil’s first grade team is riding high at the top of the table, but that’s not the only thing Jets fans have to celebrate, with all four of the club’s teams well in for a shout for the minor premiership in the NRRRL.
The league tag team is sitting in third spot with a record of eight wins and two losses, just two points behind the competition leaders. It is a similar proposition for the under-18s side, who are also in third, sitting just one win from the lead.
The reserve grade team is on top with a perfect record of 10 from 10, while the A-grade side is in a three-way tie for the lead with just one loss so far this season.
With all four Jets teams firing, we’re backing the club to qualify for the grand final in all grades in which it competes.
MAGPIES TO MAKE THE SEMIS
At the start of the season the club was just happy to be back on the park after being forced to pull out of the Northern Rivers comp halfway through last year due to a lack of players, but Lower Clarence have impressed everyone with their season to date.
With a record of five wins and six losses, the Magpies have won twice as many games in 2023 as they have in the preceding three seasons, with a string of stirring victories breathing life back into the club.
Although they’re currently sitting in ninth, we’re tipping the team – led by former NRL star Luke Douglas – to take advantage of its favourable run home to sneak into the top-six finals format in what would be a remarkable achievement.
LOWER CLARENCE WOMEN TO GO BACK TO BACK
They created history last year by winning the inaugural NRRRL women’s tackle premiership, and we’re tipping the Lower Clarence Magpies to go back-to-back in 2023.
Currently undefeated after their seven games, the Magpies have scored 272 points and conceded a remarkable 34 to show that they will indeed be the team to beat.
For the record, we think Lower will do the business against Tweed Coast in the grand final.
MAITLAND TO EXTEND LEGACY
They might have only won one Newcastle Rugby League premiership in the past decade, but in 2023 the Maitland Pickers have the chance to write themselves into history as one of the greatest teams of the modern era.
The Pickers’ dominance started in 2020 when the team entered and won the one-off, statewide Presidents Cup format in what was a Covid-disrupted season. They looked destined to continue the glory in 2021, and were on top of the Newcastle RL ladder before the pandemic once again struck to cancel the competition.
Then last year, with Covid behind us, Maitland put the cherry on top by winning the minor, major and Presidents Cup titles to confirm themselves as the best semi-professional team in the state.
Now, with the Pickers leading the comp with just one loss in the opening 14 rounds, we’re tipping Matt Lantry’s men to take out the minor-major-Presidents hat-trick once again and lay claim to being one of the greatest regional footy sides in history.
LAKES 19s TO GO UNDEFEATED
With 11 wins on the trot, 350 points scored and just 72 against, it has been one hell of a season for Lakes United’s under-19s side so far.
With a host of junior rep players and talented locals in their ranks, the future looks good at Belmont as the team seeks to go one better than their six-point loss in last year’s grand final to Wests.
For the record, we think the Seagulls will not only win the premiership, but manage to do it undefeated.
SOUTHS’ GF HAT-TRICK
Speaking of grand finals, one club we believe will feature prominently is South Newcastle.
On the back of nine-straight wins, the first grade team is flying high in second place, four points behind the Pickers. Remarkably, the situation is exactly the same in reserve grade, with the Lions once again in second place, four points behind Maitland. Meanwhile in the under-19s Souths are well placed in third.
With all three grades travelling very nicely, we’re tipping the Lions to make it a hat-trick of grand final appearances by qualifying across all three grades.
SOUTHERN NSW
DAPTO TO UPSET THE TOP FOUR
The story of Dapto’s season in 2023 has been shooting out of the blocks early, before completely letting any advantage slip and more often than not letting the game blow out to a big margin.
At some point though, as they so nearly showed in round eight against De La Salle, the Canaries are going to pick up a win against one of the top four and throw off the ladder a bit.
There have been plenty of positive signs from the likes of former NRL players Pita Godinet and Aaron Gray, the side just hasn’t been able to close out games.
WESTS TO DO THE DOUBLE
Wests Devils lead both the Mojo Homes Illawarra Cup and the First Division and are looking like they’ll be adding to the trophy cabinet in one way or another in 2023.
But can they do the unthinkable and secure glory across both grades?
The Illawarra Cup side was dealt their first loss of the season in round nine but remain on top, with the star halves duo of Mitch Porter and Justin Rodrigues steering the ship for the Devils.
The First Division side sit comfortably at the top with seven wins and one loss, with Isaiah Kennedy leading the league for try scoring with eight.
Time will tell if both sides can hold their form and carry it into the finals, but for the time being you wouldn’t bet against either Wests side.
MAIDEN PREMIERSHIP FOR STINGRAYS
The only current Group 7 side to have never won a premiership is the Stingrays of Shellharbour.
In 2023, they sit in joint first place with nine wins and three losses and are looking right in the hunt for premiership glory.
The worry for the Stingrays will be that their three losses have all come against the current top four in Shellharbour, Gerringong and Nowra-Bomaderry, teams which no doubt will be in the final mix as well.
If the Stingrays can stick to their game plans though, getting the ball in the hands of their leader Tom Warner, influential hooker Colby Smith and send some balls out wide for Jayden Harris to finish, they could see themselves at the top of the podium in a few months.
TRIPLE GRAND FINAL FOR GERRINGONG
A testament to the depth of the Gerringong Lions is their positioning in the top two across both First Grade, Reserve Grade and the U18s, so we predict the Lions will be making an appearance across all three grand finals in 2023.
The U18s haven’t been defeated so far this season, with devastating front rower Paea Sione Liteila Ahio the standout player for best in the league by some margin.
The reserve grade side sit in second place but have four losses to their name and are in a congested top four, so they’ll be needing the hustle in the finals run-in.
The first grade side will be hard to stop as they look to avenge their 2022 grand final loss, so no doubt they’ll be tough to stop as well.
EAGLES TO FINISH BEST OF THE REST
A two part prediction, firstly in that the current top five of the Lions, Stingrays, Jets, Sharks and Superoos won’t be infiltrated by any of the current bottom five.
From here though, in the battle of the bottom half, the Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles will finish sixth as the best of the rest.
The Eagles have improved massively after going seven games without a win to start the year, with the highlight of their season being a staggering comeback against current league leaders the Gerringong Lions.
The bottom of the table is still pretty congested and features opponents such as the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs and Warilla-Lake South Gorillas who can tussle with anyone on their day.
The Eagles will just have to continue getting the ball in the hands of the likes of Kane Ball and Jack Walsh and they should end the year on a positive note.
END OF DROUGHT FOR CHERRYPICKERS
2023 could be the year the Young Cherrypickers end a 32 year premiership drought in Group 9.
Nicholas Cornish’s troops came agonisingly close in 2022 when they fell short in their first grand final appearance since 1998.
The Cherrypickers sit in 2nd after ten rounds and have scored more points than anyone else, averaging a league high 31 points per game, but have also been on the other side of humbling defeats to the Blues and Tigers.
The side has already tasted the feeling of victory by defending the Group 9 Challenge Cup in May over the Temora Dragons, can they back it up with a grand final victory come in September.
WESTERN NSW
CYMS GO ONE BETTER OUT WEST
The Dubbo CYMS were edged out in the first instalment of the Peter McDonald Premiership last year.
This year they look hungrier and that has shown with some blistering form so far in 2023, giving every indication they can represent Group 11 and do them proud.
They boast the best for and against by a long way, and despite a slip up against Parkes, they can seek revenge when it matters.
BATHURST ST PATS TO REP GROUP 10
Mudgee has been the strongest team in Group 10 so far, but if anyone can knock them off for a spot to represent the competition in the Peter McDonald Premiership.
They got the better of the Dragons by a big space earlier in the season, and despite some patchy form, it looks like their best can get it done on the bigger stage.
With the best attack in the competition, the Bathurst side has piled on the points in a big way when required.
BARELLAN/NARRANDERA TO GO UNDEFEATED
It's hard not to be impressed by what we’ve seen from Narrandera and Barellan in the men’s and women’s ProTen Cup respectively.
The Rams women went through the first four rounds without conceding a point, while the Lizards men have improved with every run to set the pace at the top.
We think both can maintain their unbeaten form through to the finals, and bring some silverware back to town in the process.
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