NRL captains name NRL premiership favourites – and snub Parramatta Eels
Parramatta has been snubbed as a premiership hope by NRL captains, but two teams have emerged as smokies for the title according to rugby league’s leaders.
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This was supposed to be the season that Parramatta broke their 34-year premiership drought.
Someone forgot to tell the rival NRL captains.
In an exclusive captains’ poll for The Daily Telegraph, the Eels received no votes from their rivals when asked who will win the 2020 title.
Worse, they didn’t even get a vote as a dark horse to win the premiership.
SCROLL DOWN FOR THE FULL POLL RESULTS
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Last year’s runners-up Canberra received the most votes with eight while back-to-back premiers the Sydney Roosters attracted three votes and Melbourne had two.
The captains’ snubbing the Eels could be a mental blow or act as motivation after many experts hailed Brad Arthur’s men the team to beat.
Rugby league’s leaders may not rate Parramatta, but they love Manly and Newcastle.
The Sea Eagles and Knights received four votes each as this season’s dark horse team.
Hasler likes to fly under the radar at Brookvale, but the captains are wary of any team possessing the strike of Daly Cherry-Evans, the Trbojevic brothers and a monster pack.
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The captains also rate the Knights despite the Novocastrians losing strike hooker Jayden Brailey for the season with a knee injury.
Canberra were voted the overwhelming favourites to win this year’s premiership, but it remains to be seen how the Raiders will handle their new travel schedule and the potential distraction of back-rower John Bateman’s contract negotiations.
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The captains also gave credence to moving State of Origin after nine skippers declared that the NRL season will be better with the annual NSW versus Queensland series scheduled for November.
Unlike past seasons when Origin took a significant toll on the NRL season with tired players struggling to back up, that won’t happen this season with the series to be played after the competition.
The most successful Queensland captain, Cameron Smith, was among the nine captains that voted in favour of the NRL competition benefiting from Origin taking place post the season.
Newcastle captain and halfback Mitchell Pearce believes the jury is out on the NRL season being played before Origin.
“I think the season will be consistent, although 18 games with no break will test the durability of teams,” Pearce said.
“It will also test depth. Whoever wins the competition will need to do so by leaning on the entire squad.”
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Cronulla captain and Blues back-rower Wade Graham is also uncertain about Origin being played after the NRL season.
“I’m unsure if it (Origin) will be better,” he said.
“It definitely will be different and keen to see how it works out.”
In other results, Newcastle back Bradman Best received three votes from the captains as rookie of the year.
Best edged out hooker Harry Grant, who has joined the Wests Tigers as part of a player swap with Melbourne for Paul Momirovski.
The captains’ choice for Dally M player of the year ended in a three-way tie between Tom Trbojevic, Kalyn Ponga and Jason Taumalolo with three votes each.
Reigning Clive Churchill medallist Jack Wighton received two votes.
NSW were slightly favoured by the captains to claim a third consecutive Origin series this year with eight votes to seven over Queensland.
CAPTAINS POLL RESULTS
Newcastle Knights – Mitchell Pearce
Premiers (Apart from your team): Canberra
Dark horses: Manly
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Unsure
Sydney Roosters – Jake Friend
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: Manly
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Wests Tigers – Benji Marshall
Premiers: Newcastle
Dark horses: Brisbane
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Penrith Panthers – James Tamou
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: Warriors
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes.
South Sydney Rabbitohs – Adam Reynolds
Premiers: Melbourne
Dark horses: Penrith
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? No
North Queensland Cowboys – Michael Morgan
Premiers: Manly
Dark horses: Cronulla
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? No
Manly Sea Eagles - Daly Cherry-Evans
Premiers: Sydney Roosters
Dark horses: Newcastle
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Canberra Raiders – Josh Hodgson
Premiers: Brisbane
Dark horses: Newcastle
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Gold Coast Titans – Kevin Proctor
Premiers: Melbourne
Dark horses: Wests Tigers
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Unsure
St George Illawarra Dragons – Cameron McInnes
Premiers: Sydney Roosters
Dark horses: Unsure
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Unsure
Parramatta Eels – Clint Gutherson
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: Newcastle
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Melbourne Storm – Cameron Smith
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: Wests Tigers
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Warriors – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: North Queensland
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Unsure
Brisbane Broncos - Alex Glenn
Premiers: Sydney Roosters
Dark horses: Newcastle
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes
Cronulla Sharks – Wade Graham
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: Manly
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Unsure
Canterbury – Josh Jackson
Premiers: Canberra
Dark horses: Manly
Will the comp be better with Origin at the end of the season? Yes