NRL 2023 season preview: Expert bold predictions and wooden spoon selections

Origin selection shocks, fresh faces in the coaching ranks and shock finals contenders are among our rugby league experts’ bold predictions for 2023.

An NRL club reaches out to former Wallabies coach Michael Cheika, Billy Slater and the Maroons end Brad Fittler’s State of Origin coaching career, Dolphins just miss out on the eight – these are our bold predictions for the 2023 NRL season.

PHIL ROTHFIELD

Manly to make the top four. They’ve been outstanding in the trials, even without Daly Cherry-Evans and Tom Trbojevic. This side has some of the best emerging youngsters in the game and new coach Anthony Seibold won’t be afraid to use them. They are also especially strong with their edge forwards, emerging star Haumole Olakau’atu and new signing Kelma Tuilagi.

MICHAEL CARAYANNIS

An NRL club reaches out to Michael Cheika. Fresh from his success at the World Cup with Lebanon, Cheika will come on the radar of at least one NRL club after he finishes his rugby commitments with Argentina.

Could Lebanon, and former Wallabies, coach Michael Cheika head to the NRL? Picture: Michael Steele/Getty Images

PETER BADEL

Jason Taumalolo to play Origin for Queensland. The ARL Commission will bow to pressure and change eligibility rules that allow Poms and Kiwis to play State of Origin. New Zealand-born Tongan, Taumalolo, will look good in Maroon.

BRENT READ

Billy Slater performed miracles last year with the Maroons and another series win could spell the end for Brad Fittler, who is in the last year of his deal with the Blues. Even if Fittler does survive, don’t be surprised if the NSWRL reach out to Bellamy. There is every chance the Storm maestro stands down at the end of the year, meaning he will be freed to help the Blues. Bellamy has unfinished business in Origin.

DAVID RICCIO

Adam O’Brien needed convincing that Kalyn Ponga should be moved from fullback to five-eighth. I won’t be shocked, if the Knights are struggling to find their rhythm mid-year, Ponga’s positional shift is abandoned and he’s moved back to fullback.

Latrell Mitchell will have a big 2023 NRL Season. Picture: Richard Dobson

PAUL CRAWLEY

Latrell Mitchell to inspire NSW to State of Origin victory, the Rabbitohs to historic NRL premiership, and top it off with the Dally M Medal. Now 25, Mitchell is in the prime of his career. We already know that on his day he is a one man wrecking machine capable of tearing apart any opposition. But the time has come for him to back that freakish talent up with week to week consistency. If he does there will be no stopping the Bunnies No.1 this season.

PAUL KENT

The NRL’s 17th team, the Dolphins, to just miss out on the top eight in their debut season.

While they haven’t landed a marquee star, Wayne Bennett was successful in gutting the Melbourne Storm’s pack with the acquisition of New Zealand internationals Jesse and Kenny Bromwich, as well as Tonga and Queensland Origin forward Felise Kaufusi.

Going for substance over style, if the Dolphins can earn a reputation for being tough to beat, they can finish ahead of Queensland rivals the Gold Coast and Brisbane in what would rate as a successful first season.

DEAN RITCHIE

The Rabbitohs to play the Roosters in the first all-eastern Sydney grand final in 88 years. Both clubs have high-profile, powerhouse rosters, mixed with a hatred for one-another. If you thought last year’s two emotion-charged fixtures at the new Allianz Stadium were intense, imagine this bitter rivalry on the grand final stage. Latrell Mitchell, Damien Cook, Jai Arrow, Tom Burgess, Dylan Walker and Cameron Murray against James Tedesco, Joseph Suaalii, Angus Crichton, Luke Keary, Victor Radley, Brandon Smith and Joseph Manu – bring it on.

FATIMA KDOUH

He couldn’t make a name for himself as a premier backrower at the Warriors but Eliesa Katoa will have a breakout season under the guidance of Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy. He’ll earn honours as ‘buy of the year’ ahead of the likes of John Bateman and Api Koroisau at the Tigers and Viliame Kikau at Belmore.

MATT ENCARNACION

Can I see boldly for my prediction? Matter of fact I can, and I can see the batch of young Sea Eagles in Tolu Koula, Kaeo Weekes, and Josh Schuster flying out of the nest under their new coach. Throw in a healthy Tom Trbojevic and Daly Cherry-Evans, and Manly have all the ingredients needed for a shock run at the top four, and maybe even a crack against the Roosters in the decider. See boldly, Anthony will get coach of the year.

PAMELA WHALEY

Josh Hodgson will have the best season of his career at the Eels. Once one of the best players in the NRL, Hodgson helped change the way No. 9s attacked at the ruck, and his running game and speed will blossom again behind that big Parramatta forward pack. On the flip side, his positive and calm leadership is exactly what the Eels need.

TRAVIS MEYN

Parramatta will crash out of premiership contention this season on the back of last year’s grand final loss. The Eels have lost some quality players in Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’I, Marata Niukore and Ray Stone, with an ageing Josh Hodgson their only notable signing. Unfortunately for the Eels, they missed their chance of a drought-breaking premiership last year and face a tough road to get back into the title mix.

ROBERT CRADDOCK

Des Hasler will be coaching again in the NRL by July on a multi-year deal worth $900,000 a season. The veteran clipboard holder was sacked as Manly coach last October and is facing a legal battle with his former club, but won’t be afraid of parachuting in to help save a season of a struggling club.

STEVE ROACH

The Cowboys to improve on last season’s heartbreaking preliminary final loss to Parramatta and go one better in 2023 by making the grand final.

BRAITH ANASTA

Under new coach Cameron Ciraldo, the Bulldogs will make the top eight for the first time since 2016, ending the NRL’s second-longest finals drought, behind the Tigers (2011).

GREG ALEXANDER

The battle for the top eight will be the tightest we’ve witnessed in a number of years. Expect a log jam throughout the year and the top four and top eight to be decided in the final round of the season.

YVONNE SAMPSON

Wayne Bennett’s Dolphins will win their first NRL game against the Sydney Roosters for the inaugural Arthur Beetson Cup.

ANDREW VOSS

The Tigers are my bold prediction – I think a massive turnaround from wooden-spooners to big jump up the ladder, to potentially playing in the finals. That would be some story with Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall in the fold, I think it would be one of the feel-good stories of the year.

BRYAN FLETCHER

Manly back in the top eight after a disastrous couple of years.

CRYSTAL BALL PREDICTIONS

PAUL KENT’S 2023 NRL LADDER

1ST PANTHERS

The Panthers are playing a level above everybody else and nothing should change despite the loss of several quality players. The better question is how they recover from losing Cameron Ciraldo as assistant.

2ND COWBOYS

This year will prove the Cowboys are the real deal. Fit and tough with great depth. Todd Payten has freed the Cowboys’ attack.

3RD SHARKS

Will pick up where they left off last year. The Sharks’ rebuild continues with the club all moving in the same direction: strong, disciplined and tough to beat.

4TH ROOSTERS

Few teams are as intimidating as the full-strength Roosters outfit. Talented and know what it takes to win. If the Roosters are close to full strength come finals time then look out.

5TH RABBITOHS

A very settled squad but how big a mind game will it become once the finals come, which they will reach comfortably, and they are again confronted with a preliminary final?

6TH STORM

For the first time, dare we say it, the Storm are showing signs of vulnerability. The Dolphins gutted their pack, which will have significant ramifications.

7TH EELS

The Eels might have closed their premiership window a little this season but they still have a solid squad who know now what it takes.

8TH SEA EAGLES

A tremendous squad with great depth and plenty of good kids coming through. But as we know it all depends on the Turbo man and the strength of his hamstring.

9TH RAIDERS

The Raiders are finding their identity again and Michael Maguire’s influence on defence is sure to stiffen them up. They’ll be a season better as they continue to regenerate.

10TH DOLPHINS

While far from the complete roster Wayne Bennett has assembled a tough, experienced pack whose goal will be to earn a reputation for being tough to beat. That’ll win them enough games.

The Dolphins will shock the competition. Picture: NRL Imagery

11TH TITANS

Kieran Foran’s arrival will give the Titans the boost in experience they need. Foran alone will bring the Titans several more wins given his ability to manage them home in tight games.

12TH BRONCOS

Spotfires are becoming a weekly event in Bronco-land. Overcooked it mid-season last year which burnt them out for the end of season. Consistency will be key for the Broncos.

13TH DRAGONS

I have more faith in the Dragons than their fans seem to have. Still searching for their identity, though, and Anthony Griffin needs his men to start fast to quell the noise.

14TH BULLDOGS

The Bulldogs have been specific about how they will begin the rebuild, from coaching to recruitment, and the evidence will soon be apparent.

15TH WARRIORS

We can always be sure the Warriors are chocked with natural talent, but success will be determined by how much coach Andrew Webster can combine that with the tough discipline needed.

16TH TIGERS

The Tigers have improved their squad but the big story is in the coach’s box, with Tim Sheens coming down from the Mount to mentor Benji Marshall. The players are already responding.

17TH KNIGHTS

The Knights are still trying to find their groove under coach Adam O’Brien but the fact they failed to get closer to where O’Brien wants them to be last year shows it appears a tough sell.

Kalyn Ponga. Picture: Matt King/Getty