NRL 2015: How are the eliminated NRL clubs looking for next season?

THEIR 2015 seasons aren’t even cold yet, but there’s already chatter about how the NRL also-rans will improve next season.

Corey Norman (centre) of the Eels makes a break against the Sharks during the round 25 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Cronulla Sutherland Sharks at Pirtek Stadium in Sydney on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2015. (AAP Image/Paul Miller) NO ARCHIVING, EDITORIAL USE ONLY

IT might only be a few days since their seasons ended, but there’s already chatter about how the eliminated NRL teams will fare in 2016.

Will the high risk buys pay off? Can teams make the leap from good to great?

Who’s going to rise and who’s going to fall?

Like most fans, we’ve already got an eye on 2016 and with 10 teams already planning for Round 1 we’ve decided to take a look at their prospects for 2016.

16th) Newcastle Knights

Season Record: 8-16

Newcastle picked up their first wooden spoon in a decade after a season that began so promisingly and despite the arrival of Nathan Brown it seems sure to be another long season in the Hunter.

The club is betting big on New South Wales halfback Trent Hodkinson, but given his injury history and inconsistent form over the past 18 months it’s a high risk signing. Hooker Danny Levi and backrower Joseph Tapine head up a promising crop of youngsters, but the Knights look set for another bottom four finish in 2016.

Newcastle finished with their first wooden spoon since 2005.

15th) Wests Tigers

Season Record: 8-16

Given the excitement over some of their young stars, the Tigers were definitely one of the more disappointing sides of 2015. James Tedesco might have emerged as one of the top fullbacks in the NRL and the likes of Mitch Moses and Luke Brooks will improve after getting a full season under their belts, but the looming spectre of Robbie Farah threatens to derail their off season.

Regardless of the outcome of the Farah situation, the Tigers should be aiming for improvement in 2016. Outside of Aaron Woods and Martin Taupau their forward pack still looks a little light but given their attacking upside they should contend for the finals.

14th) Gold Coast Titans

Season Record: 9-15

After building up for a couple of seasons the Titans were hit with an annus horribilis and are in the process of completely rebuilding their squad. Kane Elgey is a real find, the recruitment of Ashley Taylor looks to be a shrewd investment and James Roberts emerged as one of the game’s top centres with a breakout season. However, their brittle forward pack and inexperience in the spine might have them a year or two away from contending again.

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13th) New Zealand Warriors

Season Record: 9-15

If you try to make predictions for this mob you’re only setting yourself up to get your heart broken. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke are two of the best players in their position in the entire game and the idea of them linking with Shaun Johnson should transform the Warriors into instant contenders, but given their history of disappointment its hard to say how it will all end up.

12th) Parramatta Eels

Season Record: 9-15

It was yet another disappointing season for the Eels and they’ve opened up the chequebook to bring Blues backrower Beau Scott and Manly pivot Kieran Foran to Parramatta in an attempt to bring about a revival. Corey Norman will continue to improve and Semi Radradra will continue to dot down with stunning regularity, but the Eels will overachieve if they make the playoffs.

While Scott and Foran are proven stars with great pedigrees, question marks loom over the pair. Is Scott still worth the big bucks given his age and meagre attacking output? Can Foran flourish outside the Manly system? The answers could very well define Parramatta’s short and long term future.

James Segeyaro struggled for fitness at times in 2015.

11th) Penrith Panthers

Season Record: 9-15

Don’t be fooled by their lowly spot on the ladder, Penrith will be legitimate top four contenders in 2016. They had their hearts ripped out with injuries this season with their first choice spine playing just three games together. The addition of Trent Merrin and Suaia Matagi are inspired purchases and a healthy Panthers side will push for the premiership.

The rise of the likes of Bryce Cartwright, Tyrone Peachey and Dallin Watenze-Zelezniak this season gives the Panthers even more attacking weapons and if Jamie Soward, James Segeyaro and Matt Moylan all stay healthy the sky will be the limit for the mountain men next year.

10th) Canberra Raiders

Season Record: 10-14

The Raiders horrific record in close matches — 10 of their 12 losses were by 12 points or less — means that they were better than their 2015 record might suggest. The recruitment of Aidan Sezer gives them one of the more underrated spines in the game and the likes of Jack Wighton, Paul Vaughan and Shannon Boyd will only keep getting better. Anything less than a top eight finish should be counted as a failure.

With Ricky Stuart heading into his third season in charge of the Raiders, the margin for failure has become razor thin. If the much maligned mentor is off-contract and unless he can lead the Raiders to their first finals series since 2012 he could be forced to move on once again.

The Raiders are poised to improve in 2016.

9th) Manly Sea Eagles

Season Record: 11-13

Geoff Toovey and Kieran Foran’s departure means this will be something of a new look Manly side as the Silvertails welcome Lewis Brown, Nate Myles and Apisai Koroisau. Their backline is still one of the best in the competition and in Jake Trbojevic they have one of the best up and coming front rowers in the game, but getting some production out of the rapidly ageing Myles will be essential if they’re to fix their woes in the middle of the field.

Throw in a rookie coach in Trent Barrett and there’s more than enough question marks over this Manly team to preclude an instant return to the finals. Jamie Lyon and Brett Stewart will be another year older and the $10 million man Daly Cherry-Evans will have more pressure on him than ever before.

8th) St George Illawarra Dragons

Season Record: 12-12

In a vacuum, 8th placed seems to be a fair reflection of the Dragons season and the abilities but given their strong early season form they might be a little disappointed they didn’t give the competition more of a shake. The loss of Trent Merrin is a massive blow and robs them of some of the little attacking flash they possessed. Its hard to see them moving up or down and in the cuthroat world of the NRL stagnation is death. They’ll be hoping that gargantuan prop Mose Masoe and Melbourne centre Kurt Mann can provide a little bit of spark in attack.

7th) South Sydney Rabbitohs

Season Record: 13-11

Souths currently find themselves at a crossroads and have more question marks hanging over them than any other team. Has the squad been burnt out by the hyper-intensity of Michael Maguire? Can the Burgess twins rebound after a truly dreadful season? Can Cameron McInnes replace Issac Luke? Will Greg Inglis stay involved throughout the season? For the first time since Maguire joined the club in 2012, the finals credibility of his team have come into serious question.

Twelve months after winning a premiership on the back of raw, unstoppable power, the Rabbitohs now look slow, meek and incapable of competing with the baddest teams on the block. It will be a make or break season in 2016.