How Canberra Raiders can rise to NRL premiership glory in 2017

BOOKMAKERS have declared 2017 will be the most open NRL betting market in history with 14 of the 16 teams considered legitimate title contenders.

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — SEPTEMBER 17: Blake Austin of the Raiders celebrates scoring a try during the second NRL Semi Final match between the Canberra Raiders and the Penrith Panthers at GIO Stadium on September 17, 2016 in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

BOOKMAKERS have declared 2017 will be the most open NRL betting market in history.

Incredibly, 14 of the 16 teams are considered legitimate title contenders, with only St George Illawarra and Newcastle rated next to no chance.

Paul Crawley analyses the strength and weaknesses of every club, and gives his verdict on who should make the top eight cut.

CANBERRA RAIDERS

Predicted finish: 1st

TAB betting: $9

If you said at the start of 2016 Canberra would finish second and Ricky Stuart would be Dally M coach of the year, your loved ones would have had you committed.

Heading into 2017, I reckon the Raiders can go one better.

They have virtually the same top 17 with added experience and belief, along with the addition of Dave Taylor and English utility Jordan Turner.

Also keep a look out for teenage sensation Nick Cotric. Plays centre, wing or fullback, and is a star of the future.

Can the Raiders go one better in 2017?

MELBOURNE STORM

Predicted finish: 2nd

TAB betting: $8

Will remain a force as long as Craig Bellamy is coach and Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk are running the show on the field.

The missing member of the Storm’s Big Three will also be back to boost the minor premiers.

Sidelined for almost two full seasons through injury, Billy Slater looks fantastic in pre-season training, and you wouldn’t put it past him to regain his ranking as the game’s best fullback.

It’s also crucial the 33-year-old stays fit so Cameron Munster can concentrate on his transition to five-eighth to cover Blake Green’s departure to Manly.

Kevin Proctor is also significant loss, but the Storm have the depth and quality in their pack to overcome it.

The Storm are always among the contenders.

PENRITH PANTHERS

Predicted finish: 3rd

TAB betting: $9

Like Canberra, an exciting young roster heading up the ladder in a hurry.

They play a terrific brand of footy and you only have to look at the injury hurdles Penrith overcame in 2016 to understand how much improvement they have left.

The Panthers played virtually the entire season without first-choice centres Peta Hiku and Dean Whare, while Jamie Soward and James Segeyaro were let go, and young gun Te Maire Martin also had his season cut short.

Now add James Tamou and Mitch Rein to the mix along with a fit Hiku, Whare and Martin. That completes one hell of a squad.

Will James Tamou tip the Panthers over the top?

NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS

Predicted finish: 4th

TAB betting: $8

North Queensland will go in as competition favourites but I just question if they can improve on their fourth-placed finish in 2016.

They still have one of the strongest squads and while Johnathan Thurston is fit the Cowboys will be one of the teams to beat.

But they have been up for a long time now and looked desperately tired at the end of last season.

The departure of James Tamou and retirement of Ben Hannant will lump more pressure on Matt Scott and Jason Taumalolo.

BRISBANE BRONCOS

Predicted finish: 5th

TAB betting: $8

Brisbane are equal second favourites with the Storm.

It wouldn’t surprise if the Broncos came out and won the minor premiership, or missed the top eight altogether.

In 2016 they looked good things heading into Origin before the wheels fell off.

Corey Parker is a huge loss and who knows what to make of Benji Marshall’s signing.

They have enough talent to win more than their share of games, and regular Thursday and Friday timeslots are always helpful.

Could the Sharks go back to back.

CRONULLA SHARKS

Predicted finish: 6th

TAB betting: $11

We bring out this stat every year for good reason: No team has won back-to-back premierships since Brisbane in 1992-93.

That tells you everything about task ahead for Cronulla.

Without Michael Ennis and Ben Barba, it’s hard to see the Sharks changing recent history.

Ennis is such a tremendous competitor and his experience and leadership can’t be replaced.

Still, they still have a terrific squad overall and Barba’s demise opens the door for Valentine Holmes to play fullback.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Predicted finish: 7th

TAB betting: $11

Sooner or later the Warriors will get their act together and when they do watch out.

The potential; addition of Kieran Foran and the return from injury of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck completes a star-studded New Zealand Test spine that also includes Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke.

Expect new coach Stephen Kearney to also have a huge influence given his success with the Kiwis at international level.

The Warriors were terribly inconsistent last season yet still almost scraped into the top eight.

Norman was in rare form in 2016.

PARRAMATTA EELS

Predicted finish: 8th

TAB betting: $17

Take away all the off-field dramas that ruined 2016, on the field it was hard to say a bad word about Parramatta.

Their performances were full of character and commitment, and don’t expect that to change.

They have landed some decent buys including Frank Pritchard, Kirisome Auva’a, Nathan Brown, Josh Hoffman, George Jennings, Suaia Matagi and Siosaia Vave.

But with Kieran Foran gone so much depends on Corey Norman, who really needs to grow up and stay focused and fit for Parra to be successful.

If he didn’t get suspended Norman probably would have won the Dally M Medal.

That should be the kick in the pants the 25-year-old needs to take his career to the next level.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

Predicted finish: 9th

TAB betting: $13

Let’s not beat around the bush. There isn’t a team in the NRL under more pressure than the Roosters.

I still can’t believe they finished second last, regardless of the early-season absence of Mitchell Pearce, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Boyd Cordner.

They have one of the best packs, have signed Luke Keary to partner Pearce in the halves, and have enough backline strike to challenge for the title.

There will be no room for excuses next season. The TAB’s best-backed team.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

Predicted finish: 10th

TAB betting: $15

It will be interesting to see how big a difference Robbie Farah makes to the Rabbitohs.

His style of dummy-half play should suit Souths, and just might be the key to getting the Burgess brothers back to their rampaging best.

If an injury-free Greg Inglis can play like he did at the back end of the year and on the recent Four Nations tour the Rabbitohs should be challenging for the top eight.

Can Jarryd Hayne do the job for the Titans in 2017?

GOLD COAST TITANS

Predicted finish: 11th

TAB betting: $17

One thing about Neil Henry-coached teams is they always play to their potential.

Gold Coast lost some handy players in Greg Bird, David Mead, Josh Hoffman, Luke Douglas, Nathan Friend, Nene Macdonald and Daniel Mortimer.

But they have gained two good forwards in Kevin Proctor and Jarrod Wallace, while Kane Elgey’s return will add another dimension to their attack.

The X-factor remains Jarryd Hayne.

With a pre-season under his belt, Hayne will be out to force his way back into the rep teams for State of Origin and the end-of-season World Cup. If Hayne recaptures his best, anything’s possible.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

Predicted finish: 12th

TAB betting: $17

I still can’t see a happy ending in all this Des Hasler drama. You don’t treat a coach with Hasler’s experience and sustained success so poorly and expect it to be just forgotten.

A Hasler-coached team hasn’t missed the playoffs since 2004.

But going on the way they played in 2016 I can’t find room for the Bulldogs in my top eight.

Haven’t really added any significant signings which means the improvement will have to come from within.

Hasler held onto his job by the skin of his teeth.

MANLY SEA EAGLES

Predicted finish: 13th

TAB betting: $17

What a tough initiation to NRL coaching this has been for Trent Barrett. Last year many tipped Manly to challenge for the top four and yet they laboured home in 13th spot.

Now take out Jamie Lyon and potentially Steve Matai and Brett Stewart, that is a lot of experience lost.

They picked up some potentially good signings in Blake Green, Gold Coast youngster Brian Kelly, Curtis Sironen and Akuila Uate but a big question mark hangs over their pack.

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TIGERS

Predicted finish: 14th

TAB betting: $26

Having your four biggest stars coming off contract at the one time is poor management.

Even with Robbie Farah gone, the Tigers could be in for another drama-charged year as they try to sort out the futures of James Tedesco, Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks and Aaron Woods.

Throw in the fact that Jason Taylor’s deal is also up.

No matter how much the Tigers’ management say they don’t want this to play out in the media, it will.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

Predicted finish: 15th

TAB betting: $81

The TAB has written off St George Illawarra with only Newcastle at longer odds.

There has to be some significant improvement in their attack from the very start or this will get ugly.

The fans are fed up and you can hardly blame them given some of the football the Dragons dished up last season.

They bought Cameron McInnes to replace Mitch Rein at hooker, while Josh McCrone and Kurt Mann will probably get first crack at halfback following Benji Marshall’s move to the Broncos and Drew Hutchison’s injury.

The two men under most pressure are coach Paul McGregor and skipper Gareth Widdop.

Another wooden spoon seems to be in the offing for Newcastle.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Predicted finish: 16th

TAB betting: $151

Most think it’s a formality that Newcastle will collect their third straight wooden spoon.

You can come up with all the excuses in the world but that is just unacceptable in the NRL.

I know plenty of good judges say signing a youngster with the talent of Kalyn Ponga to a record contract was a smart move.

I see it as a dangerous gamble.

What the Knights really need is some dominant and experienced forwards to lead the way after losing Jeremy Smith, Kade Snowden, Robbie Rochow, Tariq Sims and Joseph Tapine.

Their big inclusions are Jamie Buhrer, Rory Kostjasyn and Josh Starling.