It was among the finest NRL seasons in current reminiscence with a bumper finals collection nonetheless to play out.
In the season evaluate of the Matty Johns podcast, Johns and Cooper Cronk broke down the highlights and lowlights of the 2023 season, in addition to groups to observe in 2024.
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BEST STORY OF THE SEASON
Newcastle Knights
Cooper – Nine weeks in the past, (the Knights) have been in 14th spot. They’ve put 9 wins collectively, locked down fifth and they’re going to play a house last on Sunday afternoon. That’s going to be the perfect ticket on the town. They turned it round. Whether it’s Adam O’Brien doubling down on what he was good at they usually lastly clicked into gear or did they shift one thing to get a response however you can not deny that Kalyn Ponga, Dom Young, Greg Marzhew, Tyson Frizell, Tyson Gamble are all taking part in career-best footy in the meanwhile. Even on the weekend with Ponga and some others out, they nonetheless performed with that power, that enthusiasm, that DNA even with out the expertise. Hell of a turnaround.
New Zealand Warriors
Matty – The Warriors are finest story for me. I do know it’s an apparent one. It’s the model of soccer they’re taking part in in addition to the Shaun Johnson story. Just typically, the sport in New Zealand and the place it sits in the meanwhile – it’s booming over there. Every house recreation is like an occasion. From what I consider there are enormous TV rankings, enormous curiosity and extremely, it’s placing plenty of stress on rugby union.
Cooper – ‘Up The Wahs’ is taking up the world. At the beginning of the 12 months it was ‘Phins Up’, now its ‘Up The Wahs’ so yeah I like what they’ve carried out.
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENTS
South Sydney Rabbitohs, Parramatta Eels, North Queensland Cowboys
Matty – I’m a South Sydney fan, I really like the model of soccer that they play. To look halfway via the season and to see them on prime in Round 11, they’ll win this competitors. When somebody requested me who was going to win and I mentioned Souths, however they’ve dipped they usually simply by no means rebounded.
Cooper – Three of the 4 prelim last groups from final 12 months, Souths, Eels and Cowboys, have missed the eight. I sit right here with out realizing the ins-and-outs
TEAM WHO DIDN’T MAKE EIGHT WHO WILL IMPROVE NEXT YEAR
Gold Coast Titans
Cooper – I believe the arrival of Des to the Titans will change issues. Will or not it’s sufficient to get them within the eight? I’m unsure. Des will change plenty of issues however he’s nonetheless going to have the problem of what their backbone is, I believe that has been the issue for the Titans for a very long time. When you get your determination makers to make good selections, are you able to win sufficient video games to make finals? Jayden Campbell, AJ Brimson, Kieran Foran, Tanah Boyd, Tom Weaver – what does that each one appear like for Des Hasler’s males subsequent 12 months? But I count on an increase of their performances.
The Dolphins
Matty – I believe they are going to make the eight subsequent season. Tom Flegler arrives, Herbie Farnworth is a gigantic signing.
IT’S A BIG SEASON FOR WHO IN 2024?
The 4 Queensland groups
Matty – For me, as a collective, I see it as an enormous season for the 4 Queensland sides. The Broncos are coming into a interval of domination. The Dolphins for the explanation I’ve simply spoken about, likewise the Titans with what you mentioned about Des arriving. I additionally count on the Cowboys to return again. They’ll study quite a bit from the earlier low season the place it was a World Cup 12 months, most of their stars got here again late and phrase is that they didn’t work as laborious, so I believe they’ll return to that philophy of that pre-season. One factor they do want to search out and what they lacked this season was a little bit of real pace, the Hammer was an enormous loss in hindsight.
Cooper – I believe the Cowboys have sufficient expertise and substances there, I simply don’t assume the people delivered. I believed they began poorly, chased their tail and fired each shot to try to get again (into competition).
So are you suggesting that subsequent 12 months, all 4 Queensland groups will make the eight?
Matty – Yes probably. I believe it may very well be an important 12 months for the Queensland sides.
Graham UNLOADS on Davey’s feedback | 01:31
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South Sydney Rabbitohs
Cooper – It’s an enormous 12 months for Souths. I don’t like doing this however South Sydney missed the finals. If they don’t get off to a good begin subsequent 12 months, the stress kicks in. You’ve acquired one of many Rabbitohs’ favorite sons (Sam Burgess) heading over to Warrington to educate his personal crew for the primary time and if he even exhibits a glimmer that he can coach, effectively I don’t assume we now have to work out what the headlines might be. If that group can work out occurred on the again finish of this 12 months, they need to be in competition in 2024 but when they don’t, I believe the identical stress is coming.
Cameron Ciraldo
Matty – Individually it’s an enormous 12 months for Ciraldo. It’s humorous, when he acquired the job he and everybody principally acknowledged that there was nonetheless a little bit of ache to return however when the ache got here, there have been nonetheless rumblings happening. A very essential one for Cameron Ciraldo is that the massive identify signings need to ship. The large identify signings in 2023… most of them allowed their requirements to drop.
Cooper – I half consider Ciraldo is doing the precise factor with redirecting the tradition into laborious work as a result of the tales of gamers leaving or no matter, I did that beneath Craig Bellamy for 16 years, that entire work ethic of prepare till you possibly can’t prepare anymore and once you assume you possibly can’t do it we are going to do it once more tomorrow. No one from the Melbourne Storm walked off the sphere, all of us shook Craig’s hand and mentioned thanks as a result of with out that work ethic, we don’t do what we did for an extended time frame. I half consider Cameron Ciraldo is aware of what he’s doing however its taken a hell of plenty of effort to redirect that as a result of they haven’t had successful tradition there for an extended time frame… I did that wrestling drill twice per week for 10 years… It’s what occurs at Penrith, it’s the the reason why groups are on the prime and a few are down the underside.
Source: www.foxsports.com.au