Eighth Immortal Andrew Johns is unconvinced back-to-back premiers the Sydney Roosters will finish in the top four this season and has backed last year's runners-up the Canberra Raiders to take out the crown.
With the season resuming on Thursday after a two-month COVID-19 hiatus, fans will be eager to see what impact, if any, the break had on the league's complexion.
While Johns and NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler couldn't foresee much change in the game's current frontrunners, neither were convinced Trent Robinson's back-to-back premiership winning Roosters could stake a claim to the title after dropping their first two games.
"I think the Raiders for me are premiership favourites, followed by Parramatta and probably the Broncos," said Johns.
"The Roosters will be thereabouts, but I'm not sure if they'll finish in the top four this year."
After years of rebuild in Sydney's west, Fittler was particularly interested to see how Brad Arthur's Eels would fare in what feels like the club's best chance at a premiership in the modern era.
Coming off an impressive 2019 finals run that was headlined by a 58-0 shellacking of the Broncos, Arthur's men find themselves sitting atop the 2020 ladder under the command of career-best form from Mitchell Moses.
It's a story that the league will watch with great interest, and one the Blues coach had no hesitation in backing.
"I think Parramatta, I just like the look of their team," Fittler said.
"They seem very well rounded and they've built it over a couple of years. So, I feel they're going to be strong.
"I feel like Melbourne will just hand in there like they do. Canberra, especially with Jordan Rapana, that's a massive bonus.
"And the other one is Brisbane. It's going to be interesting to watch those young blokes go through. There will be times of pressure, will be interesting to see how they handle that. Brody croft, having him there just to steady the ship, he might be the big inclusion."
The Eels and Broncos will reignite the season when they kick off on Thursday night at Suncorp Stadium.
from WWOS http://wwos.nine.com.au/nrl/andrew-johns-brad-fittler-back-raiders-for-premiership/0f58892c-c1df-4855-8e4f-19c673491fce
0 Comments