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The NRL season is right around the corner and the competition has never been more open.
While the Penrith Panthers have gone on to become only the second team to achieve the feat in the NRL era, they have lost some key players including Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau.
The Sydney Roosters are fit and running with new addition Brandon Smith in the engine room, while the Parramatta Eels will be hungry after falling agonizingly short in 2022.
Father-son duo Ivan and Nathan Cleary will be hard to stop again with the Panthers in 2023
The North Queensland Cowboys and Cronulla Sharks will want to take their outstanding 2022 seasons to another level.
And many teams in the chasing pack have upgraded their squads for what promises to be a successful season that begins on Thursday night.
Daily Mail Australia took the time to ask some of the game’s biggest stars for their predictions for who will rise to the top and who will sink in the 2023 NRL season:
Billy Slater celebrates victory with his family after Game 3 of the State of Origin series in 2022
billy slater
Queensland State of Origin Coach
323 NRL games for Melbourne Storm, 31 games for Queensland, 30 games for Australia
Premiership Winner:
Let’s get Melbourne out of this because I have a loyalty to Melbourne. I think there are two teams that can stand out and they are the Roosters and the Cowboys. They are the two teams that will be. I’ll be excited to see how they can do it, because I think they can really elevate their game and take it to the next level.”
Haumole Olakau’atu of Sea Eagles is tackled during the NRL Test match between Sydney Roosters and Manly Sea Eagles at Central Coast Stadium
Major Improver:
‘I think Manly can improve, I really do. I think Manly can have a good year.
Wooden spoon:
‘I’m a glass half full person, there’s no wooden spoon for me.’
Dally M.
‘I haven’t really given much thought to this. Out of my head I think [Cronulla Sharks half] Nicho Hynes can do it again, I just think he’s a player who’s always in the game, he’s on a very good team and I think they’ll play consistent football.
Maroons assistant coach Johnathan Thurston yells at Maroons players during the first game of the 2022 State of Origin series
Johnathan Thurston
Queensland Home State Assistant Coach
323 NRL games for Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys, 37 games for Queensland, 38 games for Australia
Premiership Winner:
‘Cowboys. I need to see the youngsters step back from last year and they will be on everyone’s radar. But if they can keep everyone in shape, I think they can get the job done. We’ve seen many of those youngsters rise up in the past year and they may rise to another level this year. They will certainly find out in the early rounds where they stand in the competition. I’m excited for them, it should be good.
Assistant coach Benji Marshall looks on before the NRL test match between New Zealand Warriors and Wests Tigers
Major Improver:
‘The Titans with Keiran Foran there, they needed an experienced head to move their guys and they can score down shots from anywhere. They have a hard front pack. The Wests Tigers too, if they can get all their players in shape, they can move up the ladder. Also the dolphins. If I have to say one, I would probably say the Wests Tigers. They have Tiger’s DNA in there with Sheensy and Benji Marshall, Robbie (Farah) has been in there for a while.
Wooden spoon:
‘The Warriors. They just haven’t started, the new coaching staff there too. I want them to do well, it’s a good competition when the Warriors are playing well, but I think it’s going to be a tough year for them.”
Dally M:
scott drink water
Phil ‘Gus’ Gould at the launch of Channel Nine’s NRL 2023 coverage in Brisbane on Friday
phil gould
Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs General Manager of Football
103 first grade games for Penrith Panthers, Newtown Jets, Canterbury Bulldogs and South Sydney. 287 as a first grade coach at Canterbury, Penrith and Sydney City. 15 games as New South Wales manager and nine games for New South Wales in State of Origin.
Premiership:
I think it’s well hidden. I’m thinking about the Sharks and the Cowboys… and I think the Cowboys can win.
David Fifita of the Titans is wrapped up by the defense during the NRL Test match between the Brisbane Broncos and the Gold Coast Titans
Major Improver:
‘I’m interested to see how the Broncos do. I mean, the first half of their season was great last year and then for some reason they capitulated. If they can get off to a good start and gain some confidence, they have the playing talent to make the eight. I’ll say the Broncos play soccer in the finals.’
Wooden spoon:
‘I never make wooden spoon predictions.’
Dally M:
Niche Hynes. I think the Sharks are going to have a good year and if they do, he’s going to have to. I think he gave her a lot of confidence leading the team last year and she’s going to do even better this year.”
Paul ‘Fatty’ Vautin believes the North Queensland Cowboys have what it takes to see it through to 2023
Paul Vautin
Channel Nine Commentator
259 first grade games for Manly-Warringah, St Helens and Eastern Suburbs, 22 games for Queensland, 13 games for Australia. Nine games as Queensland Origin manager
Premiership:
‘The Cowboys flopped last year and look, they might have worried Penrith. I still think Penrith might have been too good, but Penrith is missing a few players. [in 2023] and the Cowboys look very strong. The coach is obviously doing very well. They had a defining moment 18 months ago where they weren’t listening to what he was saying or what he was doing was too demanding. Looks like they’ve fixed it and now they’re right behind it. So I think they are a great chance to win.
Cowboys’ Murray Taulagi dives for the line as Broncos’ Deine Mariner tackles him
Major Improver:
‘I think it will be the Wests Tigers. In fact, I spoke to someone who works as a coach for the Tigers and he said that Benji has revolutionized what they’re doing. Not the way they play, but everyone’s attitude. He’s a winner and he’s been great with old Sheensy in the background. So Wests Tigers and Canterbury, mainly because they have Gus. If he could run and play, they would be even better.
Wooden spoon:
‘Knights or Dragons.’
Dally M:
“It’s very difficult to get past Nathan Cleary because he’s usually in the top two or three players every week. So I have to say it again.
Millie Boyle of the Knights runs the ball during the NRLW Grand Final match between Newcastle Knights and Parramatta Eels at Accor Stadium
millie boyle
co-captain of the Newcastle Knights
20 NRLW games for Brisbane Broncos and Newcastle Knights. Three games for New South Wales and one game for Australia. Six games for Queensland Reds (rugby union)
Premiership:
“Hard to say, Penrith is the obvious one after seeing some players go to other teams and they weren’t too strong in pre-season, but pre-season doesn’t mean much at the end of the day.” . It’s hard not to say Newcastle because my Adam (Elliot) plays for Newcastle. Newcastle then.
Ponga will need to be fit and working for the Knights if they are to succeed in 2023.
Major Improver:
I think Newcastle will improve the most and probably Manly as well. I don’t think they played up to their potential last year and under a new coach, we’ve seen some good things from the pre-season challenge.
I think Newcastle definitely have the players there, they have some amazing players, column players, central players, they have great finishers as well. it’s about really coming together and playing as many games with your top 17 as you can. They have had a lot of injuries in the past, including key players. Their captains Kalyn Ponga, Jayden Brailey, have had changes in their team quite often. Now with a little more mongrel in the pack with Adam and Jack Hetherington I think they will really add a lot to an already (pack) with the Saifiti brothers. I hope they have an injury-free year.
Wooden spoon:
Not the Newcastle Knights
Dally M:
I could go to Jason Taumalolo