NRL 2012 Season Preview and Predictions

NRL SEASON PREVIEW 2012
By W D Nicolson, January 25, 2012

A brand new NRL Season dawns on March 1 in Newcastle and unless you've been endlessly entertained by watching Darren Lockyer's hilarious (but somehow right) missed conversion in his last play in Rugby League on an endless loop on YouTube - you are bursting for some Rugby League right about now.

So here's some Rugby League to get you through the end of January and ready for the trials that are just around the corner.

In 2012, the author will be posting content for some more official sites as well as on http://www.wdnicolson.com but as an Australia Day treat you get a quick look at our 2012 NRL Forecasts for all 16 Teams. NOT The Footy Show may also be back for one episode cameo with a Live Season Preview of our own in early February.

If you want the whole preview you'll need to pick yourself up a copy of the 2012 Rugby League Almanac for just $10.00 - where every team is analysed in depth and our Predicted Ladder and Premiership pick is published.

Get The 2012 Rugby League Almanac Now!

So while you go grab a copy, here is the short sharp and boldly premature 2012 Prediction for each NRL Club. If you want our Final Ladder - see the Almanac.

2011 Record: 18 Wins 6 Losses = 3rd Spot

Reached Preliminary Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.
How big a loss is Darren Lockyer? The difference between playing Finals Football and golfing in September. Just.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 6 Wins 18 Losses = 15th Spot

Missed Finals by 12 Points

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

A number of teams will need to fall over in order to give the Raiders a chance at returning to the playoffs.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 12 Wins 12 Losses = 9th Spot

Missed Finals on Differential

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

They should stay in the race all season long but the extent of their success looks limited by their halves.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 7 Wins 17 Losses = 13th Spot

Missed Finals by 10 Points

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

As good as Paul Gallen may be, it is the acquisition of Todd Carney that makes Cronulla a playoff contender.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 6 Wins 18 Losses = 16th Spot

Missed Finals by 12 Points

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

The roster overhaul came a year too late but the new faces give Cartwright’s team every chance to improve in 2012.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 18 Wins 6 Losses = 2nd Spot

Premiers, Won Grand Final

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Hasler aside, almost all the Premiership winning pieces are in place for another assault on September.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 19 Wins 5 Losses = 1st Spot

Minor Premiers, Reached Preliminary Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.
How far can 3 Superstars get you in the NRL today? Back into the Top 4 and a shot at glory if you’re Melbourne.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 12 Wins 12 Losses = 8th Spot

Reached Qualifying Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Tinklertown (or is it Waynecastle?) is buzzing with anticipation for 2012, and it should be – look contenders.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 POWER RANKINGS | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 14 Wins 10 Losses = 7th Spot

Reached Qualifying Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

If they can move on from their playoff nightmare, the Cowboys can contend thanks to Thurston and Bowen.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 POWER RANKINGS | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 6 Wins 1 Draw 17 Losses = 14th

Missed Finals by 11 Points

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Can they be a playoff team a year after just avoiding the spoon? In the NRL these days that’s not uncommon.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 9 Wins 15 Losses = 12th Spot

Missed Finals by 6 Points

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Could be good, could be awful. This Penrith roster has some talent but probably not enough to reach September.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 11 Wins 13 Losses = 10th Spot

Missed Finals by 2 Points

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Will Star laden roster be burdened by a rookie half and inconsistent five-eighth? But if halves click = Hello Finals.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 14 Wins 10 Losses = 5th Spot

Reached Elimination Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Their reign at the top is over and their rookie coach has it all to do. Could grab a low playoff seed however.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 10 Wins 14 Losses = th Spot

Reached Elimination Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

Have engaged the youth movement. A playoff spot looks tough to attain but this is the right course of action.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 14 Wins 10 Losses = 6th Spot

Runners Up, Lost Grand Final

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

A lot of things went right for them in their playoff run last year, should expect a rockier road trying to emulate it.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

2011 Record: 15 Wins 9 Losses = 4th Spot

Reached Elimination Finals

2012 FORECAST… and boldly premature prediction.

This may be the year the premiership window closes on the Tigers, or they might jump through it for title two.
CLUB: DEPTH CHART | 2012 RUN DOWN | TEAM SYNOPSIS

 What does your Top 8 look like before the NRL Pre-Season begins? 
And how influenced will your ladder be by any trial form? 

Comment below.

Also - watch out for the First of our Dream Team Guides on Official NRL Club Sites next week.

2012 Rugby League Almanac Available Now.
While you're here on the site - please consider grabbing a copy of the 2012 Rugby League Almanac - a 49 page season guide for just $10.00 that will give you the most in depth analysis of the 2012 NRL Season on the market. This is just pure Rugby League - you won't be disappointed. Read more below for what else is inside the downloadable document.

The 2012 NSC Rugby League Almanac is just $10.00 (AUD) and is a veritable NRLPalooza.


The 4th Edition includes:

• 49 Printable A4 Pages of NRL Information - either in full A4 or Booklet Form.
• The long anticipated NRL Top 200 - Who would we pick 1st to win the comp in 2012?
• The NSC Honour Roll gets 15 new inductees as we recognise the Best in Rugby League since 1989.
• 2012 Season Preview - Team Synopsis, Expanded Team Depth Charts, Power Rankings, Top 5 Players, Top 3 Rookies, Best Lineup, Transaction Grading, Season Draw and Bold Prediction: Contender or Pretender?
• 2011 Club Review - incorporating full 2011 NRL Tweet Player of the Year Votes, Full Results and Awards.
• Best Photos of 2011 - the Screen Shots you shouldn't forget in a hurry.
• And what's in store from www.wdnicolson.com, The NRL Tweet and maybe NOT The Footy Show in 2012.

BUY VIA PAYPAL OR BANK TRANSFER

Number of Almanacs

1 Almanac $10.00 AUD  2 Almanacs $20.00 AUD  3 Almanacs $30.00 AUD

Enter email to link payment

If you purchase via PayPal, your email will be sent to wdn@wdnicolson.com confirming your payment  and the Digital Product will be made available to you asap via an email link. If you would like to buy more than one copy at a time, then choose from the drop down menu above or if paying via Bank Transfer simply multiply the number of Almanacs you need by $10.00 AUD.

The reason you should include your Email Address in the ID tag is so we can then identify that you have made a payment and your email address will be granted download access to the Digital Product you have purchased via a provided link.

If you have any questions please email wdn@wdnicolson.com and please encourage others to buy a copy of the Almanac, we would appreciate you not forwarding on the Almanac freely as that disrespects the work that has gone into producing the document.

Delivery of Digital Product is normally within two hours in between the hours of 9am and 7pm. If you purchase outside of these hours, the Digital Product may not be cleared for download until the next day but will be delivered as soon as possible.

To purchase a copy other than via PayPal, please visit this page for deposit details.