Another NRL season is in the books and it’s time for foxsports.com.au to revisit our bold predictions for 2023.
The operative word is bold, as in we intentionally went for broke when making these predictions at the start of the year, so there are inevitably plenty of swings and misses.
We did manage to nail a handful, including 2022 grand finalists Parramatta missing the top eight and the Broncos making a finals run.
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But for the vast majority we struck out and in several cases we were so far off it that the complete opposite transpired.
Let’s take a trip into the archives and review our 23 bold predictions for the 2023 NRL season.
Every touch from Cleary led comeback! | 03:56
ORIGIN RULES TO CHANGE
Verdict: Not even close
We tipped this one on the back of Victor Radley pleading his allegiance to England despite growing up in Sydney.
The current rules stipulate that where a player resided on their 13th birthday is the state in which they are eligible to represent – unless they’ve played for England or New Zealand.
It means the likes of Radley can’t play for New South Wales, where he’s previously been picked in an extended squad, despite living in Sydney his entire life.
DOLPHINS TO PLAY FINALS
Verdict: Not the worst tip
The Dolphins burst out of the blocks in 2023 and won their first three games, beating the Roosters, Raiders and Knights.
They continued their strong start all the way to Magic Round and after Round 10 sat fifth on the ladder with more wins than both the Panthers and Storm.
But the problem for Wayne Bennett’s side was always going to be their depth and it showed in the second half of the season as they faded, winning just three more games to finish 13th.
WALKER TO REPLACE DCE AS MAROONS NO. 7
Verdict: Not even close
Not only was Sam Walker dropped at the Roosters just seven rounds into the season, but Cherry-Evans delivered another ageless season.
Walker made the Maroons extended squad in 2022 but was overlooked for selection this year as he struggled with form and injuries. The young gun did force his way back into the Roosters starting side and played a big role in their finish to the season.
But DCE delivered a second straight series win for Queensland and was named the Sea Eagles’ best-and-fairest player before once again earning Kangaroos selection.
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JUSTIN HOLBROOK FIRST COACH SACKED
Verdict: Almost.
The Dragons were the first of three clubs to sack their coach this season, with Anthony Griffin marched after a Round 11 loss to the Cowboys.
But Justin Holbrook was next with the Titans dropping the unexpected announcement the morning after Origin II, with Des Hasler named as his replacement.
It didn’t save their season as the Gold Coast finished 14th and they still haven’t won a finals game since 2010.
Tim Sheens was the final coach who had his contract ended early, but more on that later.
LATRELL MITCHELL WINS DALLY M MEDAL
Verdict: Not even close
It was another injury-ravaged campaign for Mitchell that sidelined the star for Origin and restricted him to 16 NRL games.
Mitchell played the first 11 rounds and sat sixth on the Dally M leaderboard with the Rabbitohs flying at the top of the table.
But when he returned from a calf injury in Round 22, Mitchell couldn’t save Souths’ season as they inexplicably missed the top eight.
TIM SHEENS TO GUIDE TIGERS BACK TO FINALS
Verdict: Not even close
Oh boy, this was a shocker.
Just like everybody else, we wanted to believe the return of Tim Sheens, Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah would resurrect the Tigers.
Instead, they somehow got worse and collected their second straight wooden spoon and Sheens was marched less than 12 months into his two-year deal.
Luke Brooks also left to join the Sea Eagles after a decade at Concord and now rookie coach Marshall is without an experienced half for 2024.
JARROD CROKER TO PLAY 300TH NRL GAME
Verdict: Nailed it
This one might seem like an obvious pick now but it was far from certain at the start of the season that Croker would hit his milestone.
Croker had been stranded in the nervous 290s for over 18 months leading into 2023 and after Canberra’s 1-4 start to the season he earned a call-up.
Croker starred against the Broncos that night in a victory that ignited a five-game winning run and in Round 15 he played his 300th NRL game. The 33-year-old retired at the end of the season with 307 NRL games to his name.
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Holmes selected for Kangaroos squad | 02:14
NICHO HYNES TOP POINTS SCORER
Verdict: Not the worst tip
Dolphins star recruit Jamayne Isaako swept all before him with 244 points, but Hynes still finished on the podium in third with 183 points.
It was slightly down on his 194 points from 2022 when he won the Dally M Medal. But Hynes played three less games in the regular season this year after earning NSW selection and picking up some minor injuries.
Hynes wasn’t at his best this season and the Sharks were bundled out in the first week of finals, but he still finished third in the Dally M Medal.
STORM MINOR PREMIERS DESPITE EXODUS
Verdict: Not the worst tip
The Storm produced an uncharacteristically inconsistent season but still managed to finish third and make the preliminary final.
Craig Bellamy lost half his 2022 forward pack with Jesse and Kenny Bromwich and Felise Kaufusi joining the Dolphins as Brandon Smith left for the Roosters.
It left holes in the pack that hurt halves Jahrome Hughes and Cameron Munster’s ability to get the team going forward.
EELS MISS THE TOP EIGHT
Verdict: Nailed it
The Eels lost six players from their strongest side in 2022 and it showed as they became the first grand finalists to miss the top eight in five years. They finished 10th.
Brad Arthur lost Reed Mahoney ( Bulldogs), Isaiah Papalii (Tigers), Marata Niukore (Warriors), Ray Stone (Dolphins), Oregon Kaufusi ( Sharks) and Tom Opacic (Hull).
J’maine Hopgood was the only recruit who delivered, with Josh Hodgson, Daejarn Asi, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie all playing just a handful of games each.
NSW TO WIN ORIGIN IN FIRST TWO GAMES
Verdict: Not even close
Billy Slater haunted New South Wales for the best part of 15 years as a player and now he’s doing it as a coach.
Slater delivered a stunning 2-1 upset win as a rookie coach in 2022 and this year his Maroons took just two games to make it back-to-back series wins.
If the Blues think the pain is about to end anytime soon, think again. Slater has signed a three-year extension to coach until 2026.
Kangaroos squad explained… who misses? | 09:33
PONGA TO MAKE PERMANENT SWITCH TO HALVES
Verdict: Not even close
Ok, Ponga started the season at five-eighth but was heavily concussed just two minutes into Round 2 and spent the next five weeks sidelined.
Ponga returned in the halves but after four games coach Adam O’Brien switched him back to fullback and it transformed the Knights’ season.
They charged into the second week of finals on an 11-game winning run before Ponga pipped Shaun Johnson to win the Dally M Medal.
DAVID FIFITA TO LEAVE THE TITANS
Verdict: Not even close
The highest-paid forward to ever play the game came into 2023 under enormous pressure to fulfil his price tag – and he delivered.
Fifita played 22 NRL games and was named Dally M second rower of the year and he started all three games for Queensland.
The 23-year-old had the opportunity to leave the Titans due to a clause in his contract that was triggered after coach Justin Holbrook was sacked, but instead he signed a three-year extension.
PAUL GALLEN FIGHTS SBW
Verdict: Not even close
It’s the fight rugby league fans have been waiting over a decade to see, but Gallen has officially hung up the gloves.
Gallen ended his career with back-to-back wins over fellow NRL great Justin Hodges late last year.
Sonny Bill Williams hasn’t fought since copping his first professional loss when he was knocked out by Mark Hunt last November.
BULLDOGS TO MISS THE TOP EIGHT
Verdict: Nailed it
Again, this doesn’t seem like the boldest tip now but there was huge hype around the Bulldogs ahead of rookie coach Cameron Ciraldo’s first season at the helm.
But Canterbury went backwards under Ciraldo and they slid from 12th in 2022 to 12th this season.
Star recruit Viliame Kikau missing more than half the season with a pectoral injury didn’t help the cause, but they struggled in almost every facet.
Upton named to Jillaroos squad | 00:52
ANTHONY SEIBOLD TO STRUGGLE
Verdict: Not the worst tip
Sea Eagles skipper Daly Cherry-Evans was superb this season but his side underperformed in coach Anthony Seibold’s first year at the helm.
Seibold replaced Manly legend Des Hasler at Brookvale after the pride jersey saga engulfed their 2022 season.
They won two more games this season but actually fell down the ladder one place from 11th to 12th after losing several close games.
JEREMIAH NANAI TO SIGN RECORD DEAL
Verdict: Nailed it
The Cowboys backrower enjoyed a stunning 2022 and in February this year he penned a four-year extension.
The deal worth $900,000 per season will keep him at the club until the end of 2027 and makes him one of the highest-paid backrowers in the NRL.
It is the richest NRL deal ever signed by a teenager.
BRANDON SMITH TO FIRE AT ROOSTERS
Verdict: Not the worst tip
Smith took a long time to get going but once he did the star hooker helped guide the Roosters within a whisker of the preliminary finals.
The Chooks needed to win their final five games of the season just to play finals and they did just that and then eliminated the Sharks in week one.
Smith starred against the Storm in the semis but his former club snatched the win at the death with a 79th minute try.
BRONCOS TO WIN FIRST FINALS GAME SINCE 2017
Verdict: Nailed it
The Broncos lost five of their final six games to inexplicably miss the top eight last year, but they came back with a vengeance in 2023.
Brisbane charged all the way to a second-placed finish on the ladder and then enjoyed thumping wins in the finals over the Storm and Warriors to book their grand final berth.
An Ezra Mam hat-trick in the decider looked to clinch the club’s first premiership since 2006 before Nathan Cleary orchestrated the biggest comeback in grand final history.
Broncos vow to get back to Grand Final | 01:09
PANTHERS TO MISS THE TOP FOUR
Verdict: Not even close
Whoops.
Ok so we thought maybe it was possible the Penrith powerhouse could slide to sixth after losing Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau. Nope.
Not only did they claim a third minor premiership in four years, they completed the first premiership threepeat in four years.
We’ll see ourselves out, Nathan.
DRAGONS TO GET THE WOODEN SPOON
Verdict: Not the worst tip
St George Illawarra haven’t had much to cheer about since their premiership in 2010 and things only got worse in 2023.
The Dragons sacked Anthony Griffin after Round 11 and tumbled their way down to a second-last finish after winning just five games.
The club went after former player Jason Ryles as Griffin’s replacement but he snubbed them at the 11th hour and instead they landed premiership winner Shane Flanagan.
API KOROISAY TO BE THE BUY OF THE YEAR
Verdict: Not the worst tip
The Tigers were terrible again this season but Koroisau was one of their few shining lights with consistent performances almost every week.
The hooker drunkenly joked about the Tigers’ struggles during Penrith’s grand final celebrations last year and then he felt those struggles in the sober light of day for six long months.
Broncos superstar Reece Walsh was arguably the only better buy this season.
KAEO WEEKES TO BE NRL’S BREAKOUT PLAYER
Verdict: Not even close
Things just didn’t work out for Weekes in 2023 as he played just nine games for the Sea Eagles and crossed for one try.
The 21-year-old is versatile and made a name for himself as a try-scoring machine while coming through the grades at Manly, but he hasn’t been able to press on in first grade yet.
Weekes has signed with the Raiders for 2024.
