The NRL team that will be the most exciting to watch in 2023

It’s been a terrible decade if you’re a Tigers fan, but I think they should genuinely be excited about what their team will produce this year. And there are a couple of teams I think will be on the slide in 2023, including the Panthers who I’m struggling to see winning it for a third straight year.

Here’s how I see this season playing out:

Teams on the improve

Bulldogs: Everyone can see it. Phil Gould has recruited really well and it just seems his magic touch is being applied to the club. I can’t undersell how much Viliame Kikau and Reed Mahoney will add to them. The only question mark is the halfback position. Can Kyle Flanagan make that his own? That to me is the biggest query about them. But on paper, they look really strong.

Bulldogs back-rower Viliame Kikau, Roosters fullback James Tedesco, Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary and Tigers front-rower David Klemmer.Credit:

Tigers: The team I’m most looking forward to watching play. Under Tim Sheens and Benji Marshall, they’ll have a unique style of attack. Their strengths are a lot of change of angles and short passing. I was watching a semi-final the other day when they played the Dragons and I couldn’t remember much of it as I was in England at the time. Their attack was crisp and lightning-quick. Their recruitment of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i and John Bateman will really add starch to that forward pack. They impressed me most last weekend and Tommy Talau is a star in waiting.

Teams I worry about

Eels: They’ve lost a lot of key players. Reed Mahoney is a big loss. There’s got to be a question mark on how Josh Hodgson will respond following two knee reconstructions and he’s now beyond 30. If Mitchell Moses has a long-term injury I think they’ll really struggle. There are some real question marks over Parramatta for me.

Storm: They’ve lost a lot of experience in the middle with the Bromwich brothers and Felise Kaufusi going to the Dolphins. I know they’re coming towards the end of their careers, but they knew their game. The Ryan Papenhuyzen injury is a real worry and Justin Olam’s arm injury doesn’t help. I’m not sure they’ll be the powerhouse we have come to expect from Melbourne and I reckon they looked rusty in the trial against the Warriors.

Dragons: It feels like every week there’s just more pressure heaped on the club. Junior Amone has been stood down over criminal charges, so once again it all comes down to Ben Hunt. If they lose him for an extended period, who is going to win them enough games?

St George Illawarra and Ben Hunt left a lot to be desired with their showing against the Rabbitohs in the Charity Shield.Credit:Getty

Panthers: A couple of weeks ago, I thought they would be thereabouts again. But the more I think about it, I just can’t see them winning it for a third straight year. The loss of Taylan May for the season is massive, and throw in Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau leaving and I’m thinking it might be a bridge too far.

The blue chippers

Roosters: They’re in for one heck of a season. With a lot of the young guys we’ve seen in the trials, they’re going to be strong and, to me, they have a lot of depth. I’m looking forward to Victor Radley and Brandon Smith playing together, both on and off the field. If Trent Robinson is serious, he would get a court order so they can’t go within 5km of each other off the field.

Cowboys: I think they’re a huge chance of winning it this year. Heilum Luki comes back into the forward pack and what a combination he will have in the back row with Jeremiah Nanai. And they have a production line of great young talent coming through. I think they can go deep into the finals again.

Rabbitohs: I know they’ve had this complex of falling in the preliminary final four of the past five years, but they’re really likeable this year. I find my eyes are always drawn to Latrell Mitchell and he can take them a long way in this competition. If he and Cody Walker are healthy for the majority of the year, I can see them going very close to the grand final.

Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett and halfback Sean O’Sullivan.Credit:Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

The new boys

A lot of fans are going to be looking at the Dolphins. They struggled in their last trial, but I think they’ll start the season well and I reckon in the first four to six weeks they’ll be really competitive and strong. But the big worry for me is the depth and if they have injuries to key players, I’m not sure they have it. They’ve recruited a lot of players in the forwards that are 30 or older. The big key for them is supercoach Wayne Bennett. Kristian Woolf had great success in England and whether he can bring different philosophies back from the Super League will be a challenge. I like the signing of Sean O’Sullivan. His footy intellect would be in the top three in the competition.

Players to watch

Kalyn Ponga: Obviously, I’m involved with the club and I’ve been working with him. I have no doubt watching him that he will be in the top three attacking players in the world at five-eighth. The big challenge is going to come defensively. He will be targeted and we know his history of head knocks. Can he produce that zip and brilliance which takes your breath away after making 30 tackles? I’ve got to say he’s got his head switched on at the moment. He’s fit and people forget he’s had so many different combinations of spine players since he’s been at the Knights. He will have some continuity this year.

The Knights’ season will rest on Kalyn Ponga.Credit:Getty

Nathan Cleary: There’s an element where people want to knock him, but I don’t know if he can do any more. The next couple of years at representative level are particularly crucial for him. He’s at that stage at 25 or 26, he’s played three or four years at Origin level. It’s his time to own the result for NSW. I think he’s up to it.

Viliame Kikau: Signed on big money so there’s an expectation and pressure. He’s had Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary feeding him the ball. It might take a bit of time for him at the Bulldogs, but I’m looking forward to watching him play.

Api Koroisau: He’s an absolutely sensational signing for the Tigers with his trickery around the ruck. That extra responsibility as captain will drive him. Once again, if there’s one team fans should be excited about it is the Tigers.

Tom Trbojevic and Latrell Mitchell: We all know the injury history with Tom and it’s a really important year for him. It just feels like everyone talks about Latrell, people either love him or they don’t. One thing about him: he gets people discussing him. He gets South Sydney on the back page – and sometimes the front page too – but you just cannot take your eyes off him. Every time I watch South Sydney I find my eyes are drawn to him. I like the fact he says what he thinks.

James Tedesco: My tip for the Dally M Medal. Standout player and I expect no different in 2023.

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