June 5, 2025 12:50 pm
NRL, Storylines to observe, Main speaking factors for the 2023 Telstra Premiership season

NRL, Storylines to observe, Main speaking factors for the 2023 Telstra Premiership season

It is the primary day of 2023 and though it is perhaps slightly early to speak predictions for the NRL Telstra Premiership season, there are many questions that will probably be answered this 12 months.

NRL.com picks out 10 of the most effective with the NRL season formally simply eight weeks away.

Can anybody cease the Panthers from making it three in a row?

It is the easy, but most legitimate query that may take one other 10 months to unravel however is there one other membership able to snatching the title from the back-to-back champions?

Historical past says sure with a 40-year hole between the final membership – Parramatta – who claimed three-straight trophies in 1983. 

The Eels, Sharks and Cowboys will imagine they’re able to going just a few video games higher after ending within the high 4 final 12 months whereas the Roosters and Rabbitohs are all the time thereabouts within the competitors. 

Historical past additionally suggests one or two golf equipment will shock us, however can it imply the Panthers are knocked off their perch? With no Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau round, it is a certain signal the wage cap is beginning to chunk the defending champions.



Match Highlights: Panthers v Eels

What number of video games will the Dolphins win?

One other query that has introduced loads of debate. How far will the Dolphins go of their inaugural season underneath Wayne Bennett in 2023?

With a roster that has constructed slowly and nonetheless but to be accomplished, the Dolphins may both shock us all or sit the place most predict within the backside eight this 12 months.

The Titans received 10 video games in every of their 2007 and 2008 seasons to wrestle early earlier than semi-final and preliminary last exits the next two years. 



Bennett already embracing Dolphins and Broncos rivalry

Which NRL coaches are most underneath stress?

It is not essentially the most satisfying matter, but in addition one that may’t be ignored. There are many coaches that may really feel the warmth this 12 months after lacklustre campaigns.

The likes of Anthony Griffin, Adam O’Brien and Justin Holbrook will wish to get off to good begins with their sides in any case three golf equipment completed outdoors the eight in 2022.

For different causes, Kevin Walters has had two years answerable for the Broncos and while he is performed a stable job, he will probably be hoping he can take them to the subsequent degree and attain the finals underneath his management.

Likewise, Cameron Ciraldo, Andrew Webster and Anthony Seibold will all really feel the nerves of their first seasons.

Contemplating there have been three coaches who did not see out the 2022 season, adopted by Des Hasler weeks after the competitors ended, it is a unending a part of the sport for coaches and golf equipment.

Can Wests Tigers make the finals?

One coach omitted of the above however not for any actual cause is Tim Sheens.

The long-term plan for Benji Marshall to take over as head coach of Wests Tigers has began however Sheens has a few years to assist get the membership heading in the right direction and likewise show there’s a technique to the considering right here.

The important thing signings of Api Koroisau, Isaiah Papali’i, David Klemmer, John Bateman and Charlie Staines is a robust begin to their roster rebuild however will or not it’s sufficient to propel them into the finals for the primary time since 2011?



Koroisau’s first go to to Wests Tigers new centre of excellence

Which off-contract stars will keep at their NRL golf equipment?

The merry-go-round of participant recruitment is exhibiting no indicators of slowing down with a number of off-contract in 2023 and more likely to steal the headlines.

Whereas most golf equipment will wish to tie down their star gamers earlier than a ball is kicked in March, others will not be afraid to hit the market.

Eels playmaker Mitchell Moses has already begun to dominate the headlines round his future whereas the futures of David Fifita, Nelson Asofa-Solomona and Dom Younger have additionally been talked about in latest weeks.

Will luckless trio get pleasure from some luck in 2023?

It was an unlucky story of three elegant fullbacks spending most of their time on the sidelines final 12 months with Tom Trbojevic, Kalyn Ponga and Ryan Papenhuyzen nursing accidents that stored them out of the sport for an prolonged interval.

The trio are all due again to the sector in Spherical 1 pending they get via the pre-season and we will all agree the sport is in higher well being once they’re on the park serving to their groups.

Trbojevic has already been dealt a setback with a hamstring damage in December however stays on observe for the season opener in opposition to Canterbury. 

Ponga (a number of head knocks) has been coaching with the Knights all through the pre-season with a attainable swap to the halves nonetheless on the playing cards whereas Papenhuyzen stays in a rehabilitation part after a nasty knee damage.

How shut can AJ go?

He may not like to speak about it a lot however one other 30 tries to Alex Johnston in 2023 will see the Rabbitohs winger get even nearer to the nice Ken Irvine because the all-time main try-scorer in rugby league historical past.

As soon as a feat that almost all predicted would by no means be caught, Johnston sits at 166 with Irvine’s 212 severely underneath menace from the Bunnies finisher.

Turning simply 28 in January, Johnston may not be performed after that both with a attainable 250 in attain by the tip of his profession after re-signing till the tip of 2025.



The very best Alex Johnston tries in 2022

Can NSW bounce again in Origin?

Interstate rivalry is the closest it has been for many years with each NSW and Queensland sharing the spoils with two collection wins every previously 4 years.

The Maroons pulled off a miracle in opposition to the Blues in 2022 in a decider to recollect.

Latest historical past suggests it is now flip for NSW to return serve, though we’re certain the Maroons will wish to preserve the defend comfortably held in Queensland.

Which veterans will be part of the 300-club?

Lengthy-time NRL servants Ben Hunt, Daly Cherry-Evans, Jesse Bromwich, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jarrod Croker and Wade Graham are all an opportunity to succeed in 300 video games within the 2023 season

Bromwich is the closest with 295 forward of his swap to the Dolphins this season.

Luckless Raiders captain Croker is subsequent in keeping with 292 however faces a troublesome ask to crack into the Spherical 1 line-up, adopted by Hunt (290), who’s 10 video games shy of the milestone.



Ben Hunt on the high of his sport

Is that this Craig Bellamy’s last 12 months as Storm coach?

He is taking a year-by-year method earlier than transitioning right into a director of rugby league function on the Storm, in order the months go on so too will the hypothesis round Craig Bellamy’s teaching future. 

Bellamy’s largest teaching problem is more likely to be in 2023 with skilled gamers departing and a new-look squad that may rely closely on the star backbone of Cameron Munster, Ryan Papenhuyzen, Jahrome Hughes and Harry Grant. 

The 63-year-old is among the best NRL coaches ever seen within the sport and his subsequent steps will probably be among the many storylines to observe for the 12 months. 

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