NRL Results / Andy Morris / 17 March 2009 / 1 Comments Bet Now

Footy season is almost upon us. What better time to have a look at which teams will improve in 2009 and climb the ladder and which teams will fall and slide down the snake.

The biggest improvers for the 2009 season will be last year's wooden spooners Canterbury. The Bulldogs endured a disastrous 2008 campaign that saw the club claim its first wooden spoon since 1964 as well as seeing their star attraction Sonny Bill Williams walk out of the club in the most acrimonious of circumstances.

It was a year to forget and one that led the Bulldogs to cleaning house. The Bulldogs have let go of the troublemakers and recruited a crew of hardworking and talented players that will turn the team around this season. The Bulldogs have a completely new look this year with former Australian half Brett Kimmorley, Queensland prop Ben Hannant, Queensland backrower David Stagg and exciting hooker Michael Ennis, among others, joining the club.

Canterbury are legitimate contenders for the title this season. Traders can bet the Bulldogs to win the title at anything better than 17.0 with a bet on the blue and whites at better than 2.10 to make the top eight the most outstanding preseason wager at this stage.

Wayne Bennett's move to the Dragons will see them improve. The Dragons have started poorly in nearly every season under Nathan Brown. That won't happen this year. Bennett always has his teams ready to fire early and that could lay the platform for some major improvement in 2009. The Dragons snuck into the top eight last year and with a decent coach and some stability around the club, they could make a real run at the top four. No Bennett team has missed the finals since 1991 so traders can confidently bet on the Dragons to make the eight at better than 1.55.

South Sydney finished 14th last year and with their solid recruitment drive that has bought Rhys Wesser, Colin Best and Kane Cleal to the club, they should markedly improve. Souths had major injury problems with key personnel last year along with problems at halfback. The latter has been fixed with Chris Sandow now established in the seven jersey while the former rests in the lap of the gods. Souths can be speculated at better than 3.75 to play finals football in 2009.

Cronulla are the team set to take the biggest slide. They overachieved significantly in 2008 to finish equal first in the minor premiership. Their brand of football ensures victories rarely come easily and their recruitment for 2009 has added little to the team. Throw in the fact Cronulla never come through in the big time and they are the best lay for traders in the Premiers 2009 market. Bettors can lay them up to 21.0.

The Brisbane Broncos are an interesting team this year and may slide. Wayne Bennett has left after twenty-one years at the helm and with him went a number of outstanding players. Brisbane are traditionally fast starters but that cannot be counted on this year. Traders should look to lay Brisbane in the Top Eight market at anything below 1.60 and should be wary of betting them early in the season.

The Penrith Panthers finished 12th in 2008 and were on the end of some shameful hidings including a 74-12 loss to Canberra and will slide further in 2009. They lost a raft of experienced players and recruited not a single starter. With problems still existing between the playing group and coach Matthew Elliott, the Panthers are deserved favourites in the Wooden Spoon market. They can be bet down to 3.0 to claim the spoon.

Parramatta are another team set to slide from an already low base. The Eels finished 11th in 2008 and despite the fact they bought in a very good coach in Daniel Anderson, they are set for more misery in the upcoming season. They have a very similar roster to last year and will again show the same defensive deficiencies and lack of attacking flair this year. Traders should lay the Eels in the Top Eight market at anything less than 3.25 and look to bet them in the Wooden Spoon market at greater than 7.50.

Footy season is nearly here. It doesn't get more exciting than that.