The two divisions have merged once more, and 2005 will see all eighteen Division Two sides do battle once again for the right to compete in the Premier League. Last season saw a fairy-tale victory for Wagga – who will be the next club to ascend?

Bondi Battlers
Relocating from Penrith to the well to do shores of Bondi, the new look ‘Battlers’ will be looking to follow in the footsteps of successful Sydney clubs like the Oilers and Vikings
Strength
The club features a number of very talented veterans in the form of Steve Price and Matt Sing, whose experience in the top league will undoubtedly lift the club.
Weakness
Whilst Garth Woods has potential, the fact that he is the only fullback at the club means that the back will be bombed hard and often.
Key Player: Michael Sullivan. Whilst he’s not widely recognised as a starting quality halfback just yet, the signs are certainly in Sullivan’s game to see him achieve plenty for Bondi this season.
Wildcard: Dean Widders. One of the game’s most explosive players, Widders could cause headaches for tired opposition sides with his damaging running.
Player to Watch: Fui Fui Moi Moi. He may have the funniest name in rugby league, but Fui is a damaging runner who will only get better under the tutelage of Price and Minichiello.
Prediction: Bondi have a solid side, but an untried coach should make things interesting for fans in 2005.

Campelltown Invasion
Another relocated side, the former East Coast Tigers set a benchmark last year, and will be out to do so again in a new stomping ground
Strength
The presence of former Australian representative Trent Barrett in the starting five eighth role is a huge boost to any club, especially one in Division Two.
Weakness
A very weak front row will struggle to assert itself against the more experienced and/or glamorous packs of the opposition.
Key Player: Trent Barrett. After several seasons of excellence for Brisbane, Barrett’s new challenge is to turn Campbelltown into a fortress.
Wildcard: Anthony Muller. The explosive young German utility will cause some real damage when he’s injected into the game from the bench, but his defensive inabilities mean he’s not an ideal starter.
Player to Watch: Garrett Crossman. This solid front rower will certainly improve over the year, and could prove a real boon for the club.
Prediction: Whilst they possess a star studded lineup, the club are managed by the always unpredictable Jelly Adams. If he can stay committed, they’ll be a force.

Canberra Chargers
Were a dominant side throughout last season, but this year find themselves under new management following the mysterious departure of their former tutor.
Strength
A very experienced halves pairing of Elton Flatley and Sean Long should prove the thorn in the sides of many a club over 2005.
Weakness
The club’s new coach has wasted no time in alienating several key figures in the ASRL, including last year’s premiership winning coach Anthony Magro. When the club needs a fresh player, will the new coach have a friend to call on?
Key Player: Sean Long. A lot rests on the head of the former Wellington Cougar, who will need to be at his best to fill the big shoes left by Sean Towers.
Wildcard: Maleky O’Connor. The Irish sensation has had a career of ups and downs, impressing in his debut season for the Gold Coast, but then struggling to do much in the years to follow. Can a starting spot ignite his passion once more?
Player to Watch: Marshal Chalk. The pacy young winger has been on the scene for several years, but looks set to explode in 2005.
Prediction: Canberra once again have a solid squad, but the loss of the likes of Towers may be too hard to bear. Watch for them to finish in the lower half of the eight.

Carnarvon Cowboys
Can a return to the Cowboys moniker return some pride to the Carnarvon jersey in 2005?
Strength
The presence of former Dally M Player of the Year Graham Luana cannot be underestimated. As long as he’s fit, the Cowboys are a chance.
Weakness
Defensively there are some big holes in the Cowboys’ backline, particularly in the form of Tame Tupou and Jamie Venables.
Key Player: Graham Luana. The Papua New Guinean legend will once again bear the bulk of playmaking responsibilities for his side.
Wildcard: Jamie Venables. Affectionately dubbed ‘Whippet’ by the fans, Venables has had a few poor seasons following an Origin series he’d rather forget. Still, he’s one of the fastest men in league, and will cause problems if he can get into space.
Player to Watch: Frank Puletua. A solid forward, Puletua may not be young, but he’s certainly shown signs of improvement over the offseason.
Prediction: New coach Paul Hess has his work cut out for him in correcting the mistakes of an inept former management. It’s a rebuilding year, so watch for the Cowboys to be competitive, but never truly threatening.

Christchurch Avalanches
The return to the coaching world of Matt Lyons has given birth to this powerfully built new side, who will surely be a contender in their debut season
Strength
Some wonderful recruitment has allowed the club to snare the likes of Brett Kimmorley, Ruben Wiki, and Papua New Guinean sensation, Gagma – all of whom wouldn’t be out of place in first grade sides.
Weakness
The hefty price-tags attached to the above names means that Carnarvon’s depth is sorely wanting, and they’ll be in real trouble should an injury crisis occur.
Key Player: Brett Kimmorley. Despite being one of the game’s most gifted players, ‘Noddy’ has yet to really achieve any great heights in the ASRL. Can he do it in another new side?
Wildcard: Gagma. The incredibly fast Papua New Guinean international has impressed in his first few seasons of the competition, and could be the favourite for top try scorer in the Division.
Player to Watch: Greg Davidson. The Glen Innes junior had a sterling debut season for Tamworth City, and will be looking to continue where he left off.
Prediction: Should the club be able to keep the big names fit, the Avalanches will be a definite contender. Should Kimmorley go down, however, the club could really struggle.

Eastwood Pumas
Will continue to be one of the reliable sides of the competition, and could finally make the much anticipated leap to Premier League
Strength
One of the best all round sides in the Division, Eastwood’s depth is also solid enough that they’ll be able to sustain a few injuries and continue to achieve.
Weakness
The backline does leave a little to be desired offensively speaking, with no real standouts.
Key Player: Rob Burrow. The dangerous halfback is the standout player in the outfit, and will compensate somewhat for the lack of notoriety in his backline players,
Wildcard: Christian Cullen. Has had some rather luckless years at Parramatta and Penrith, and will be looking to resurrect his representative career with a good season for the Pumas.
Player to Watch: Steve Mattai. May well get a start early in the season ahead of more experienced campaigners, and has plenty to offer.
Prediction: Anything less than a top eight berth should be a disappointment to Eastwood fans.

<b>Geelong Bengals</b>
Were surprisingly competitive last year, and could go one better this season with a finals berth
Strength
A generally solid side greets Bengals’ fans this year, and whilst it isn’t world class, it can certainly get the job done.
Weakness
The halves pairing of eternal underachiever Owen Craigie and Kit Walker is far from glamorous, and perhaps one of the weakest in the Division. When push comes to shove, don’t be surprised to see Bryan Cook start in five eighth ahead of his favoured lock position.
Key Player: Travis Norton. A veteran of every Bengals’ campaign since the club’s inception, Norton’s experience and dedication will go a long way towards deciding the Bengals’ fortunes.
Wildcard: Miguel Detreaux. Should start ahead of Kit Walker this season, and has shown in previous years that he can turn a game on its head with his short kicking game.
Player to Watch: Bryan Cook. The club’s latest rookie sensation, Cook is a hard runner lock with a solid long passing game that means he’s an ideal substitute five eighth.
Prediction: Will probably sit in the middle of the pack, pressuring for the eight, but never reaching any great heights.


To be continued....

Lake Heights Lightning
Another side that has made improvements over the off season, the perennially competitive but never threatening Lightning will hope 2005 brings bigger and better things
Strength
The presence of two representative quality utilities in Motu Tony and Sione Faumunia means that the Lightning have plenty of flexibility should injuries occur.
Weakness
The back row, with the exception of Vinnie Anderson, is somewhat lacking in quality.
Key Player: James Grubens. The untried young German has a lot of responsibility in his rookie year, and will need to showcase his considerable natural talents if the Lightning are to make an impact.
Wildcard: Rico Gear. May feel a little out of place in Lake Heights’ less than glamorous backline, but if he can put that aside, he’ll score a lot of points in 2005.
Player to Watch: Lance Hohaia. Whilst he’s not a ‘newcomer’ in the strictest sense, Hohaia is still developing his potent attacking game. Watch for his combination with Grubens to really set games afire.
Prediction: Like many other clubs in Division Two, Lake Heights are something of an unknown entity – with a change of personnel meaning they’re wildcards. They should prove competitive, but their ability to participate in the finals might be ruled by their new squad’s ability to mesh.

Liverpool Rockets
Were relative easybeats last season, and will be eager to shake off that tag
Strength
Marcus Bai and Tai Lavea offer some real attacking potency – perhaps the only source in the side.
Weakness
Easily one of the worst sides in the Division, lacking any real stars aside from the above pair and Felipe Contempone. In particularly they are defensively inept, and will leak like a sieve this season.
Key Player: Felipe Contempone. The most complete footballer in the side, this Argentinean must feel like a rose amongst thorns.
Wildcard: Raymond Crown. Flexible enough to play anywhere, Crown is a defensive workhorse who should be able to plug holes anywhere in the pack during the season.
Player to Watch: Joseph Wellington. Making the switch from English Rugby Union, can this explosive young half make it in the big league?
Prediction: Will almost certainly finish last, but could be able to offload the ignobility if the likes of Bai and Contempone can lift.

New England Ferrets
Fans look back with glassy eyed nostalgia at the club’s one and only year of performance in the past decade, and wonder when it will come again. Could it be this year?
Strength
The Ferrets still possess one of Division Two’s finest centre pairings, including world class centre, Matt Cooper.
Weakness
The pack is a little lacking, with the exception of a very strong back row pairing of Tom Newberry and Reece Williams.
Key Player: Olly Barkley. With long suffering halfback and captain Lee Briers heading off to other pastures, Barkley will shoulder the bulk of playmaking duties in 2005. He’ll have to be at his best all year round.
Wildcard: Matt Cooper. Fans have been waiting for Cooper to step up and really dominate for several seasons now, and if he can’t do it this year, perhaps it’s time for the former NSW centre to move to a different club.
Player to Watch: Daniel Ferris. Daniel ‘Dango’ Ferris has been getting huge wraps for his work in the RSC, and steps up this season to become the club’s first string goalkicker.
Prediction: 2005 could very well be the year for New England, who possess a solid squad and a dedicated coach.

Newcastle Fear
The Fear continue to set a benchmark for squad quality in Division Two, and should be expecting to fight for promotion in 2005
Strength
The pack’s defensive capabilities are truly awe-inspiring, with the likes of Parker, Alker, and Ellis all men capable of walking into most Premier League run on sides.
Weakness
The Fear lack any evident weaknesses, with their squad being top quality and their depth full of young up and comers.
Key Player: Iestyn Harris. Welsh sensation Harris may be ‘stepping down’ from the Premier League and his Central Phoenix career, but he still has plenty to offer the fans in Newcastle.
Wildcard: Karl Pryce. The British flier will undoubtedly score a swag of tries this season, but his defence is a little suspect. Pairing him with the defensively sound Paul Johnson is a smart move.
Player to Watch: Brett Firman. The Fear faithful have been waiting patiently for this halfback to bloom for some time now, and Harris may be just the man to bring out his best.
Prediction: Arguably the best team in the Division, and the favourite to finally earn promotion.

North Queensland Dolphins
It was a painful fall for the Dolphins in 2004/2005, but the management have made positive steps towards turning things around
Strength
One of the best attacking sides in Division Two when it comes to across the park threat.
Weakness
Like Newcastle, the Dolphins have a very good squad assembled, and all they lack is a truly offensive kicking game.
Key Player: Kris Radlinski. The veteran English fullback has never let his club down, and should again by a key player in the Dolphins’ 2005 unit.
Wildcard: Brett Finch. Coming to the club from struggling Premier League club, Hornsby, Finch will be hoping to resurrect his career after a dismal spell at the Mavericks.
Player to Watch: Aaron Erbs. Comes to the club after a solid spell at North West in the RSC, and his pace and vision may prove surprising to opposition defensive lines.
Prediction The Dolphins should be in the top eight at season’s end, and even a top four berth isn’t out of the question.

Port Macquarie Stingrays
Set a record low in 2004/2005, and under the guidance of veteran coach Nathan Hoy, the only way is up
Strength
The presence of former premiership winning coach Nathan Hoy cannot be underestimated. The man has a habit of rebuilding clubs into powerhouses.
Weakness
Obviously the woeful state of the club after last season’s wooden spoon can’t be remedied in a year, and the Stingrays still have a relatively weak squad.
Key Player: Lee Briers. Briers may not have achieved a hell of a lot at New England, but he’ll revel in the chance to play in new surrounds.
Wildcard: John Sitizein. After debuting under Hoy at Wellington a few seasons ago, the German powerhouse is looking to resurrect his career with a powerful season.
Player to Watch: Joel Reddy. A real signing coup for the management, Reddy has the hallmarks of a future great in the fullback’s role. Could push Daniel Wagon back to the bench early on.
Prediction: Nathan Hoy isn’t a miracle worker, but he’ll do enough to see the club win a few games and finish well above last place.

Redfern All Whites
It’s hard to predict the future of a fledgling club, but the passion of the Redfern faithful should see the All Whites make a memorable debut
Strength
The All Whites’ backline has plenty to offer in attack, but does lack a lot in defence.
Weakness
Aside from Ryan Hudson, there’s not a lot to like about the Redfern pack – one of the weakest currently doing the rounds.
Key Player: Brandon Costin. Was dominant for Canberra last season, and if he can form a combination with Andy Hendersen, he’ll do the same in 2005.
Wildcard: Daniel Floyd. Had a relatively low key time at Waikato, and will be boosted by competition for the fullback’s role against Elia Tuqiri.
Player to Watch: Nathan Sutton. Debuted for Shanghai and has enjoyed a solid career thus far. A great field kicker for a prop, Sutton will be invaluable should the halves be shut out on the last.
Prediction: As romantic as the fairytale would be, the All Whites won’t achieve much this season aside from getting dirty. They could take out a debut wooden spoon.

South Queensland Underdogs
Can the merger of the Redlands Rhinos and the Ipswich Reds produce a truly competitive side?
Strength
The pairing of Bobby Young and Martin Moana in the halves provides the team with a very dangerous halves combination.
Weakness
The club lacks a full time fullback, with Barry Muir expected to deputise until a replacement is found.
Key Player: Bobby Young. Was a rare shining light for Redlands in their final year as a solo entity, and will be hoping to turn the Underdogs into favourites.
Wildcard: Martin Wood. Whilst Brad Fittler earned a lot of credit for Ipswich’s success in 2004/2005, Wood’s contribution cannot be ignored. A true star in a team of relative nobodies.
Player to Watch: Shannon O’Reilly. The Irishman is due for a big year, and maybe a change of jersey and venue will help him achieve that.
Prediction: The Underdogs will be just that in their debut season as a merged entity. Fans expecting another miracle finals berth may have to content themselves with being competitive.

Tamworth City Titans
Were unlucky not to promote last season, and haven’t put a foot wrong in preparing for this season
Strength
An impressive side overall, much like Newcastle and North Queensland, highlighted by experienced campaigners like Luke Ricketson, Matthew Gidley, and Craig Smith.
Weakness
The defence of fullback Roy Bell is questionable, and could cause some problems during the year.
Key Player: Eron Bates. It seems like only yesterday this gifted hooker/halfback took the league by storm for Brisbane, but Bates has matured immensely in recent years and will be a valuable member of the squad.
Wildcard: Matthew Gidley. Has shown during his time at Gold Coast that he is one of the game’s finest centres, but can he continue the trend in a less glamorous outfit.
Player to Watch: Adam Schubert. A forward with a big future, Schubert is expected to come onto the bench should injuries set in.
Prediction: Complete the ‘big two’ of the Division (the other being Newcastle) and should be there at season’s end.

Tasmanian Devils
Have changed their name (slightly) and been taken under the wing of a new coach. Can Tasmania return to the Premier League for the first time since the Hobart days?
Strength
Arguably the best halves pairing in the Division, the pairing of little known but big skilled Varasiko Tokarei and Richard Gerling.
Weakness
Have an all around solid side, with very few weaknesses save the relative inexperience of their coach.
Key Player: Varasiko Tokarei. The impressive Japanese speedster is a natural halfback, but has never really stood out to the level that’s expected of him. Perhaps the presence of Richard Gerling can steady his progress.
Wildcard: Verity Gunnarsson. The ASRL’s sole Swedish representative, Gunnarsson has made a name for himself at Eastwood, and now jumps ship to see if he can make something special of the Devils.
Player to Watch: Michael Ennis. We haven’t yet seen the best of this aggressive hooker.
Prediction: Like last year, Tasmania shouldn’t be starved for competitive football, and if they miss the eight – heads will roll.

Waikato Breakers
Have made a tradition of underachieving, and things will need to change
Strength
Have assembled a very well balanced, dangerous looking outfit highlighted by the likes of Toutai Kefu, Matt Geyer, and Simon Woolford.
Weakness
Really don’t possess one, which bodes well for the season to come.
Key Player: Simon Woolford. The veteran hooker will captain the side after last year working wonders for Tassie.
Wildcard: Jason Tuapa. The rookie lock from the Cook Islands has a lot to offer, possessing a kicking game that would make him an ideal five eighth should the need for one arise.
Player to Watch: Gene Fairbanks. This impressive Queensland import is expected to start in the centres this year, where his pace and agility will cause some havoc.
Prediction: If the new coach knows his stuff, Waikato will be top eight contenders.

Predicted Ladder
1. Newcastle Fear
2. Tamworth City Titans
3. North Queensland Dolphins
4. Eastwood Pumas
5. Waikato Breakers
6. Tasmanian Devils
7. Bondi Battlers
8. Christchurch Avalanches

9. New England Ferrets
10. Carnarvon Cowboys
11. Canberra Chargers
12. Campbelltown Invasion
13. Lake Heights Lightning
14. Port Macquarie Stingrays
15. Geelong Bengals
16. South Queensland Underdogs
17. Redfern All Whites
18. Liverpool Rockets

Great stuff, Chris. I just hope this "inexperienced" coach can come up with the goods.

looks like Geelong will have to work to surprise a few people....we may not be the strongest side going around - but we certainly know that we can match it with the best of them - we almost...nay, should have beaten Woolongong - one of the premier league's best in the BFC....if we can recapture that form, watch out!

Ahh the joy of being the Underdogs....

A club in rebuilding, not to be taken lightly! (I hope :help: )