Here is a little guide of what each team has done over the offseason and what can be expected from them with the season only a dogs pant away.
Storm - The Storm recently proved that they are not only a great team for winning the NRL premiership for the second time in four years but now by beating Leeds in the World Club Challenge and becoming the only Australian team to win the title twice (after also beating St. Helens in 2000), they must be considered as one of the all-time greatest teams. So with that heavy burden surely anything less than a Premiership would be a fail? Well not quite, but with their strength, depth and under the stewardship of Craig Bellamy, expect the Storm to be the benchmark that other teams will be measured against. Tip: Minor Premiers
Bulldogs - The Bulldogs have lost plenty of players, none more influential than El Mazri, but they have gained Steve Turner from the Storm and Dene Halatau from the Tigers. The majority of the players the doggies have lost were bit part players and so the core playing group remains. The addition of Turner and Halatau should add more attacking options and allow the doggies push further than last years semi-final. Tip: 2nd
Rabbitohs - It would be a shock if the Rabbits did not make the finals let alone the top 4. They have recruited very well (Sam Burgess, Dave Taylor and Ben Ross) on top of a solid team and of those recruits Sam Burgess looks a bargain and the man most likely to explode in the NRL in 2010. At only 22 years old he has the youthful exuberance, the skill, pace, power and brute force to make SBW look like a led-footed fairy (except when fleeing the country). Apart from Burgess, the Rabbits also have Rhys Wesser returning from injury and a forward pack that is an Aston Martin and Manaro rolled in one. Tip: 3rd
Tigers - Like the Rabbits, the Tigers have recruited very well. Clearly at the Four Nations last year with Australia, Tim Sheens went on a Tigers recruitment drive picking up 5 Super League players and enticing, all but one of them, to return home to the NRL, not the least being Lote Tuqiri. With a solid team, Sheen's coaching masterclass and Marshall having just signed a long term contract, the Tigers will enter the 2010 season full of enthusiasm and excitement. Tip: 4th
Eels - The question everyone will be asking is can the Eels repeat the performances that brought them rave reviews and took them all the way to the grand final last year? The answer to that question will depend on the form of Jarryd Hayne and also on how the new top recruits (Justin Poore, Timana Tahu, and Shane Shackleton) gel with the remaining core of the 2009 team. The Eels are notoriously inconsistent at some stage of the season that said once they get on a roll (see the end of 2009), they are hard to stop. Tip: 5th
Titans - The Titans took a massive punt on Greg Bird and after watching pre-season trials and the All Star game, it seems like he's a deal, he's a steal, he's the sale of the flipping century. The rest of the Titan playing roster is a exciting mix of fine wines (Bailey, Rogers, Laffranchi) and some alcopops (Mead, Toopi, Tomane) and if they can become more consistent on their travels they will surely be a force in 2010. Look for them to stay in the top 4 most of the season and then fade come finals time. Tip: 6th
Sea Eagles - Whilst Manly have gained some good players (Seu Seu, Gulavao) they have lost some stars (Orford, Hall, Cuthbertson) and their season will depend heavily on how quickly 19 year old Kiwi international Kieran Foran develops in the number 7 jumper. Manly will still be a powerful force throughout 2010 with Watmough, Stewart (x2), Lyons and Hasler at the reins they should collect more W's than L's Tip: 7th
Dragons - Whilst many tipsters are putting these guys in their top two or three teams for the 2010 season, the loss of Dell, Poore and Paea and without any serious replacements, these tipsters are relying on the coaching wizadry of Bennett and the remaining core of the squad to reproduce their 2009 form. Relying on Bennett is not much of a risk, but with the number of players likely to be involved in the representative arena, even Bennett will be challenged and the Dragons will just make the finals. Tip: 8th
Cowboys - Willie or wont he be a blessing up the north? There is no doubt that Willie Mason has been like a three-legged racehorse in the steeplechase over the past 2 years but in the company of his old mate Thurston and under Neil Henry he should hopefully find some of his old rampaging form. Nevertheless, look to them to be inconsistent through the year as they, like many of the northern teams, struggle to travel. They will finish outside the eight and it could be the last we see of the Big Willie. Tip: 9th
Panthers - The chocolate soldiers will improve on their 11th place last year but not by much. Too much will rest on the shoulders of Pritchard and Jennings and the depth of their squad is like a fish tank rather than a lake. Much has been made of their beefing up pre-season (see Sammut and Coote) but all the girls curls in the world wont get them the trophy they are after. Tip: 10th
Broncos - The Bronco's will struggle this year. They have lost Hunt and Taylor. In their place they have gained troubled former star Tim Smith. The pre-season trials have shown that Smith has not lost his touch and provided he can keep his head off the field, the Broncos might do ok. That said Hodges is out for the first half of the season and lets face it, Lockyer, is no longer the dominator he once was. Tip: 11th
Roosters - Brian Smith has some work to do to turn the eastern suburbs boys from vacant poodles as they were under Fitler into ferocious attack minded piranhas. They will miss the wise old head of Fitzgibbon who has headed to super league, along with the Ogre Mark O'Meley. That said they have gained Jason Ryles coming the other way and with Todd Carney proving his worth after some time in the country, the Roosters will improve in 2010, but 2011 will be more their year. Tip: 12th
Sharks - They have Barrett and Gallen, but they are not the youngest (Barrett) nor the most reliable (Gallen - can he stop himself from being involved in a ball grab/racist/cheap shot scandal?). Apart from these two, the shire boys dont have a great deal to offer. Apart from my tip of ladder position, there is good money for Ricky Stuart to be the first coach booted in 2010 Tip: 13th
Warriors - New Zealanders should stick to rugby union. I dont know any Kiwi's that support the Warriors let alone any that even care about their week to week form. They have no real stars apart from Price and Tate who, when fit, are walk up Kangaroos. They have taken a punt on a club (both late night and NRL) reject in Seymour, but he will be unable to ignite a backline without a wick even when he is playing well. Tip: 14th
Raiders - These guys are only a tiny bit better than the Knights. Whilst they were occasionally troublesome at home for more fancied teams last year, they have added only a bit of moss on the stone in terms of players. Without any real talent added and the ability to travel like an agoraphobic frail grandma, the Raiders will end up in the bottom 3 teams this year. Malcolm Turnbull has more chance of regaining the liberal leadership than the Raiders have of making the 2010 NRL finals. Tip: 15th
Knights - It wouldnt matter if Andrew Johns came out of retirement or if a 25 year old Alan Langer, Wally Lewis and Mal Maninger were unfrozen from cryogenic chambers and joined the team this season, the Knights are a right off. Due to the off season drug issues, their season has imploded before it began. Will probably only add some kitchenware this year. Tip: Wooden Spoon
Grand Finalists - Storm v Bulldogs
Premiers - Storm
