Well I'm a massive Bunnies fan so I gotta shout out my team but I definitely think they'll go well this year.

1. Rabbitohs
2. Dragons
3. Broncos
4. Storm
5. Titans
6. Bulldogs
7. Panthers
8. Sea Eagles

• Posted by: Mikey on April 8, 2009 3:08 PM

Dragons and Broncos GF
competing against Titans, Storm or Warriors for those spots

• Posted by: Nick on April 4, 2009 10:05 PM

In my opinion i actually see The Penrith Panthers stepping up this year. I am not a Panthers fan by any means and i follow Wests Tigers. This week I have a feeling that Penrith are going to smash us because they will be on a high after defeating the Premiers. Also the team that they have anounced is good in my opinion with a recognised playmaker in the team (Graham). Yes everybody has no faith in them but over the last 1 season and 3 matches i have began to respect them and there efforts.

• Posted by: stevo on April 1, 2009 5:21 PM

Ill give the Sea Eagles a chance of a top 8 spot dave, but the other team i did not mention, the Tigers i wouldnt give much of a chance to, that or either fighting for a 7th or 8th spot

• Posted by: Nick on March 21, 2009 10:21 AM

Jeez Nick, you must hate the Sea Eagles!

• Posted by: dave on March 20, 2009 7:54 AM

By my scoring system & taking into consideration State of origin & injuries my top 8 goes like this:

1. Sharks
2. Warriors
3. Manly
4. Bulldogs
5. Roosters
6. Storm
7. Dragons
8. Eels

My Surprise team was the Doggies!

My wooden spoon went to the Panthers.

• Posted by: Daniel on March 19, 2009 6:25 AM

Warriors - Because the mix of hardened Aussies and Polynesian flare is just too much to ignore

Manly - They were brutal last year, all year, and know what its like to win

Sharks - Well with their new signings they better do something!!

Dragons - Bennett, thats all you have to say

Canberra - They're my bolter. Missed out on the top 8 last year only because of the warriors upset win over the storm. Improve the away stat and its there for them.

Storm - Not as strong but the taste of winning will be enough to drag them into top 8

Bulldogs - If they can keep mason focused, it'll get them there..but thats a big ask!

Brisbane - Not the side they were last year, but very very unlucky to be beaten by the storm, and the sting of that will help

The scrap for the wooden spoon will be between the Tigers and the bunnies

• Posted by: Buck on March 12, 2009 1:03 AM

LOL@The Big Fella - I see the "little brother syndrome" is alive and well amongst Rorter fans.

• Posted by: brak on March 11, 2009 2:51 PM

1. Manly
2. Cronulla
3. NZ
4. Melbourne
5. Brisbane
6. St. George Illawarra
7. Canberra
8. Newcastle

Premier: being a sharkies fan hate saying Manly will beat us but our outside backs are too slow to give us the crown even though our backrow and new halves combination look strong.

Wooden Spooners: Wests Tigers

• Posted by: Scott Daly on March 11, 2009 10:02 AM

Brett Stewart will play this weekend!!! Thats my prediction. Any other club he would not play except for maybe the Bulldogs but Manly has a long history of turning the other cheek to misconduct so he will play.

Cronulla has set a standard when it comes to players behaviour and were brave enough to drop a certain player because of charges but Manly would never ever consider the sport, the sports reputation or the sports hostory only the win at all costs mentality they have.

• Posted by: Goparra on March 10, 2009 8:29 PM

1. Manly
2. Storm
3. Sharks
4. Warriors
5. Dragons
6. Cowboys
7. Rabbitohs
8. Roosters

Unfortunately my team the Tigers might pick up the wooden spoon.

• Posted by: Bulli Tiger on March 10, 2009 12:27 PM

Warriors
Roosters
Souths
Dragons
Broncos
Titans
Sea Eagles
Eels

• Posted by: Annette Garrick on March 10, 2009 10:35 AM

1. Manly
2. Parramatta
3. North Queensland
4. St George
5. New Zealand
6. Melbourne
7. Cronulla
8. Canberra

9. South Sydney
10.Sydney Roosters
11.Brisbane
12.Newcastle
13.Cantebury
14.Penrith
15.Gold Coast
16.Wests Tigers

• Posted by: Mike on March 10, 2009 12:39 AM

1.Warriors
2.Sharks
3.Manly
4.Storm
5.Raiders
6.Cowboys
7.Parra
8.Broncos

• Posted by: Ringa on March 9, 2009 8:54 PM

I agree with the guy above basically. Although i think the dramas at Manly will be too much come mid season & cut into them. Brisbane i hate to say will really struggle. I don't think its the playing roster as they have some outstanding players. Remember their u20's lost the grand final last season. Its their coach & their ceo who are their biggest liabilities.
The Dragqueens will hit a series of potholes, although they will keep their army of fans well entertained, with tough uncomprimising footy. This is the way that Bennett has always coached. Big forward packs with one or two hard heads in there & speed out wide. Having said that though their Charity Shield performance was woeful & Souths punched holes in them up the middle all night.

Parramatta have too many mental problems. Anderson is no slouch, but you have to question the attitude & ego of Hayne & the like.

Newcastle will again surprise & entertain but the pressure on Kurt Gidley will continually build & he just hasn't got the firepower around him to carry it off.

The Titans will challenge early to mid year & if they can keep a good stable crew on the park ie:Prince, Campbell, Bailey, Rogers etc they should be hovering around the 8 come August. The guy who could really surprise for them is Wiliam Zillman. They are an entertaining team to watch.

Out of the eight mentioned above, Warriors, Manly, Bulldogs, Raiders, Melbourne, Cowboys, Sharks & the bunnies its the Bunnies who will be a danger team. Expect the forwards to muscle up a lot more now that they have Gordon Tallis in their sheds. Their strike power out wide is potentially lethal with Wesser to link with Merrit & Colin Best with Sandow steering them around the park. This kid has a very similar game to Alan Langer when he first hit the scene, all cheek, no care & enormous skill range. John Sutton could play origin if he wants to.

The wildcard of the pack though is the Warriors. Manly played as good as they did in the grand final to beat them in the semis last season. Steve Price will again be the man to lead them. Stacey Jones will get better as the season goes on & look for young Joel Moon to step up. Out wide the Kiwi Terry Fahey, Manu Vatevei could be anything if he cuts loose as well as Tate & Wade McKinnon. They have Ruben Wiki running the water & the Sony Fai motivation will be huge. Underestimate at your peril.
The only other team capable of a big surge/upset is the Cowboys. Its here with a fit Luke O'Donnell, Steve Southern & Carl Webb up front & Bowen & Thurston out wide + a rejuvenated Willie Tonga, these guys could really surprise. Their biggest asset though is their coach Neil Henry, who will barring injuries shpuld assist Mal Meninga to a fourth Origin series win for the Maroons.

Of the others it will be interesting to see if Dave Furner can get the kids who won the u20 comp last year for the Raiders to step up. Campese & Carney will be big dangers & expect Canberra stadium to be a graveyard for visitors. They have possibly the most inspirational captain of all in Alan Tongue, a guy who should have played rep football by now & deserves every accolade that comes his way.

Go the Bunnies.

• Posted by: todd slater on March 9, 2009 6:23 PM

TOP 8

Warriors
Eagles
Storm
BullDogs
Raiders
Dragons
Eels
Broncos

• Posted by: Kim on March 9, 2009 3:35 PM

1.Warriors - I had them as number 2 but cracks seem to be appearing over Manly way. Possibly the most solid roster in the NRL this season, they don't get a lot of attention over the ditch but they're primed for a tilt. A small increase in consistency is needed and then they will be close to unstoppable. Don't under-estimate the motivation that Sonny Fai has provided them with.

2. Manly - Still a very strong team and they will be hard to beat again, notwithstanding their current dramas. They're a tight unit and play to a structure. Their depth is quite good as well, especially in the backs.

3. Bulldogs - They bought better than any other club in the off season, and even taking into account their unproven coach, I think they will challenge. Ennis improves every game, Hannant is one of the best young props, and Kimmorley is a wily veteran. Just what the doctor ordered for a club that had a woeful 2008.

4. Raiders - A club that for all intensive purposes has every right to be expected to improve on 2008. They have a plethora of young talent at their disposal, and with arguably the current best playmaker in the game calling the shots, anything is possible. They need a few things to go their way, and obviously need a better run with injuries, but they have close to the best forward pack in the NRL, and are extremelly under-rated as usual. Write them off at your own peril.

5. Melbourne - Though they still possess some of the most individually talented players in the NRL in their squad, their talent pool has been slowly eroded since they rose to the top. Their depth will be tested after only a couple of injuries.

6. Cowboys - Probably the most difficult club to make a call on. As reliant as ever on Thurston and Bowen, if these two are fit they'll be hard to beat. Their forward pack is still a bit of a worry, and they lost arguably their best forward in Cashmere, but a new coach and new energy should be enough to put them in the race.

7. Sharks - While some commentators have lauded the Sharks purchases in the off season as the best buys of any teams, what i see is a guy who has never been a winner (Barrett), an inconsistent show pony (Topou), a terrible hooker (Hughes) and an injured alcoholic (you guess). In the mean time they lost a good up and coming hooker in De Gois, a real half back in Noddy and probably their most important player in Bird. Still, if they can score 12 points and defend it for the rest of the game they should sneak into the 8.

8. Rabbitohs - Some astute purchases have the bunnies fielding a much more solid, well rounded side than in 2008. Colin Best and Rhys Wesser will add a wealth of talent and experience to their backline, and some hard workers in the fowards to replace some lazy defenders will add the starch they need to be consistent. If Sutton can find the focus he's lacked in the past, his combination with Sandow could prove deadly. With Luke at hooker and Wing coming off the bench, Souths could prove to be another team who have been very under-rated.

Notable Exceptions:

Newcastle - A good solid team who showed in the back half of 2008 that they're willing to go for 80 mins. They could easily make the 8 but may lack enough genuine game winners.

Brisbane - I think they will struggle in 2009. Without a doubt they have a great backline, but backlines can do little if the forwards struggle. I think this is possibly the worst forward pack brisbane has ever fielded, particularly in the front row. They have some handy back rowers but for the first time in a long time, they lack a really dominant prop. With that said Lockyer is one of the greatest players of all time, and if he can stay fit it's impossible to write off a team that he's a part of. It must be remembered, this is the first time brisbane has EVER had a new coach. I wouldn't be suprised if the adjustment is a painful one.

Titans - I think injuries and lack of depth will strike again, but any team with Prince at the helm is a contender.

Dragons - Could easily make the 8, the Bennett factor is monstrous. Their playing talent isn't amazing though.

Eels - I rate Daniel Anderson. If he can get their attitudes right there's still enough talent at Parra to cause some damage.

• Posted by: Zach Jones on March 9, 2009 2:48 PM