Okay my predictions time
1. Rabbitohs - ran third last year, the thing about the Rabbitohs season was consistency. They beat every team they were expected to beat, but things got tougher against fellow top 4 teams. A bit of improvement will see that consistency take a step further.
2. Bulldogs - will improve on last year, but I can't see another ten game winning streak. Have recruited well on top of an already powerful roster
3. Broncos - getting very underrated. We're absolutely dominant in the early part of last year. Prince will add some spark and control to the halves, he was finding good form last year. I rate the coach, they will do well.
4. Storm - Storm can't miss the four, not in their nature but they will lack the drive they had this year. Destabilising forces from Bellamy potentially moving on could affect their season.
5. Cowboys - a very strong team on paper, but they just don't have the consistency to make a real premiership threat IMO. Thurston could destabilise the side too
6. Roosters - I hate them but they've recruited well, bolstered the halves and forward pack and have some good young guys coming through. Question marks about the coach though, the Brian Smith school of coaches has hardly produced amazing results to date
7. Sharks - again a team that has a recruited well, hard to see them not making the eight. But Carney is an enigma
8. Warriors - squad is full of talent, I think Mtt Elliott will do well second time round. T least for the first year of his tenure.
Usually I'd apply the school of thought that at least four of the previous years eight will leave the circle but the odd thing this year is that a lot of the best recruitment has been done by top 8 teams like the Dogs and Sharks
Premiers: Bulldogs