Top 4:
1. Roosters
2. Souths
3. Sea Eagles
4. Storm
All four are a cut above the rest of the competition. They aren't necessarily more skillful, but definitely more consistent at playing at their best (or near best) form then the other teams, and ultimately, its this consistency that wins games. I'm expecting this years winner to be of these four.
5-8:
5. Warriors
6. Cowboys
7. Bulldogs
8. Broncos
Warriors and Cowboys definitely have the talent to go all the way, but see mingling lack the aforemetioned consistency of the top 4 to go all the way. That may change for the Warriors this year with the arrival of Tomkins, and a the appointment of a new coach at the Cowboys. Time will tell though. I'm expecting the Dogs to have a similar year to last year: nothing bad but nothing great. They may do better if a few players pull their heads in but (i.e Williams). Also expecting the Broncos to just scrape into the 8 this year. I'm not at all prepared to write their entire season off based on one horrendous trial game, and am expecting the arrival of some new players and a new halves pairing to help them. Will be Griffins last season as coach but.
9-12:
9: Sharks
10: Knights
11: Panthers
12: Eels
Sharks and Knights could very well make the 8, all depends on how big losses for both of them affect the team (Flanno for sharks, Mullen for knights). I'm not at all sold on the halves pairing of Wallace and Soward for the Panthers yet, time will tell how well it will work though. Eels will improve this year. Both the Panthers and Eels are probably a year or two away from being a top 8 side.
Bottom 4:
13: Raiders
14: Titans
15: Dragons
16: Tigers
I can't see any of these four making a surge for the premiership this year. Would suspect that this is the last year for both Cartwright and Price.