I think Brisbane are most likley to challenge Penrith, I dont see their cocky young players being overawed by a GF and then the experience of Reynolds, Capewell etc to calm them if they do.
Souths next in line but they need a lot to go right, especially if they finish 5-8th which I think they do. Cows similar, if they came top 4 maybe but I dont see them winning 4 tough games in a row. Storm are nowehere near Penrtih imo and Warriors a year early. No one else worth mentioning.
To me Penrith are nowhere near what they are last year, just no other team has been able to jump up and overtake them and its a huge missed opporunity for a team like Souths if they dont win the comp. With Penrith, Storm and Parra all losing crucial players from last year Souths should have been right up there.
If they dont win it this year its going to get tougher next year, Cody 34, Cook 33, teams like NZ, Brisbane, NQ will likely get better and someone like a Newcastle, Roosters or Titans could jump right up the ladder. Plus Penrith wont be going anywhere anytime soon.