1. Canterbury Bankstown
We'll go one better next year. Mark my words. As good as Hazem was, Steve Turner's value as a winger is very much underrated. With a season under our belt, I have high hopes for the 2010 Dogs.
2. Parramatta
The acquisitions of Tahu Poore and Shackleton mean they have an embarrassment of riches in both the backline and the forward pack. They can only improve. The question is - who do you drop from the backline to accommodate Tim Tam Tahu?
3. Manly
They never really got off the ground in 2009 despite glimpses of brilliance. If Watmough can produce his rep form at club level consistently, and Orford stops having brain explosions, this team will rise again.
4. St George Illawarra
When was the last time Bennett missed a finals series? I'm not sure but I bet it's not any time in the last 15 years. He's got the cattle, they have the skill. I think he'll play it a bit smarter this year. Expect them to have a less intense regular season so they can charge into the semis.
5. Gold Coast
While they'll move slightly down the ladder, they'll still be producing quality football. Injuries are their only barrier IMO, they can beat any team with the right effort.
6. Melbourne
Many have considered this mob as premiership favourites again. And fair enough when you consider 1-4-7-9 have stayed. That said, they've lost two of their lesser known backs and will be largely relying on youngsters to fill the gap. The same was said last season and they proved us wrong, lets see what happens this time.
7. Brisbane
Again, too much skill and class to miss the finals. Big boppers like Thaiday will continue their solid go-forward, and they still have two of the best backs in the game with Hodges and Folau - not to mention Lockyer at 5/8th. They'll miss the presence of Taylor's dynamic outside running, Hunt's kick returns and Tonie Carroll's chin though... that drops them a place or two in my book.
8. Newcastle
As you can see, I don't see any changes to the eight in 2009. I think Newcastle have the potential to win the minor premiership, but at key moments during the year they always seem to stumble. They'll scrape into the eight again if previous years are any indication, time will tell if they go any further though.
-----------------------
9. Wests Tigers
Close enough won't be good enough again - I'm predicting another year of agony for the men in black, white & gold. Along with Souths they'll play some amazing footy against quality opposition, only to fold like a deck of cards against weaker teams.
10. South Sydney
There's something about Souths that looks very good for 2010, but we've been saying that for years now. While they've got themselves out of the cellar for three consecutive seasons now, they're still languishing in the bottom half of the comp and the mentality is still a concern IMO. I hope having a player like Taylor helps their go-forward, because Sutton's brilliant but erratic form won't help them unless it appears for 24 weeks in 2010.
11. North Queensland
Slowly fitting the definition of a one man team. The two keys for them seem to be Thurston and O'Donnell, and the latter spends a lot of time injured, which often cruels the Cowboys' chances. Thurston can't carry the side all year, they need a big effort from all 17 to make an impact.
12. Canberra
Two losses and no notable purchases as yet for 2010 has me worried to be honest. Like any team they have their good days, the 56-0 thumping of Brisbane and the hard-fought win over Saints proved the side has it in them, but they can't seem to replicate anything of the sort once outside the ACT.
13. Cronulla Sutherland
Unnoticed but they've spent big for next year and some of them aren't bad purchases. They'll improve - not a lot, but enough to worry opposition, particularly in the latter half of 2010.
14. New Zealand
Don't know what to expect of them year-in-year-out anymore. This year was in some ways to be expected after the tragic loss of Sonny Fai, however they've got some pretty good talent going around. They could be the year's surprise packet. But after the showing this year, I can't pick them any higher than 14th with any confidence.
15. Sydney
Losing Fitzgibbon will drive this club further south IMO. A couple of interesting purchases will, IMO, take a bit longer to gel. An improvement on 2010 with hopefully less off-field craziness, but still a long way to go.
16. Penrith
They've lost a couple of good players and made a couple of dud purchases IMO. Another season of pain for the Panthers, and another spoon on the way.
