Just as important as how we go next season is how the other teams perform.
I feel like a lot of cards are already falling our way in that respect.
Sharks may well be in disarray. Flanagan looks like he will he banned indefinitely from the game shortly. That can only be to the advantage of every other club. You’d have to imagine that the Sharks will be in a bit of turmoil next year, and whomever steps into Flangan’s role is unlikely to be as good a coach as he is.
Slater has retired. Storm are really going to miss him. Hoffman, Glasby and Jacks also gone.
De Belin might end up serving time in 2019 depending on how things play out. Best case he won’t be playing until the outcome of his trial. That can’t be good for the Dragons (in addition to being one of their best forwards, you’d have to imagine that will cause other distractions within the club). They are also going to miss Ah Mau (who was massive for them in 2018).
Warriors no longer have Shaun Johnson. I think they are going to miss him significantly. They have also lost Mason Lino. Do they even have a half back now? Is Keighran going to be their starting 7?
Roosters won it last year. No team has gone back to back in a very long time. It is going to be hard for them to be as hungry as last year (but they will still be in the mix for sure).
Who knows how well the coaching swap works out at the Broncos and Souths. Perhaps it works out brilliantly from the get go, but it equally might take a season for the coaches to get each club working how they would like.
Eels presumably continue to be a basket case. Manly also still restricted by a limited salary cap.
Canberra are probably going to go a lot better, if Hodgson had been in the side the whole season they would have almost certainly finished in the 8. Ricky has also finally got rid of a few of his late in game fading big boppers, so they might be better with that too.
Knights have hired really well. They’ve picked up a number of good forwards (including Klemmer and Glasby). Can’t see them challenging for a title but they must be a good chance of making the 8.
Cowboy’s you’d expect to improve. Who knows how the Tigers will go under their new coach, will he able to get as much of that fairly no name squad as Cleary could?