My thoughts:
The Roosters will be faced with some new challenges in 2011. Their young halves will most surely be the NSW halves pairing, their season will be different and the team will need to be managed differently throughout the year. They won't be the surprise packet of last year. Although I think they're a quality team, this year will be a stern test for the squad and coaching staff. Anything but a top four showing will be a major disappointment.
Saints have lost some under-rated engine room performers in Smith, Saffy and Costigan. These players were integral to the grinding, solid, no nonsense performances of the Dragons, it will be interesting to see what players take up the slack. They will be very competitive and well drilled, but it will be very tough for this group to score a threepeat minor premiership performance. Certain semi finalists.
The Warriors looked to be building to something in 2010. Their halves looked sharp, forwards young and bold, backs fast and exciting. I have my eye on them and the Wests Tigers in 2011. Moltzen is basically a new buy for the Tige's, on last years form, and with such a well balanced squad, the Tigers should be a certainty for a 2011 top 4 berth.
Injuries aside, I thought the Rabbitohs were a lower end semi final bound team last year. Despite all the negative publicity, if Greg Inglis fires, on paper this club improves its position, up and into the eight.
It is very difficult to get a read on Canberra and the Bulldogs for various reasons. So much of the Raiders work has relied on Terry, this injury is a crushing blow to what should have been a watershed season. On the Dogs I like the new balance of the forward pack, Pritchard and Eastwood are perfect for their squad, but they have a new halves combo, new forwards and lost some genuine veteran club legends. Interesting season but this club tends to bounce back under these circumstances, my gut says they'll be back in the top 8.
And it is always difficult to read Parramatta. Their 2011 off season recruiting is strange. The loss of Mateo and the lack of spark in the halves will mean more pressure on Hayne to conjure up miracle plays. This looks to be a sit and change the culture kind of year for Steve Kearney.
Success for Manly's 2011 season revolves around a successful return of Brett Stewart and the development of Foran and his partnership with Cherry-Evans. Foran looked lost toward the back half of last season while Cherry-Evans comes with bigger wraps than Hodkinson. Without good form in these area's the Sea Eagles will be as one dimensional as the junior burger.
In my eyes, Newcastle look to be a club on the up. Plenty of exciting players, Mullen looked to have turned a corner in his career toward the back end of last season. I'll be interested to see how his year unfolds.
If Lockyer stays fit for the year Brisbane will be top four material, without him they'll be shaking hands with the groundhog. The terrible news is Locky isn't getting younger and the injuries are starting to become familiar. The Bronco forwards will continue to produce but they will really be hoping for a massive year from Justin Hodges.
North Queensland still look a rabble, have they fixed anything? They appear to have lost more than they gained, especially with Tate's injury. This club needs to create a home ground fortress. If they improve dramatically in 2011 it will surprise me.
The Gold Coast may have peaked. The team is all quality featuring tremendous backline depth but Prince failed to absolutely put his stanp on the finals last season and it may be a sign of quality player in decline. when they go they go quick. Scott is so important to this team. My forecast, they'll drop out of the top four to somewhere else.
Melbourne lack front rowers in 2011 which will create more tight contests. They'll be very competitive because of their culture and the tremendous talents at 9, 7, and 1, but around Origin time they'll need to be in good position or they'll run out of gas and miss the September dance.
Cronulla have a very good forward pack heading into 2011. Forwards get teams into a position to win matches. Are Wade Graham and Tim Smith the answers in the halves? The backline still looks thin. They'll lose plenty of close games in 2011. No dice.
Penrith have a good all round squad, some of the best front rowers going around but their back row appears to be missing an attacking X Factor in 2011. Walsh will need to produce another improved season. They need to do more with Jennings, this running from dummy half garbage is blunting his class. Still, if Lachlan Coote stays fit for the entire season, they'll be very competitive.
It's early but these are my thoughts.
Thanks. I keep hearing so much good stuff about Kearney from Storm fans and the media, I'm starting to really look forward to the future under him. 
