Best IMO is the Broncos:
1. Karmichael Hunt
6. Darren Lockyer
7. Peter Wallace
9. P.J. Marsh
The Panthers have the potential to surprise though:
1. Lachlan Coote
6. Wade Graham
7. Jarrod Sammut
9. Paul Aiton
Lachlan Coote has already proven he has what it takes to make it in first grade. His debut was unexpected. With an off-season knowing he will be the first choice fullback, i think it can only improve his game. Matty Johns compared him to Billy Slater and in a couple of years he could definitely be as good as Slater.
Wade Graham was very solid last season, and showed some exceptional skills at the first grade level. He was big to begin with, and has bulked up even more since then. He is an exceptional leader and should be able to focus alot more on his footy in 2009. Matt Johns claims that he is the best young ball player in the game, and he is definitely up there. His passing game is exceptional... many Panthers fans would love to see him playing in the #7 due to the way he can boss his forwards around and his incredibly accurate rocket passes. His only weakness was his defence in 2008, although it didn't help when he was moved into the centres to defend. Physically he could drop any player that ran straight at him no worries.
Jarrod Sammut had a first grade debut in 2007, but in 2008 between his attitude and Matt Elliott being a knob kinda hurt his career a bit. Going into 2009 he is looking much stronger and hopefully Matt Elliott lets him partner Wade Graham in the halves. Another player that Matty Johns praises highly.
Paul Aiton has been waiting to be the starting hooker for quiet a while now. He played exceptional in the world cup for PNG, but is still no guarantee to get the #9. Either way, the competition between Masada Iosefa and Paul Aiton is going to be great. I think by the end of 2009, we will easily have one of the best hooker rotations going around.
Obviously it's an incredible young combination, with extremely limited experience between them. Definitely not capable of going all the way just yet... but i think that every game we play with this combination our team is only going to improve and get much better. There's a decent chance that Jarrod Sammut won't be in the halves, and that Luke Lewis will be there. There's also a minor chance that Paul Aiton will come off the bench with Masada Iosefa starting. Although either way it's a great rotation.
