I know padds wont like this, but hull look a strong bet this season, as everyone knows i am saints through and through , but it is hull more than anyone, that niggle away at me.
They always give us a game, and always seem to give us a good hiding when we play at their place.
Shaun McRae of the bunnies laid the foundations but John Kear is taking them one step further, they now also have a taste of winning competition after winning the challenge cup against the pretenders(rhinos) last season, they just need a quality scrum half, my tip for grand final, Saints v Hull.
Also, in australia, maybe the broncos time for being no.1 has been and gone, could be Brian Smiths swansong, i fancy Parramatta to meet the dragons in the grand final in oz.
Anyone disagree
Let me know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree that Hull will be better this season but they are still short of top class players, too many good but not that good. I cant see anybody touching your lot, especially if Scully bothers this year. I know you wont like this but I think the team to watch this year, after Saints, will be Wigan.

I'll doubtless get bored and do a full scale NRL preview closer to the season, but for now my top eight lines up something like this.

1. Parramatta
2. St George/Illawarra
3. Wests
4. North Queensland
5. Newcastle (with Johns)
6. Brisbane
7. Sydney
8. Manly

9. Canterbury
10. Cronulla
11. Penrith
12. South Sydney
13. New Zealand
14. Melbourne
15. Canberra

Padds, classic quote about scully bothering this year, got it spot on, he was carried for the majority of last season, and long only started playing when souths started taking an interest in him, saints look hungry this year, i feel they may play a brand of rugby thats on a different planet to the rest of them
Getting closer now.
As for newcastle, johns and buderus need to be tip top from start to finish to get anywhere near the top8.

im a hull supporter but st helens has to be the favourite this year.

Gotta say very impressed with hull last season , hope it continues so hull and warrington can push the big four.
Hull always seem to give saints a good hiding up on humberside.
Hope that will change this year, we are due a win up there.
Especially like danny brough, quality find, gonna be special player as long as he keeps improving.

wrong

1. Broncos
2. Bulldogs
3. Storm
4. Cowboys
5. Eels
6. Dragons
7. Tigers
8. Roosters
9. Warriors
10. Sharks
11. Souths
12. Manly
13. Panthers
14. Raiders
15. Knights

I better add my 2 cents

1. St George/Illawarra
2. Parramatta
3. Manly
4. Brisbane
5. Canterbury
6. Wests
7. Sydney
8. Newcastle

9. North Queensland
10. Cronulla
11. South Sydney
12. Penrith
13. New Zealand
14. Melbourne
15. Canberra

Yes, you are.

Even if you don't rate the Knights a top eight chance, there's no way in hell we'll win the wooden spoon again. The chances of us having the same run with injuries are astronomical, and even if we do we've got an entire Premier League team full of players with first grade experience and managed to improve our team with the signings of guys like Davico and Carney.

Guys i will assume you are all going to be wrong.

Did that hook taste nice Chris. Id like to see our 5/8 before i will predict where the Bulldogs will finish. The curiosity of which relative unknown will step into the number 6 has me counting the days till kickoff. Must see if i can get to a trial. Im even tempted to bid the stagnating Armidale goodbye to move closer to the action as i havent attended anything but a trial match and a country origin training session since 2002. Sadly i have only made it to three trial matches since then, and the odd visit from the rugby league bus just doesnt fill the void of the live matches.

In the meantime if anyone has heard any rumours id be happy to latch onto them :)

My guess
1-5 (In any order) St George, Cowboys, Eels, Roosters, Melbourne

6-12 (in any order) Bulldogs, Knights, Wests, Warriors, Panthers (Some are fairly unpredictable after last season, but over the last few seasons performances they are all sides likely to be in the fight for the eight in my opinion.

13 Canberra
14 Cronulla
15 Souths

Thats barely even a prediction in my opinion. I would like to say how annoying its getting to predict who will finish where these days. Teams like the Panthers, Wests, Warriors and the Cowboys have just stopped hunting the wooden spoon. It seems that the days of the traditional coaching styles of Raudonikas, Pearce, Gillmeister etc are dieing. Instead we are seeing an era of coaches who can actually use there brains. Sure its good to see the competition is evening out a lot but it means the days where one side will be dominating the eight over the years are numbered. The NRL is finally truly competitive.

Melbourne near the top? Do you know something the world doesn't?

I havent even seen the side they have this year. I just made my predictions willy nilly from there average performances over the last few seasons. I did this with most sides to tell the truth St George would have to be a favorite as well as the Cowboys. Hopefully the Bulldogs will get a clean run withuot injury then id expect us to be near the top.

looks like every body has as much faith in the sharks as i do for them to win the premiership but i think they could just make top 8 especially over newcastle

if the knights remain injury free all year and gain some good form, i still think they will come last.

That's cool. I still think you're an idiot.