Whilst we can't predict where everyone will finish in the upcoming season until after we've seen some trials, it's possible for us to at least give you a rough idea of how your team will perform in the upcoming season.
ADELAIDE ATTITUDE Coach: Warren Tricker
Gains: None.
Losses: None.
Notes: Despite finishing 10th in the competition and never looking too threatening, the Attitude have decided against any big off-season buying. Whether this is laziness, or some master plan from Tricker will be revealed after a few rounds.
Evaluation: They'll threaten again.
BRISBANE BULLS Coach: Paul Hardwick
Gains: John Hopoate (Central Coast) and Chuck Randall (USA).
Losses: Robbie O'Davis (Central Coast)
Notes: The Bulls finished last season strongly, and will look to start this year on a strong note. They have picked up a pair of strong wingers, without losing any real depth in attack or defence.
Evaluation: Will be hard to beat at home, but may struggle against last year's Grand Finalists.
CANBERRA CHARGERS Coach: Troy McCarthy
Gains: Alex Chan (Sydney), Paul Smith (New England), Marco Brividio (Italy) and Braden Mohammed (Kazakhstan).
Losses: Wade Forrester (Released) and Nick Bradley-Qualilaw (Tamworth City).
Notes: Canberra found some form as the season wound down, and will need to be consistent this year if they wish to make the final four.
Evalutation: A wild card side in Division 1.
CARNARVON COWBOYS Coach: Henry Ash
Gains: Michael Luck, Jonathon Thurston and Luke Rooney.
Losses: Luke Patten (Sydney), Ben Elias (Retired) and Paul Rauhihi (Sutherland).
Notes: Carnarvon have lost more than they've gained in terms of quality, but they still possess the nucleus of a tough side.
Evaluation: Will need to work for every 2 points.
CENTRAL COAST FALCONS Coach: Anthoni @#%$
Gains: Robbie O'Davis (Brisbane), Gavin Lester and Mark O'Neill.
Losses: John Hopoate (Brisbane) and Rod Silva (Sutherland).
Notes: Have lost two favourite sons, but have picked up three brilliant attacking weapons. The Coast didn't have glamour last year, but can boast a little in their backline now.
Evaluation: Will prove to be one year wonders.
CENTRAL PHOENIX Coach: Tony Bush
Gains: None.
Losses: Mark Hughes (Sutherland).
Notes: The loss of Hughes shouldn't halt the Phoenix juggernaut. The Central side were unlucky to not make the finals with their phenomenally good attack, and will be out to avenge that this season.
Evaluation: A threat to Gold Coast and Perth.
COUNTRY DIAMONDS Coach: Andrew Shako
Gains: David Niu (USA), Eric Hollingsworth (USA), Robbie Beckett (Sydney), Ian Donnelly and Clinton Toopi (Darwin).
Losses: Anthony Tyan (Sutherland), Luke Branighan, Jamaal Lolesi and Shontayne Hape.
Notes: The Diamonds have one of the strongest sides on paper, and it's just a matter of making them mesh together to form a unit.
Evalutation: The coach will decide whether their contenders or spooners.
DARWIN CYCLONES Coach: Luke Sharpe
Gains: Steve Kefu (Union), Angel Withers (ESL), Bill Rhyven (North Melbourne), Nik Kosef (North Melbourne) and Robbie Paul (North Melbourne).
Losses: Tim Brasher (Sydney), Matt Seers, Toutai Kefu (Tamworth City), Mark Tookey, Willie Leyshon (Coffs Harbour) and Justin Ryder (Townsville).
Notes: Despite the long list of departing players, Darwin have still managed to capture a few prized scalps. Their attack is brilliant, and if they can nail their defence, will be formidable.
Evaluation: Could be a dark horse.
EASTWOOD PUMAS Coach: Matt Smith
Gains: David Furner (Hobart), Sam Murphy, Rubert Jonkers, Wayne Evans (North Melbourne), Adam Peters and Motu Tony (North Melbourne).
Losses: Mark Shipway, Andy Hay, Justin McKay and Joel Caine.
Notes: Have bought wisely in the off-season, going for solid players rather than one or two brilliant attackers. Furner, Evans and Jonkers will all add grit to the forward pack, whilst the backs will give Eastwood some much needed depth.
Evaluation: May falter towards the season's end.
GOLD COAST CRUSADE Coach: Chris Walker-Bush
Gains: Chris Latham (Union), Karle Hammond (Manly), Iafeta Pelea'easina, Brent Webb, Waisale Sovatabua (Hobart), Fred Robards, Amahl Singh and Alex Wilson (Sydney).
Losses: Kamaal Lolesi, Marcus Bai, Brett Mullins, Willie Peters, Laurie Daley and Andrew Lomu.
Notes: Looking at the list of departures, you'd think Gold Coast were destroyed, but they managed to gain quality players to fill the gaps, and look the better for it.
Evaluation: Back to back isn't out of the question.
HAWKESBURY MAVERICKS Coach: Guy Rob
Gains: None.
Losses: David Thompson.
Notes: Will be disappointed by last years performance, but haven't panicked. Should be threatening this season, as long as they can keep Fittler on the park.
Evaluation: Should be better for the experience of last season.
HOBART DEVILS Coach: Nathan Hoy
Gains: James Wynne, Francis Cummins (Eastwood), Scott Maclean, Jamie Bloom and Ben MacDougall (Eastwood).
Losses: Brett Kimmorley and David Furner.
Notes: Dropping two big name players and signing five little known juniors may be exactly what the Devils need to push them a little bit further. Wynne isn't as great a halfback as Kimmorley, but may benefit from the presence of Barret.
Evaluation: A definate contender.
MANLY CANNONS
Gains: Mark O'Halloren, Phillip Grahem, Michael Russo, Tabua Cakacaka, Marcus Vassilakapolous, Jeff Preston, Laurie Daley (Gold Coast), Sean Hape (Darwin), David Thompson, David Kidwell, Luke Dorn and Leigh McWilliams.
Losses: Nathan McAvoy, Tim Horan, Greg Florimo, Kevin Walters, Colin Ward, Geoff Toovey, Jason Stevens, Billy Moore, Chris Caruana, Chris Leikvoll, Mark O'Meley, Evan Mears, Matt Rua and Awen Guttenbiel.
Notes: Have had to start from scratch due to the departure of many key players to the North Sydney Newbloods. However, the Cannons look only marginally weaker than last year.
Evaluation: Should dominate the middle of the table.
NEW ENGLAND FERRETS Coach: Rowland Kelly
Gains: Lee Briers, Rowland Rockachelli and Naipolioni Kuricibi.
Losses: Adrian Lam and Paul Smith.
Notes: May have lost two of their best players, but still look as formidable as ever on their squad list. The Ferrets have the astounding ability to look ordinary on paper, but still be a quality side.
Evaluation: May push for a grand final with Briers fit.
NEWCASTLE FEAR Coach: Dean Caplin
Gains: None.
Losses: None.
Despite having a poor season, the Fear have stuck to their guns, and will try and improve on last year. Very few remember they were considered contenders until midway through the season when they dropped off.
Evaluation: Not spooners, but definately not contenders.
NORTH MELBOURNE MAULERS Coach: Jelly Adams
Gains: Craig Stapleton and Stefano Saghini (Carnarvon).
Losses: Paul Deacon, Robbie Paul and Braith Anasta.
Notes: Have lost three of the best attacking players of 2001, and have not found adequate replacements. They will be a threat this year, but may find out too late how important it is to have potent attack.
Evaluation: Don't have what it takes to be contenders again.
PARRAMATTA VIKINGS Coach: Marshal Boyd
Gains: Owen Finegan (Hawkesbury) and Brett Mullins (Gold Coast).
Losses: John Simon, David Woods and Trent Leis.
Notes: Certainly improved with the addition of these two. Simon was the only real quality player dropped, and even then he was only good in a bench capacity.
Evaluation: Could surprise a few teams.
PERTH TAIPANS Coach: Dominik Bush
Gains: Keith Senior, Deon Bird (Sydney), Grant Reibell and Clint Newton (Sunshine Coast).
Losses: Travis Norton and Chad Robinson.
Notes: I didn't think it was possible for Perth to look stronger, but they've done it by signing two excellent wingers and two up and coming forwards.
Evaluation: The obvious favourites.
SUNSHINE COAST WIZARDS Coach: John Williams
Gains: Jamie Russo and Brent Grose.
Losses: Craig Field and Anthony Minichiello.
Notes: Definately lost talent this season, but can still be threatening on their day.
Evaluation: Another side that just might squeeze in.
SYDNEY OILERS Coach: Roger Bossert
Gains: Tim Brasher (Darwin), Ian Roberts, Luke Patten (Carnarvon) and Wayne Carey.
Losses: Jerry Seu Seu, Alex Wilson, Alex Chan, Richard Horne and Robbie Beckett.
Notes: Lost a lot of staff, but managed to break even with some very potent attacking buys. Brasher and Patten will pressure Ross, whilst Carey and Roberts will add more depth to an already good line.
Evaluation: Join the Gold Coas/Perth group to make a trifect.
THE NEW SIDES
Coffs Harbour: Arguably the worst side on paper, but good coaching could easily turn that around.
North Sydney Newbloods: Look strong, and who can argue when they took half of Manly's lineup?
Port Moresby: The most intimidating of the expansion sides, the Power could be there come finals time.
South Melbourne: Look good in their first year back, but may not be able to compete if injuries sink in.
Sutherland: Not good enough to win a premiership, or make the finals for that matter, but definately quality.
Tamworth City: Not anything special, but have the advantage of a brilliant coach.
Townsville: The second most intimidating fledgeling side, Townsville have one of the best backlines in the league.
Victoria: Could surprise a few, but aren't really a threat to quality opposition.
