well then it's just about time for league season to kick off here in oz . again i will attempt to rate the teams for this season ........
THE STAND OUTS -
MANLY SEA EAGLES - hard to go past last years premiers and current world club champions , may struggle during representative games as they will have so many players out .
MELBOURNE STORM - 3 minor premierships and 3 grand finals in a row speaks for itself , can never discount them .
NORTH QUEENSLAND COWBOYS - could be the cowboys year . astute new coach in neil henry . have the games best halfback in jonathon thurston and a more than handy hooker in aaron payne .
NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS - look to have good mix of pace and power , and it would a brave man to discount them as a genuine force this season .
BRISBANE BRONCOS - endured a large player turnover and have a new coach but the key ingredients remain intact . if the pack holds firm their world class backline could deliver them yet another premiership .
THE DARK HORSES -
ST.GEORGE/ILLAWARRA DRAGONS - have former broncos mentor wayne bennett in charge , is this enough to deliver their long suffering fans that premiership they have been waiting for , for decades
CRONULLA SHARKS - have recruited well , but picked up a few crucial injuries in the trials .awesome defensively .
SYDNEY ROOSTERS - ageing pack entering their twilight years . lost a lot of quality players from last year and didn't get many in for this year .
NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS - my beloved knights missed out on a finals berth by one game last year . the loss of our insprirational captain/hooker danny buderus will be felt but have a more than capable replacement in isaac de gois . imposing home record should see us return to finals football this season .
PARRAMATTA EELS - new coach daniel anderson could work wonders at this team of perrenial under achievers . could sneak into the top eight .
CANBERRA RAIDERS - played an exciting brand of attack-at-all-costs football last season .they too have endured a large turnover of players , but their under 20's are chock full of talent .
GOLD COAST TITANS - third year in the competition for this team and looking to make the finals for the first time . look to be a well rounded squad and have some handy additions .
JUST THERE TO MAKE UP THE NUMBERS REALLY -
BULLDOGS - woodenspooners of last season . the only way is up from there ?
WESTS TIGERS - sorry yorky but i just dont see the tigers doing anything this year . i hope you prove me wrong .
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS - team depth a real concern , cant see em doin much .
PENRITH PANTHERS - wooden spoon favourites and it is hard to argue with that assesment .