Brisbane have lost Karmichael Hunt, Dave Taylor and to a lesser extent Tonie Carroll (again) and replaced them with Denan Kemp, Scott Anderson, Tim Smith and a couple of people I've not really heard of, they'll be lucky if they go better than last year (can only think that a years more experience for the younger lads they blooded will help).

There are a few teams that I wouldn't be surprised to see win it though - Canterbury, Gold Coast, Parra, Melbourne and an outside shout for Souths - not really a shortlist but gonna make for an awesome season!

I thought the Broncos overachieved with what they had last year.
I think you'll see massive improvements in Souths (that's a monster pack!) and Wests (who imo underachieved most of the year). I personally think the bulldogs overachieved and had the Storm not been weakened in and around Origin time they'd have been first. Cant see past Melbourne imo although they're like Saints in SL, stars leave yet they find them from somewhere else! What a nucleus of a team they've got there though and for years to come I reckon

I reckon Sth's will be next seasons Parra. They will get into the final but probably lose and the whole of Sydney will go red and green mad. Sth's V Broncos is my bet.

I hoe the Warriors go well. They need a good year.

The Warriors need some good halves otherwise they'll struggle IMO. Brett Seymour is always in trouble and simply isn't good enough, Moon proved last year he's not up to it. They got Maloney from the Storm and they've got a young kid, cant remember his name. I thought they'd have brought someone a bit better than Seymour in but the rest of the side if pretty good if they all stay fit.
Is Brent Tate fit for the start of the season?

Gallen wants to leave the Sharks and Manly and Wests want him, Manly are the early favs with the money saved from Orford leaving but he's still got 2 years left on his contract. What a signing he would be for Manly. Gallen, Watmough and Stewart in the back row.

no better place for the sewer rats of the NRL to congregate than Manly. I bet their PR officer is having sleepless nights.