The 2014 NRL season promises to be the most exciting of all. The Auckland Nines last week has set the platform for a blockbuster year in 2014.
Each club has their final hit-out this weekend before they meet their opponents in Round 1.
Most clubs have named full-strength teams for their trials which should give a slight indication of their season ahead, although they are only trials.
The biggest “trial” of the weekend shows the return of the ‘World Club Challenge’ to Australia and also the return of former Cowboys superstar Matty Bowen as Wigan take on the Roosters at Allianz Stadium.
I have put together my predictions for the season ahead including top eight, premiers and the Dally M winner plus State of Origin champions.
The top eight seems to change every year but there are always those teams that tend to stick around.
This is my top eight, with the reasons behind my conclusion in brackets.
1. Sydney Roosters (an impressive 2013, star roster and great coach, they could go back to back)
2. South Sydney Rabbitohs (will the chokers choke again?)
3. Manly Sea Eagles (they have the best halves in the game and are a definite top-four team)
4. Canterbury Bulldogs (even with the loss of Ben Barba, the Bulldogs will be there in 2014)
5. Melbourne Storm (still have the players and the coach to stay near the top)
6. Newcastle Knights (they may have an ageing roster but they boast one of the best backlines I have ever seen)
7. Gold Coast Titans (have been on the incline since 2012 and are ready for a return to the finals)
8. North Queensland Cowboys (have all the best ingredients, with JT and a great forward pack)
9. Penrith Panthers (they spent big with some great signings, but need more time to gel)
10. Cronulla Sharks (too many distractions and the ASADA Investigation will haunt their season)
11. New Zealand Warriors (one of the most exciting teams, yet so hard to predict)
12. Brisbane Broncos (current halves situation has me sceptical of what they can do in 2014)
13. Wests Tigers (will improve with a great young squad but I can’t see them going far in 2014)
14. Parramatta Eels (tipping them to not get the wooden spoon this year)
15. Canberra Raiders (eh)
16. St George Illawarra Dragons (I just can’t see them competing this year)
Premiers: South Sydney to Defeat Sydney Roosters in the grand final.
Dally M: John Sutton
SOO: Queensland (9 in a Row)
Bring on season 2014!
Wealthybigpenis
Guest
1. Roosters 2. Manly 3. Rabbitohs 4. Panthers 5. Cowboys 6. Storm 7. Bulldogs 8. Broncos 9. Warriors 10. Eels 11. Dragons 12. Knights 13. West Tigers 14. Titans 15. Raiders 16. Sharks
Conner
Guest
Hahahahaha, Benny hunt and hoffman choke your words now right?
Conner
Guest
Like 20% of these predictions are right... Lol
Dragons 2014
Guest
Top 8 1 rabbitohs 2 storm 3 cowboys 4 roosters 5 manly 6 dragons 7 titans 8 eels 9 knights 10 broncos 11 bulldogs 12 panthers 13 warriors 14 raiders 15 sharks ( asada will deduct there points 16 tigers Daly m Gareth widdop or Adam Reynolds Nrl 2914 winners= cowboys Ohh and I'm a dragons fan
Mr Red V
Guest
1, Rabbitohs 2, Cowboys 3, Roosters 4, Sea Eagles 5, Storm 6, Sharks 7, Warriors 8, Knights 9, Dragons 10, Panthers 11, Bulldogs 12, Titans 13, Eels 14, Broncos 15, Raiders 16, Tigers Premiers-Cowboys Dally M - Josh Dugan
john badseed
Guest
Panthers to rub it in Freddie's face.
Christian D'Aloia
Roar Guru
The current situation the Broncos are in with their halves are definitely going to make it tough for them to achieve much this season. I wouldn't tip them to make the eight.
Callum Murphy
Roar Rookie
Yeah Totally Agree Don. Completely forgot about the Mullen Situation
turbodewd
Guest
Panthers top 3....too much good talent. Soward, Idris and Wallace will make waves! Idris was really good last year until his injury. Expect Wallace and Soward to prove themselves.
Don
Roar Rookie
Take out the Knights and replace them with the Cowboys and I think you have the top 8 right Callum. Maybe not the right order, I think the Cowboys will be top 4 and Manly or Canterbury could be somewhere from 5-8. I just can't see the Knights being there now they have lost Mullen for 4 months. I thought he would be the NSW 5/8...
The eye
Guest
If the Broncs go with Hunt and Nikorima they're in for a long winter of discontent.Hunt was ranked behind the floundering Prince and Wallace last year,how many extra legs did he grow in the off season ?Hooks got no chance of getting this team into the 8,gonna be last year all over again. I'm a big Knights fan,among others,and disagree with the best backline comment..Uate has lost something in attack,McManus terrific finisher but ordinary at returning the football,Gagai is over rated,had a few good games at the start of the year then was totally overshadowed by the sides no. 1 three quarter BJ. Leulallai..Boyd solid at best and the 1/2 is unreliable...Mullen had a sensational year and has the best short kicking game in the NRL,irreplaceable. Roosters should be better than last year,looks like we're all playing for second.
Bruklan Marshall
Roar Rookie
Titans to top qld cohort haha as if
Callum Murphy
Roar Rookie
Do you even watch the NRL? Hahah Broncos
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Premiers: roosters GF: souths 3: manly 4. Sharks 5. Dogs 6. Melb 7. Cows 8. Warriors 9. Titans 10. Riff 11. Knights (now Mullen out) 12. Broncs 13. Drags 14. Canberra 15. Wests 16. Eels Dally m: carney or DCE
william kelly
Guest
Broncos lol.....
Bruklan Marshall
Roar Rookie
I agree the cowboys will be very hard to stop come september, they have an all star roster mixed with experience and youth but a vital part of that will be finding an able fullback for the year to replace Coote who replaced bowen. but other than that i can see them being a very strong threat this year under the tutelage of Paul Green.
Dan
Guest
Cowboys need to win only 4 games in Sydney (they don't play in melbourne - again) to be top 4. They've been denied a tilt in the prelims now 2 years in a row by refereeing blunders out of their control. Apart from Bowen, they have the same roster. Cows will win the 2014 premiership.
Bruklan Marshall
Roar Rookie
no way its simple heres my ladder: 1.Roosters 2.Rabbitohs 3.Storm 4.Sea Eagles 5.Broncos 6.Cowboys 7.Panthers 8.Sharks 9.Bulldogs 10.Titans 11.Knights 12.Warriors 13.Dragons 14.Eels 15.Raiders 16.Tigers
Walter Penninger
Roar Guru
I agree with your list of cellar dwellers but with their existing injuries and very inexperienced team it is hard to go past the Tigers for the wooden spoon.
JCVD
Guest
Rabbitohs should be favourites providing their players keep fit. The Cowboys are my smokey to win it this year. Having Paul Green from the Roosters as coach was an astute buy by the club.