So who’s the NRL premiership favourite now?

There’s nothing quite like nominating the NRL premiership favourite in April.

The grand final isn’t until October, and we still have the draining, season-altering State of Origin series to get through. That’s before we even factor in any number of serious injuries, suspensions, or losses of form.

It’s actually quite silly to even be talking about who the eventual premier will be in 2015. However, I’ve never been confused with someone sensible, so let’s get silly and list the 2015 NRL premiership favourites.

Now, I’m no bookie, so I won’t be taking any actual bets, but if I was, these are the odds I would offer Roarers for every single team in the competition:

Rabbitohs: $5
Until someone knocks them out of the finals – or the Bunnies fail to even make the eight – they remain the team to beat, and rightfully so. They obviously have some injury concerns, most noticeably with their halfback Adam Reynolds out for an extended period of time, but they still have enough depth and experience to be considered the top team, even allowing for their current losing streak.

Cowboys: $7
That cold start seems like a very long time ago for North Queensland. After dropping their first three games of the year, the Cowboys have won five in a row, and claimed some impressive scalps along the way.

Johnathan Thurston is the form player in the competition, and his dominating displays are rightfully stirring up ‘Joey versus JT’ debates again. This team can unquestionably win it all, but when the finals arrive, will their biggest opposition instead be the referees? Paranoia? Winning in Sydney? Time will tell.

Storm: $7
The bad news for Melbourne? Two of their three losses this year have come at the hands of the team on the bottom of the ladder. The good news? I don’t think the Storm will have to face Manly in the finals.

The representative period will test their depth, but if Melbourne can stay healthy and fresh at the business end of the season, I wouldn’t mind having some cash on them to win the premiership.

Bulldogs: $10
My pre-season tip haven’t been super impressive so far this season. Suspensions and injuries have certainly taken their toll, but to think they are the only concerns for the Dogs would be extremely short-sighted.

Question marks remain over the creativity of Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds, and the team has looked poor when attacking the opponent’s tryline. Yet when they have their full complement of players, the Dogs will still be a tough ‘out’ come finals time.

Roosters: $11
The Chooks started the season well, but have looked a little flat over the last few weeks. I can’t quite put my finger on it – and neither can Trent Robinson, apparently – but the boys from Bondi appear a little bit off the pace.

One of the biggest concerns is the halves pairing of James Maloney and Mitchell Pearce. Though both have had their moments, for the most part, they’ve been well below par. I still think this team is a legitimate premiership hope, but they’re dropping down the rankings. Rapidly.

Dragons: $12
The Dragons have been exceptional in defence. They work as a team, and they’re tough, structured and resilient. You can definitely win premierships defending the way they have. However, you also need to put points on the board, and that’s where I thought the Dragons would struggle the most.

Fear not though, for their attack is starting to come on as well now. In particular, it’s been great to witness Benji Marshall’s maturity. I’m not sure you can be a sleeper when you’ve won six in a row, and you’re only paying a measly $12, but that’s what I call the Big Red V at present.

Broncos: $13
Brisbane are a tough team to put a price on. They’ve played some great football this season, and have a number of in-form players. Sam Thaiday has responded to Wayne Bennett’s benching of him in the best possible way, and in the halves, Anthony Milford and Ben Hunt offer something exciting and different in attack.

Apart from their opening match, they’ve hardly put a foot wrong, but can we really see them lifting the trophy come season’s end?

Panthers: $18
Penrith have been besieged by injuries this season, and despite their fantastic run last year, they still weren’t a premiership favourite to begin with.

As with every other team, there is a long way to go in the season for the Panthers, but they’d have to be pretty long odds to win now, with $18 perhaps not long enough.

Warriors: $25
I’m surprised any Warriors fans have any hair left. Always considered a team that is hot and cold, how is this for a statistic: since 2012, the Warriors have lost 18 games when leading at the half. If that doesn’t make you want to pull your hair out, nothing will.

On their day, the Woe Woes are talented enough to beat anyone, but sadly, it’s too rarely ‘their’ day, and it’s difficult to realistically see them winning the comp.

Tigers: $28
They’re young, they’re talented, and they’re not scared of anyone in the NRL. However, they’re still far too inconsistent – with too many mental lapses – to be a serious premiership contender.

$28 is probably juicy enough for Will Sinclair to have a flutter, and I’ll happily take his money, because the Tiges aren’t hoisting the Telstra Premiership trophy this year.

Sharks: $32
Call me crazy, but if the Sharks get everyone healthy, and can find some type of consistent attacking strategy once in their opponent’s half, they could be a real dark horse.

They have plenty of experienced players, and if they find some rhythm in the second half of the year, they could be a nice little bet. Or you can just stick with thinking I’ve got rocks in my head, as it’s probably a lot closer to the truth.

Eels: $38
Just far too inconsistent, and with a strange roster of players. They’ve had their moments this year, but it would be the shock of the century (hyperbole alert!) if Parramatta were still playing in October, let along winning the competition.

Knights: $40
Remember when Newcastle were premiership favourites? No, me either. But I do remember when they were undefeated and on top of the ladder. Incredibly, it was only four weeks ago. Since then, the Knights have gone into a tailspin and lost four in a row.

Who is the real Knights team? The first four weeks? Or the last four weeks? I’m wagering on the latter.

Titans: $42
Despite an inauspicious start to the season, with the club shrouded in off-field drug dramas, the Titans somehow find themselves in the top eight, and riding a three-game winning streak. And to be fair, they’ve actually played some very good football, which is an acknowledgment of their mental toughness and tenacity. They’ll have to be content with those accolades though, instead of any winner’s jewellery.

Raiders: $50
I’ve written before that “credit where credit is due”, and it’s due in Canberra, because the Raiders have looked very good for the last four or five weeks. They appear to building something solid in the nation’s capital. That optimism will have to be all they hold onto though, because dreams of a 2015 title are just that: dreams.

Sea Eagles: $75
Their wins over Melbourne aside, it’s been a bleak season for Manly, languishing on the bottom of the ladder, and resigned to losing their two gun halves next season.

The hashtag #anyonebutManly hasn’t been seen anywhere on Twitter, because when it comes to season 2015, the premiership contenders could more realistically be: #everyonebutManly