What will the New Year bring your NRL club: Sharks, Bulldogs, Roosters

Read enough NRL statistics and you’ll end up spinning in circles, but one statistic which sticks is that, on average, three teams that made last season’s top eight miss the next season’s finals.

Will it be the following trio?

Sharks circling Jack Bird
The Sharks are still hoping to sign Jack Bird to a long-term deal and not lose him to the Dragons. But with new halves pairing James Maloney and Chad Townsend likely to be there for the long haul, where does Bird fit?

Also on their New Year’s wish list will be a year free of trouble for the Fifita brothers, who came close to ruining the Sharks’ finals chances last season.

Some of the Sharks forwards were looking a bit tired towards the end of the last season – how much life do Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen have in them? One season at least.

With a strong backline and a capable pack, it is hard to see Cronulla missing the eight. They’ll give the Nines a serious challenge too.

Bulldogs vow to trim down next season
The Bulldogs pack should be looking at next season’s reduced interchange with trepidation, however their off-season trading does not reflect this. Virtually all the big men have been retained, and they even added more weight in the backline, with Will Hopoate in and Tim Lafai out.

As far as the Bulldogs are concerned, big is better – and who at this stage can say they are wrong?

However coach Des Hasler should know that good things can come in small packages, and the loss of Trent Hodkinson (Newcastle Knights) and Damien Cook (South Sydney Rabbitohs) could come back to bite him.

Roosters set to crow
Each season seems to start with promise at Bondi, but in the end it is rarely fulfilled – if you regard three minor premierships in a row as unfulfilling.

During the off-season the Roosters lost fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (New Zealand Warriors) and five-eighth James Maloney (Cronulla Sharks), who are sure to be much missed.

So how will the Roosters go next season? They are still missing Sonny Bill Williams, although a number of forwards were starting to fill that gap towards the end of last year, especially Sio Siua Taukeiaho.

The backline without RTS is looking short on speed, unless Blake Ferguson can consistently perform.

I will tip them for the Nines, but not the premiership.