Premiers: Broncos
The 2015 bridesmaids will still have a bitter taste in their mouth about how the decider at ANZ Stadium went down and will be ruthless this season with halves Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford running the show and James Roberts joining the club to replace legend Justin Hodges. The way they play their footy under Wayne Bennett has to be praised too. Their blistering attack and old fashioned defence makes them must-watch. They’ll rip many teams apart on their way to the crown.

What about the Cowboys?
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Once you win you the premiership, you vanquish your chances immediately for the following season. The Cowboys’ grand final celebrations went for months and will soon be on a plane to the other side of the planet for the World Club Series, the rest of the squad will be in Auckland for the Nines. As we know, there are no easy games in the NRL and by becoming the champions, guaranteed every week will be a slugfest in 2016.

Wooden Spoon: Titans
Is there another option at this stage?

Movers 1: Sharks
Cronulla were fantastic last year and will be even better with the addition of premiership-winning five-eight James Maloney linking up with the returning Chad Towsend. Best thing about the Sharks is the youth coming through and how desperate they all are to fit into the seventeen.

Movers 2: Warriors
Shaun Johnson is a one-man attacking arsenal. Now they can throw Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke into the mix. Look out!

Fading 1: Bulldogs
Still not convinced on the Bulldogs despite their wealth of experience.

Fading 2: Storm
According to reports Cooper Cronk is on his way out, Billy Slater is returning from more injuries and Cameron Smith will battle through the representative season again. We write the Storm off every year but Craig Bellamy has a huge task ahead of him to keep this side in the top half of the table.

Fading 3: Rabbitohs
They’ve got their boy back in Sam Burgess but lose much-need pace out wide with the departure of Dylan Walker. I’m worried about Souths’ strike power and could struggle to match it with the likes of Brisbane, Warriors, Sharks and Cowboys.

Player Watch: Shaun Johnson
All eyes will be on RTS and Luke but Johnson must fire as well if the Warriors are to give the premiership a shake. The Warriors will never have a better chance to win it with three Kiwi superstars leading the charge.

Player Watch 2: Ben Hunt
This kid does thing on the field rarely seen by halfbacks in the modern game.

Dally M: Ben Hunt

Grand Final: Broncos v Sharks

State of Origin: NSW 2-1

Four Nations: England

Table
1 Broncos
2 Sharks
3 Roosters
4 Warriors
5 Cowboys
6 Sea Eagles
7 Panthers
8 Eels
9 Rabbitohs
10 Raiders
11 Storm
12 Bulldogs
13 Dragons
14 Tigers
15 Knights
16 Titans

@woodward_curtis