Tigers for me...they have recruited well and have cleaned out some dead wood also.

Tigers - if they can keep Ellis and Marshall fit - Flannagan will surprise a few, I was surprised Wigan let him go - he is the best backrow forward to emerge since Ellis in the UK.

If the Rabbitohs don't make the 8 with their squad then Lang should retire for good.

Alot of people saying Tigers, they'll need to be more consistent or they'll have no chance. IMO the Tigers are the same as Benji, hit and miss. One week they can be great and everything they do comes off and the next week they cant do anything right.
They've signed Taumata who's been sacked from 4 clubs already, Cayless - good but always injured, Tame Tupou - always injured, Moors and Daniela who weren't regulars for Penrith, Flanaghan who's only played 4 games for Wigan, Mitch Brown, brought Fulton and Fitzhenry back.
So yeah they've got rid of some of the dead wood but they could have just replaced them with more of the same IMO.

I like the look of the Tigers squad this year also, but while the first 17 of the Bunnies look good, I don't think they've got the depth to be locks for the 8. Very few teams do.

Souths' first choice pack looks a bit tasty though, and I think Lang will make them a very different unit. I can't see them winning the comp at all, but they should make the 8 and probably beat a couple of 'bigger' sides in the process.

My top 8 will be

Storm

Manly

Parra

Broncos

Bulldogs

Wests

Souths

Sharks

Souths will win it as they have the almighty Sam Burgess

Sorry who?

sharks in the 8 is a bit optimistic. i reckon they'll improve but any position above 12th would be a miracle. but it is very hard to pick an 8, its just so close.

Hard to say, as much as I dislike Ricky Stewart I can see the Sharks surprising a few people this year. They have a lot of youngsters in the side who have been 'broken in' last season and if they come good I think they might make the 8.

Hard to look beyond the usual big names to do well though