2019 NRL Contenders

While it is still early days in the 2019 NRL season, the chief premiership contenders have already announced themselves. But it is hard to separate them.

The reigning premiers Sydney currently sit at the top of the tree with a narrow lead over the Melbourne Storm and South Sydney Rabbitohs due to points differential. The Roosters are coming off an impressive 20-10 win over the St George Illawarra Dragons on Anzac Day behind dominant performances from Boyd Cordner and Siosuia Taukeiaho.

The emergence of Taukeiaho has been huge for Trent Robinson's team this season. The New Zealand and Tongan international is fast becoming one of the game's best front rowers, leading the league's forwards for average run meters with 176.  The return of Jake Friend was also key for Sydney in their triumph over the Dragons, who could be the Tricolours' biggest X-factor. 

The Storm are only nine points behind the Roosters and look as capable as ever of going all the way. Every year Melbourne are written off, but continue to front up, win games and prove everyone wrong. So long as Craig Bellamy is carrying the clipboard and Cameron Smith is leading the troops, the Storm will be contending for premierships or thereabouts.

Coming off a thrilling come-from-behind win over the Warriors on Anzac Day, Cameron Smith turned in arguably his best game of the season, claiming the three Dally M votes along the way. However, Smith has pleaded that his teammates fix their communication problems in attack, who believes the Storm aren't at their best and have another gear to get to.

Speaking of Dally M, fellow Storm star Cameron Munster is currently leading the charge with 11 votes, taking his game to yet another level this season. Groomed to be both the future skipper of Melbourne and the Queensland Origin side, Munster could hold the key to guiding Melbourne to a fourth club premiership.

The Rabbitohs will also undoubtably be there when the whips are cracking, with Wayne Bennett at the helm and the team looking the most capable in years of making a Grand Final, and perhaps going one step further. If you were making NRL betting predictions, South Sydney could be the go.

The Bunnies were too good for the Panthers on Friday night 18-22 behind an Adam Reynolds masterclass. Cody Walker was also brilliant in the win and has put his hand up for a maiden Origin appearance in Brad Fittler's Blues for his outstanding play this season.

Greg Inglis' injury and forced retirement has been a slight hiccup to South Sydney's season, with links already being made to Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell to fill the void. Due to Mitchell's existing relationship with Wayne Bennett, it is possible that he lands at the Rabbitohs and would vastly boost their flag credentials