NRL Season Preview & Top 8 Predictions

The 2015 season promises to be as exciting as any other that we have witnessed. As always rugby league fans fancy themselves as an expert when it comes to tipping the teams that will make or miss the NRL finals and I'm no different. The one tip I keep hearing is that on average three teams will drop out of the top eight the next year but will that trend continue in 2015? With that in mind here are my predictions for the 2015 season which indicates only one team - Melbourne - will drop out of the eight, replaced by New Zealand Warriors.

Sydney Roosters - 1st

The 2014 minor premiers will have to overcome the loss of Sonny Bill Williams and the early absence of injured hooker, Jake Friend. Still possess once of the best forward packs in the competition and expects the likes of Dylan Napa and Kane Evans to step up. Once Blake Ferguson settles the Roosters possess a formidable backline especially now with Roger Tuivasa-Sheck at fullback.

South Sydney Rabbitohs - 2nd

If there is any on-field hangovers from the defending premiers they have yet to show it so far leading up to the start of the season. South Sydney in winning the Auckland Nines, World Club Challenge and maintaining their hold on the Charity Shield have looked impressive despite the loss of forwards leader Sam Burgess. Glenn Stewart looks a very handy acquisition and the Adam Reynolds - Luke Keary halves combination can only get better in 2015 now that John Sutton has made the move to the forwards.

North Queensland Cowboys - 3rd

The Cowboys have always promised a lot but delivered little when it has counted. Whether the blame for their inability to finals appearances into premiership success can be apportioned elsewhere is a debate for another day but the simple fact is North Queensland, under Jonathan Thurston are running out of time. 2015 could be the year of the Cowboy if they improve their away form.

Penrith Panthers - 4th

Penrith shocked many to make the top four in 2014 despite what was seen to be a crippling injury toll. That injury toll has still had a rippling effect in Penrith's pre-season preparation and may result in an inconsistent start to the 2015 season but if they have better luck with injuries, the Panthers' talented roster will prove that 2015 was no fluke.

Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs - 5th

Cometh the hour cometh the re-united Morris brothers with Brett Morris set to finally provide the Bulldogs with the fullback stability they have craved since the departure of Ben Barba. Overall Canterbury's roster looks stronger and their improved depth will serve them well for the busy representative schedule that lies ahead.

New Zealand Warriors - 6th

New Zealand fell at the final hurdle of qualifying for the finals at the hands of Penrith. With the recruitment of Ryan Hoffman and Bodene Thompson and the benefit of coach Andrew McFadden being able to put his stamp of authority on the Warriors pre-season preparations, the attacking brilliance of Shaun Johnson and Sam Tomkins should the Warriors in the 2015 finals.

Brisbane Broncos - 7th

Along with Cronulla, Brisbane have been the big movers in the player market under Wayne Bennett. Despite the loss of Darius Boyd to an Achilles injury, the recruitment of Anthony Milford should set Suncorp alight in 2015 while Adam Blair will add some much needed starch to the Broncos forwards pack. Brisbane finished eighth last season and I expect to at least improve a spot to seventh in 2015 provided the Broncos can handle the arduous mid-season representative campaign.

Manly Sea Eagles - 8th

Is this the beginning of the end of Manly's ‘decade of dominance'? The Sea-Eagles forward pack was found wanting in the finals series last year and with the loss of Anthony Watmough, Glenn Stewart and Jason King how will the pack perform with new buys, Willie Mason and Feleti Mateo? Manly seem to handle off-field dramas better than anyone but with speculation already abound about the coach's future along with that of star halves pairing of Kieran Foran and Daly Cherry-Evans could this be the year the Manly finals bubble finally bursts? Time will tell.

Melbourne Storm - 9th

Another team whose seemingly impregnable hold on a finals spot under Craig Bellamy looks flimsier than ever in 2015 especially with the loss of Ryan Hoffman and a roster that suggests much reliance for wins will again fall upon the ‘Big Three' whom aren't getting any younger. Will Blake Green be the five-eighth that the Storm have sorely needed since the departure of Gareth Widdop?

Cronulla Sharks - 10th

The wooden spooners from 2014 have recruited heavily and will benefit from the ASADA saga being lifted from their shoulders for the first time in two seasons. Plenty of good outside back signings but the biggest signing is that of Ben Barba - to play as five-eighth! How Barba settles in the five eighth as well as how an ageing forward pack consisting of Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Chris Heighington and Anthony Tupou handles the rigours of another gruelling NRL season will determine whether Cronulla will return to the eight or fall just short.

Newcastle Knights - 11th

Under Rick Stone, Newcastle has some fine outside backs at his disposal including the Mata'utia brothers - Sione & Chanel, Dane Gagai and Jake Mamo and a steady pair of halves in Jarrod Mullen and Tyrone Roberts. However, despite the signing of damaging back-rower Tariq Sims from the North Queensland Cowboys, the Knights lack the punch up front required to make the finals but will give their fans a good sight for a long portion of the season.

Parramatta Eels - 12th

If Jarryd Hayne was playing for the Eels in 2015, I would have them in my top 8 under the astute tutelage of Brad Arthur. However while William Hopoate will no doubt make a success of the fullback position his exceptional running game alone won't make up for the loss of attacking prowess that Hayne brought to the field. Chris Sandow looks in great shape he needs better support from under fire Corey Norman who must be shuddering at the prospect of seeing the Eels possibly recruiting gun Manly five-eighth Kieran Foran for 2016.

Canberra Raiders - 13th

The Raiders finished 2015 with three successive wins and with some reasonable recruitment decisions made the Raiders look set to improve again in 2015. The halves pairing of Blake Austin and Mitchell Cornish looks promising but they need the best part of 2015 to gel properly but by then it will be too late for the Raiders to mount a run at the finals.

Wests Tigers - 14th

The Tigers along with the Panthers have the NRL's most exciting crop of youngsters amongst its roster. The problem for the Tigers is the amount of depth let go at the end of last season with very little to show in return. Given the Tigers injury woes in recent seasons, another similar injury toll in 2015 will have them in the mix for the wooden spoon.

St George Illawarra Dragons - 15th

Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop started to develop a reasonable combination at the back end of 2014 but the Dragons will no doubt be rocked by the departure of Brett Morris, Gerard Beale and promising junior, Jack Bird. Then add the recent news that their best forward, Trent Merrin will also be leaving St George Illawarra at the end of season (if not sooner) and it easy to see why the Dragons, long considered to a having a struggling forwards pack, will struggle to avoid the spoon in 2015.

Gold Coast Titans - 16th

Until the recent drugs scandal that has ripped away at a significant portion of the Titans roster, Gold Coast's recruitment actually wasn't too bad despite losing exciting half Albert Kelly to the UK Super League. Headed by Josh Hoffman, David Hala, Eddy Pettybourne and Kierran Moseley, the Titans looked to have boosted their depth. However the loss of Greg Bird, Dave Taylor and Beau Falloon among others leaves a gap that could be too far to bridge as far as avoiding the wooden spoon is concerned.