The NRL will be desperate to put the drama-filled off-season behind them and get back to playing footy.
With the comp getting underway next weekend, we've cast our eye over the futures markets to help steer punters into some value ahead of the upcoming season.
Will the premiership stay in Sydney or will an interstate club take out the title?
And who will claim this year's highest individual honour, the Dally M medal?
Read on to find out.
NRL Premiership contenders
Sydney Roosters
NRL Odds: $4.50
The Chooks are the early favourites to go back-to-back, and looking at their squad, it's not hard to see why.
Along with the proven quality of Cooper Cronk, James Tedesco and Boyd Cordner, the Roosters add Angus Crichton to their list.
But more than their star players, it's a star coach that has punters thinking the tri-colours can get it done again.
Trent Robinson has a remarkable record since joining the Roosters in 2013, claiming four minor premierships and two grand final wins.
And the hallmark of this Robinson era has been the Roosters defence, which, at its best, looks impenetrable.
It's no wonder the Roosters are favourites.
Brisbane Broncos
NRL Odds: $8
Another team that owes its position in the NRL betting market to a coach is the Brisbane Broncos.
Anthony Seibold had the best debut coaching season in the NRL since Robinson's premiership-winning effort in 2013.
It was no wonder the Broncs were keen to snap him up as soon as possible, casting off Wayne Bennett who fell out of favour with the club.
And it was Seibold's style of football that was free flowing and offload-heavy in attack that has Brisbane fans excited.
With Anthony Milford and Cody Nikorima's speed a constant threat from second-phase play, the Broncos will be a huge danger side.
And with a young and powerful forward pack, the Broncos look strong all over the park.
Melbourne Storm
NRL Odds: $8.50
We couldn't write a list of premiership contenders without including the Melbourne Storm.
Even though Cronk and now Billy Slater have left the club, Cameron Smith is still there and arguably is as good as he's ever been.
But the real danger men for Melbourne are the wingers, Suliasi Vunivalu and Josh Addo-Carr.
Speedsters and excitement machines, these two have enough tries in them to take Melbourne all the way to another final.
If the Storm can keep it tight in defence, the Melbournians could be on their way to another premiership.
With Craig Bellamy and Cameron Smith masterminding the whole operation, don't be surprised if they give it another shake this year.
South Sydney Rabbitohs
NRL Odds: $9
The other club at the centre of the Bennett/Seibold fiasco is the Rabbitohs.
While many fans of the club were left feeling short-changed by the coach swap, there's no doubting Bennett's experience and ability to motivate his players.
Some would argue that he's got better tools to work with down in Redfern, with the likes of the Burgess boys, Adam Reynolds and Damien Cook in the squad.
The Bunnies looked the goods last season before seeming to run out of puff at the pointy end.
Bennett's September experience will stand them in good stead this time, as the Rabbitohs seek revenge against their cross-town rivals the Roosters.
The Newcastle Knights are the best smokies in our opinion, so for those out there looking for a bit of value, the boys from Newcastle might be the team for you.
Not only did they recruit Origin forwards David Klemmer and Tim Glasby to bolster a rapidly improving forward pack, but Kurt Mann and Edrick Lee are underrated acquisitions in the backs.
But it's all going to be about one man: Kalyn Ponga.
The Dally M favourite is ready to take the competition by the scruff of the neck and prove he's a once in a generation player.
If Mitchell Pearce can stay fit this season and guide the Knights around the park, then Ponga will work his magic and have the Knights looking like genuine premiership contenders.
NRL Betting Tip:Brisbane Broncos to win @ $8.
Reasoning: The Broncos are the team with the most points in them and represent the best value in the NRL Premiership market with odds of $8. If Seibold can sort out their defence, then a long-awaited premiership will be returning to the Queensland capital.
NRL Wooden Spoon contenders
Canterbury Bulldogs
NRL Odds: $3.50
It's no surprise that the Canterbury Bulldogs are favourites to pick up the dreaded wooden spoon.
With a squad that's looking outclassed and devoid of talent, the Dogs will turn to Kieren Foran to be their saviour.
However, there's no getting past the fact that Foran is inconsistent at best and question marks remain over how much more punishment his body can withstand.
While the Bulldogs do possess plenty of grit and determination, they simply don't have enough points in them and their squad lacks depth.
Will Hopoate is well past his prime, while the rest of Canterbury's outside backs are unproven.
Parramatta Eels
NRL Odds: $5
While the Parramatta Eels will be without Corey Norman and the released Jarryd Hayne this season, they still have some star power in the form of Mitchell Moses and Bevan French.
The problem for Parramatta for a few seasons now is their failure to make metres and establish a good platform for these backs to work off.
Therefore, securing the return of Junior Paulo as well as metre-eating winger Blake Ferguson should help Parra out of this tough spot.
Having said this, the Eels are a team that continually disappoint.
Their fans will be hoping that a move into the new Western Sydney Stadium will spark some sort of revival.
Manly Sea Eagles
NRL Odds: $8
Despite Des' return to the North Shore, there isn't much hope surrounding the Manly Sea Eagles.
There have been reports that they are a club in disarray, who turned to Hasler to get them out of a mess.
But like Parramatta, their squad remains chock-full of star players, including DCE and the Trbojevic brothers.
Even if the Sea Eagles have an absolute stinker as many are predicting, you'd have to think these players have enough points in them to get more wins than the Bulldogs.
NRL Betting Tip:Bulldogs to win the wooden spoon @ $3.50
Reasoning: Based on their squad, you couldn't pick anyone else.
Dally M medal contenders
NRL Odds: Kalyn Ponga $8, James Tedesco $8, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck $11
There are really only three contenders for the Dally M medal in our books, and they are all full-backs.
Tedesco and RTS are perennial challengers for this award, based on the metres they make from the back of the field.
Besides this, both have dynamic pace, and both can defend well.
They are a weapon in attack, as well as try-savers in defence, thanks to their speed and positional sense.
But there's a reason Ponga is the favourite, despite being just 20 years old.
Many experts believe he has the potential to be the greatest NRL player of his generation.
His speed, strength and toughness were on display for all to see when he made his Origin debut last year.
He can burst through holes in the opposition defence that most players wouldn't even see.
But with so much room for improvement, only injury or the famed "second season syndrome" could stand in his way, even though this won't technically be his second season.
The sky is the limit for Ponga, and why he is our tip for this year's Dally M.
NRL Betting Tip:Kayln Ponga to win the Dally M @ $8
Mar 08, 2019 07:01 PM
AAP
NRL Betting Tip: Brisbane Broncos to win @ $8.
