Paul Crawley on why the Canberra Raiders will win 2017 NRL title

THE time for pre-season promises is over. Tonight, the 2017 NRL season officially kicks off. So how will your team aim up this year? Here is your definitive verdict.

Paul Crawley gives his verdict on how the season will unfold.

THE time for pre-season promises is over.

Tonight, the 2017 season officially kicks off.

So how will your team aim up this year? Here is your definitive verdict.

RAIDERS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 1ST

GOOD: Score more points than any team, and largely overlooked last year was they leaked the least during back end of the season.

BAD: Can’t see much downside except possibly depth in outside backs. Losing Edrick Lee to Cronulla won’t help.

REALITY: Would have gained great confidence from last year. Blake Austin and Aidan Sezer also had injury-free pre-seasons, unlike last year, and Josh Hodgson is to the Raiders what Cam Smith is to the Storm.

TAB: $9

Canberra Raiders’ Blake Austin is in for a good year.. Picture: Kym Smith

PANTHERS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 2ND

GOOD: Best depth and strike all over the park, Matt Moylan ready to stamp himself as game’s next superstar. James Tamou, Tim Browne and Mitch Rein add weight to a pack already bursting.

BAD: Nathan Cleary is one of the best young halfbacks in years, Te Maire Martin looks special. But put them together and you have the NRL’s youngest halves pairings. Will be targeted.

REALITY: Penrith is heading for a golden age, just think 2017 might be a year too soon.

TAB: $7.50

STORM

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 3RD

GOOD: Cam Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater, Jesse Bromwich, Craig Bellamy. Unless a nuclear bomb drops on AAMI Park the Storm will be alive come September.

BAD: Blake Green, Kevin Proctor and Marika Koroibete huge losses, Tohu Harris also injured. Slater’s dodgy shoulder is crucial.

REALITY: Minor premiers last year but have lost some important players. They need Slater fit. Post-season World Cup will be another motivating factor for Smith, Cronk and especially Slater.

TAB: $7.50

Cameron Smith in action against the Titans. Picture: Adam Head

SHARKS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 4TH

GOOD: Still the most intimidating pack and I can’t wait for Valentine Holmes to show us what he’s got at fullback. James Maloney the key.

BAD: As big a pest as Michael Ennis was, he held this pack together. We saw what happened when he left Canterbury. Ben Barba’s departure an added blow.

REALITY: Unless they can convince Leeds to release James Segeyaro, can’t see them going back to back. Young hooker Jayden Brailey has big boots to fill.

TAB: $15

COWBOYS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 5TH

GOOD: Johnathan Thurston arguably best ever, and right now you wouldn’t swap Jason Taumalolo for any big man. If they stay fit, and Matt Scott’s back is OK, Cowboys will be in it up to JT’s ears.

BAD: Loss of Tamou and Ben Hannant puts considerably more weight on Scott’s shoulders. Rory Kostjasyn’s departure shouldn’t be underestimated.

REALITY: Have them challenging for the top four, I do worry about loss of Tamou and Hannant will have go-forward.

TAB: $8

North Queensland Cowboys skipper Johnathan Thurston.

BRONCOS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 6TH

GOOD: Every time people start bagging Wayne Bennett, he shows why he is the most successful coach in game’s history.

BAD: Ben Hunt didn’t have a great 2016, I’m not sure the pressure of signing a mega-deal with the Dragons for 2018 will help. Corey Parker a huge loss.

REALITY: Need Hunt and Anthony Milford to aim up. Milford has potential to be game’s best player but looked to be carrying a few extra kilos during pre-season.

TAB: $13

WARRIORS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 7TH

GOOD: On paper, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke make up NRL’s best spine. Just need to deliver on

the field.

BAD: Warriors are like a parachute, always let you down slowly. We’ve been waiting for them to win a comp since 1995. Still waiting.

REALITY: Foran provides on-field steel and will take pressure off Johnson. The fact Steve Kearney made Tuivasa-Sheck captain is an insight into how well the fullback must be travelling.

TAB: $11

Warriors star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck hopes for a big year back after injury.

ROOSTERS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 8TH

GOOD: How could they not be motivated after last year? Tremendous pack, really good halves with Luke Keary joining Mitchell Pearce, and monster outside backs.

BAD: That’s the thing about the Roosters, they don’t have a weakness. Can only let themselves down, which they did last year.

REALITY: When I put in my season predictions I had Roosters in eighth spot. Already regret that. Bookies have them at $10, the best price you will get about them this year.

TAB: $10

EELS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 9TH

GOOD: If Corey Norman didn’t get busted for drug possession. If Parra didn’t have points stripped for salary cap cheating. If Kieran Foran didn’t leave. Hopefully 2017 won’t be about more ifs.

BAD: Forgot to mention Semi Radradra, free to play until at least round nine. Which is great, until after round nine, when Radradra next fronts court.

REALITY: Love the way Brad Arthur’s team plays. Tough, unforgiving, full of energy. Just need to stay out of trouble.

TAB: $17

Corey Norman will aim for a scandal-free year.

RABBITOHS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 10TH

GOOD: Sam Burgess looked like Sam Burgess pre-rugby union in the Charity Shield and Robbie Farah was sharp. And what about Greg Inglis’s fly-swatting charge in the All Stars? No wonder Rabbitohs fans are excited.

BAD: Losing Adam Reynolds for potentially the first month to appendicitis is just rotten luck. Couldn’t be avoided, will be significant.

REALITY: It wouldn’t surprise to see Souths playing finals football again but need Burgess and Inglis to stay healthy.

TAB: $15

BULLDOGS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 11TH

GOOD: Will be desperate because Des Hasler is desperate. No question they have the squad, and for majority of last year sat in

top four.

BAD: Outside backs are skinny. Brenko Lee is a super talent, but unproven. Kerrod Holland takes over from Curtis Rona. And will Will Hopoate play Sundays?

REALITY: Big question, will their attack be different because it was yawningly boring last year. Moses Mbye must take charge, and fix kicking game.

TAB: $23

Des Hasler is under pressure in 2017.

TITANS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 12TH

GOOD: Bought well, especially Kevin Proctor, Kane Elgey returns, and Neil Henry has a knack of getting his teams performing to potential.

BAD: Pre-season injuries hammered the Titans, left Tyrone Roberts playing hooker in the absence of Nathan Peats. And I get Jarryd Hayne likes chasing dreams. But did he have to tell the world he is open to offers for next year?

REALITY: Smart coach, strong pack, good young halves, Hayne the X factor. Depth the issue.

TAB: $26

SEA EAGLES

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 13TH

GOOD: Trent Barrett reckons Daly Cherry-

Evans has that “look”. Tom Trbojevic has put on five kilos. Blake Green provides stability in halves, and allows Dylan Walker to play centre. Nate Myles described his efforts last year “s...house”. All the right noises.

BAD: The only way to replace experience lost through Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon and Steve Matai is with time.

REALITY: Beat the Roosters in final pre-season trial. In a far better position than last year.

TAB: $31

Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett has revamped his side since taking over.

TIGERS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 14TH

GOOD: Robbie Farah/Jason Taylor feud finally put to bed. Can’t wait to see Jamal Idris back, and this teenager they’re all talking about, Moses Suli.

BAD: With Aaron Woods, Mitchell Moses, Luke Brooks, James Tedesco and coach Taylor all off contract, management has to act fast to avoid another major distraction.

REALITY: Showed in win over Cowboys last year they can play tough and gritty, with a dash of flair. Need to do it on weekly basis.

TAB: $34

DRAGONS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 15TH

GOOD: Have a decent pack but that won’t be enough if Gareth Widdop can’t engineer more points. Watching the Charity Shield, I just don’t see how.

BAD: Attack dished up against Souths a couple of weeks back just wasn’t up to NRL standard. Most concerning, it looked exactly the same as what they delivered last season.

REALITY: There isn’t a coach under more pressure than Paul McGregor. That’s not sticking in the knife, that’s reality.

TAB: $101

Gareth Widdop in action for the Dragons.

KNIGHTS

CRAWLEY’S TIP: 16TH

GOOD: Danny Levi is a future New Zealand No.9 and looked superb in trial win over Raiders. As did Dane Gagai and Sione Mata’utia. Good signs.

BAD: Losing Jarrod Mullen will save the Knights in respect to their salary cap, still a major blow on the eve of the season.

REALITY: Just about everyone has tipped the Knights to run last but their 44-0 trial win over Canberra was impressive, showed they might surprise a few.

TAB: $151