I tend to agree with most of that. I'll split mine into where I think each team will finish, split into 4 segments of 4, and I apologise in advance if this post is too long and full of waffling.
1-4:
Storm - don't think they lose too much given the strength of their backline, and though they might lack some muscle in the forwards, they'll be right up there again next year.
Bulldogs - I see them potentially improving, and if Reynolds doesn't suffer from second year syndrome (as fulltime 5/8th) and Keating can brush up his kicking game, they should probably be favourites for next year with the addition of Williams and further guidance from Hasler. If teams catch onto the Bulldogs playing style and are able to shut it down however, they could be in some trouble, although the class of Morris, Barba, Inu and Reynolds should ensure that's not too big of a problem against most sides.
Cronulla - obvious bias.
Newcastle - Showed great form late in the year with their outside backs really firing. With the bolstering of their forward pack and the quality and recent form of their outside backs, the main areas they need improvement on are their props and halves combination. If Snowden stands up, Gidley plays as bench hooker and Roberts is given more time to grow into the halfback role, they should perform very well.
5-8:
Manly - needs to right some of their errors especially in regards to discipline, which may fault them again next year without Hasler. While Williams is a loss, they've still managed to keep their spine, and it'll be hard to see them missing the 8, but I don't see them making the top 4 next year.
South Sydney - Loss of Taylor shouldn't be too detrimental, Mcqueen is quite a good player. However some of their forwards such as Crocker and Asotasi are getting quite old. While Sutton is improving, I worry about how Reynolds will handle his second year in first grade, as I don't think he has the natural talent to handle it as well as Cherry-Evans, despite having great confidence. Inglis' form could go either way as he continues in his fullback role, but I'm not sure about how well he'll play with his future guaranteed for 3 years. I don't think they'll improve, but they won't do much worse.
Cowboys - Had great fortune that Thurston, Tate and especially Bowen were largely injury free and in rich form throughout most of this year. The only thing that should stop them from improving further is injury, which I feel is likely to strike one of their key players as it has done in past seasons. Probably not the best logic for them not improving but I feel that it will happen. As well as that, Payne and especially Segeyaro are considerable losses; I really rate Segeyaro.
Roosters - To just make the 8 under my assumption that they have the brains to avoid signing SBW and Cooper. With the introduction of Maloney and the removal of Anasta, they should play an exciting brand of attacking footy. Their exciting young forwards such as Guerra and Cordner should continue to improve as well. Whilst I believe that defence will once again be an issue for them, the removal of Brian Smith should result in an improvement in discipline which was ill under a coach many of the players did not respect.
9-12
Titans - Quality yet injury prone forwards and an aging Prince past his time may hinder the Titans. With the quality of their playing roster it's difficult to predict how they will perform next year, however I feel that they are too forward heavy, will suffer during origin, and the injury proneness of many of their key players will bite them once again.
Tigers- Should regress with the losses of Ryan and Heighington and the signing of Anasta. Their props will be stronger next year as Woods continues developing and the signing of Kite, but other than that it's hard to see where their improvement will come from. Could be Tedesco playing fullback uninjured and Moltzen developing as the half-back I thought he could be a year ago.
Panthers - A team that should improve next year, I think they've done an great job with their recruitment, and have some excellent up and coming young players. Coote's development in the 5/8th role should be intriguing as well. They will miss the composure and consistency of Lewis and Gordon however, and won't win a premiership until they have a quality half-back, and Walsh is not it.
Broncos - Can't see them improving with the loss of Petro. They could struggle even more next year given teams became able to completely shut down Norman as an attacking threat. They need to resolve their halves issues early in the year otherwise they will miss the 8. Origin may also hurt them once more.
Dragons - Their structure and quality individual player should see them win enough games to top this group, but they will struggle without a proper halfback and the loss of Scott, as well as the aging and detereoration of Matt Cooper's form.
Eels - Have alot of potential, played some great footy late in the year and should improve, but Hindmarsh is a massive loss, I thought he had a sensational year. Will lack consistency without a good 5/8th to complement Sandow.
Raiders - Young, talented outside backs, big forwards, but just too inconsistent and ill-disciplined to go very far. When things go against them in a game, they're the first to put their heads down.
Warriors - My tip for the spoon. Losing Luck and Maloney hurts, but they also looked uninspired even with the late year change in coach (could be different if they sign a proven coach). An immensely talented playing group with massive potential that I worry will once again go nowhere, resulting in uninspired performances like their back-end of this year.
