NRL Kicks Off Tonight!

If you didn't know, the NRL actually kicks off tonight with a special Thursday night game in the Hunter where the Newcastle Knights take on the St George-Illawarra Dragons.

In fact, it's the clash of legendary coach Wayne Bennett's current and past teams - and the first one of at least 3 this season in fact when you count the Brisbane Broncos.

So quick tips as to who will win the comp? There has been plenty of shuffling around the teams in terms of coaches and players.

But expect the usual contenders, Melbourne, Wests Tigers, St George, Manly and Brisbane to be in the mix along with the Warriors - very cautious about them given how often it has gone wrong in the past when a big name coach has come in but at the same time, I think Bluey McClennan could be the right coach for the Warriors at the right time especially now that he has established himself as one of rugby league's best coaches at the moment.

Newcastle and Souths could be in the mix too for the top 4. In fact, the NRL could be as close as ever between 1 and 16 - there's nothing really between the top and bottom of the table although I think Cronulla might be fighting Canberra to avoid being named this year's wooden-spooners.

Anyway here's to another long season of NRL - last year's new young star was Jharal Yow-Yeh. Who will it be this year?

Anyway my tip for the ladder from 1 to 16 -
Manly, Melbourne, Warriors, Wests, Brisbane, Newcastle, St George, Souths, North Queensland, Parramatta, Gold Coast, Sydney, Penrith, Bulldogs, Canberra, Cronulla