9; Newcastle Knights
With the status of Kalyn Ponga’s return unclear, it’s hard to get a read of the Knights this year. A team that faced more injuries than anyone else last year, they will welcome back a host of players going into this year. The big question is where is Mitchell Pearce at? With more off-field dramas, he has stepped away from the captaincy and I believe there is now further pressure on him and Adam O’Brien. They should float around the top eight for a bit, but I don’t think they have what it takes to play finals football this year.
