This is an extremely important year for the NRL and I am anticipating a bumpy road ahead in the short term, before long-term solutions can be found to the current leadership dilemma in our game.

This is a huge issue and I suspect we will be talking a lot about this during the year.

For today though, let's concentrate on the NRL teams who are about to do battle for rugby league's greatest prize. Every fan of every team starts the new year with great optimism. When you look through the 16 teams, I think it's fair to say that every team has a story waiting to be told.

BRISBANE BRONCOS

I think we should ignore their poor showing in England last weekend. When you look at their 25-man squad, there is still a lot of talent in this club. In Andrew McCullough, Ben Hunt, Anthony Milford and Darius Boyd they have one of the best playmaker groups in the competition. That's a big start right there.

If the new-look Broncos forward pack can hold their own in the middle of the field, there is no doubting these talented playmakers can produce plenty of wins this season. The Broncos are always hard to beat.

CANBERRA RAIDERS

This is a serious football team. They are huge across the paddock. Big men win big games and the Raiders are certainly well served in this department.

They also have brilliant attacking flair, which has captured the imagination of a league public growing somewhat bored with the sameness of football a lot of teams  produce week in, week out. The Raiders offer a point of difference.

The Raiders were so close to winning last year's competition. I'm sure they'll be out to redeem themselves this season.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

There's been a lot of comment from experts in the media and rugby league fans alike that the Bulldogs' attacking game has gone stale and that they need to reinvent themselves. It will be interesting to see just how the Bulldogs respond to this criticism. The Canterbury club that I know wouldn't care less what anyone outside the club had to say about their football. They would do it their own way – the Bulldog way.

I'm sure the Bulldogs will have their own response ready to be unleashed next weekend. Beware of the wounded Bulldog.

Reigning champions: The Sharks face a huge task to defend their title. Photo: Getty Images

CRONULLA SHARKS

Not for a moment would I dare try to take anything away from the Sharks' memorable success last year. It was brilliant stuff and wonderful for them to win their first premiership in 49 years of existence. But I just think last year's competition was a little soft and this hard-nosed Sharks team was in the right place at the right time. I think this year's competition will be far more competitive.

I believe the Sharks will cover for the losses of Michael Ennis and fullback Ben Barba.

They have some great young talents to take their places. I'm confident they'll be more than competitive for the majority of the season. I just think they might do it tough to win another title.

GOLD COAST TITANS

This is definitely a team on the rise: they have a mobile and energetic pack of forwards, and the young halves are among the most exciting players in the game today. The recruitment of Bronco front-rower Jarrod Wallace and experienced Melbourne Storm international back-rower Kevin Proctor is significant.

Then, of course, we have Jarryd Hayne. If the mood strikes him, we know that anything is possible. I'm anticipating a high finish for the Titans this year. Good team.

MANLY SEA EAGLES

Transformation takes time. There were glimpses of potential in 2016, but Manly lost energy towards the back end of the campaign. I am expecting them to bounce back strongly this year. Again, they have ventured into the marketplace and recruited heavily. To my mind, their player roster looks a lot stronger for this year.

Manly players have presented themselves very well in the practice matches. If they can get on a winning run through the early rounds we know what confidence and momentum can do for a football club – particularly one that has such a great winning history.

MELBOURNE STORM

They say that Father Time is undefeated; eventually he beats everyone. But he certainly has his hands full with these Melbourne Storm champions.

Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk show no signs of slowing down. Throw in the game's best front row forward in Jesse Bromwich, and if the mercurial Billy Slater can return to the field anywhere near his best after such a long lay-off, then the Storm will again be one of the major contenders this year. These brilliant players just know how to win games.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

Now, normally I would tell you to ignore pre-season trial form. However, Newcastle's 44-0 blitzing of the Raiders in their one serious trial hit-out needs to be acknowledged. Well may you say that the Raiders fielded an understrength team and probably didn't bring their "A" game to this pre-season run around. But I'm quite sure they weren't expecting to get thumped by such a scoreline either.

I have no doubt the Knights will have taken tremendous confidence out of that performance.

Not for one moment am I suggesting they will threaten to play finals football this year, but they have served notice that they are on the improve. Underestimate them at your peril.

Too hot to handle: Shaun Johnson of the Warriors. Photo: Getty Images

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS

Usually I say: "I won't be surprised if the Warriors make the top four. I won't be surprised if they end up in the bottom four." Well, this year I'm changing my tune. I will be extremely surprised if the Warriors do not make the top eight this season.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Issac Luke. Crikey, this is potentially a devastating playmaker group.

I really like several of the Warriors' young outside backs. They are going to be so dangerous this year playing outside this quartet of talented ball players.

I rate the Warriors as very hard to beat this year.

NTH QLD COWBOYS

Quality team. Quality players. Champion halfback. The Cowboys will again be serious contenders for the title.

The one thing that hasn't been tested in the past couple of years, though, has been their depth; they've enjoyed an extraordinary run of good fortune on the injury front. They have lost two experienced representative class front-rowers in James Tamou and Ben Hannant. It remains to be seen if they can cover for any injuries that may occur with their remaining list of big men.

All things being equal though, I think the Cowboys will be among the leaders all season and very hard to beat.

PARRAMATTA EELS

I watched them trial against the Panthers last weekend. They looked fit, strong and enthusiastic. They had a great attitude in defence. Their halfback, Corey Norman, did not play, so their attacking game will naturally improve when he returns.

I was honestly impressed and walked away from the trial match thinking the Eels are going to shock a lot of teams this year.

Looking good: The Rabbitohs impressed in the Charity Shield. Photo: Getty Images

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

South Sydney were great in the Charity Shield game last week. In recent years, however, Souths have been renowned for their early-season form. They have just had trouble maintaining the rage for the entire season.

Their forwards again look strong and they've added some new blood to their back line. It was noticeable last week that veteran hooker Robbie Farah certainly added a point of difference to their attacking game.

Much will depend on the health of their champion, Greg Inglis. If he is at his best, South Sydney will be more than competitive. He really holds the key to their season.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA

I really like the forward pack and I think they can build their season around these big men: Leeson Ah Mau, Jack De Belin, Tyson Frizell, Russell Packer, Tariq Sims, Joel Thompson and Paul Vaughan. This is a formidable group.

These fellas will more than hold their own in the middle of the field and hopefully allow the Dragons' halves and back line players the opportunity to develop their own style of attacking football.

I think the criticism of the Dragons' attacking game in recent years has ignored the fact that the forwards probably haven't been doing their job in laying a strong platform. I can't see that being a problem this year. I expect this team to develop strongly during the course of the season.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

I'm declaring this team a serious contender for the title. They were disappointing last year, but this club has a history of bouncing back quickly.

I think Luke Keary will prove to be one of the buys of the season and I believe he will perfectly complement halfback Mitchell Pearce.

When I look through the player list I see plenty of attacking class and strike power. They have a strong representative-class forward pack. When I line them up against many of the other playing squads in the competition I'm confident they shape up pretty well.

Don't be surprised if the Roosters are again a top-four team.

WESTS TIGERS

I'm sure every team is nervous when they come up against the Tigers. They are capable of such brilliant attacking football on their day. They can blow you away on the scoreboard before you get your second wind.

If big Jamal Idris can recapture his best form after a long lay-off I know he'll provide great confidence to those around him.

At the end of the day, it will come down to how well the Tigers forwards can control the middle of the field to allow this brilliant young back line to strut their stuff.

PENRITH PANTHERS

More about them some other time.

Have an enjoyable year everyone.

Phil Gould is executive general manager of Penrith Panthers.