Prior to the season, I laid it all on the line and made some 2016 ladder predictions placing teams from 16th to 1st.

Some are looking pretty close, while others have me shaking my head and wondering what I was thinking.

Many drew the ire of the fans in question, especially those supporting the Eels, Panthers and Bunnies.

At the halfway(ish) point of the season, we revisit and revise some of those predictions made pre-season.

DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Tyrone Roberts, Greg Bird, Nene MacDonald and Conrad Hurrell of the Titans watch the replay on the big screen after the referee call for a video referral during the round 14 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans at TIO Stadium on June 11, 2016 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
DARWIN, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 11: Tyrone Roberts, Greg Bird, Nene MacDonald and Conrad Hurrell of the Titans watch the replay on the big screen after the referee call for a video referral during the round 14 NRL match between the Parramatta Eels and the Gold Coast Titans at TIO Stadium on June 11, 2016 in Darwin, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)

16th: Gold Coast Titans

Prior to the season I couldn’t see many positives on the holiday coast. Kane Elgey went down injured and the club lost its best player in James Roberts. Predictions across the board were dire, and for good reason.

The squad looked like it was going to lack the fire power to worry many sides in terms of attack, while defensively they looked as though they would ship plenty of points.

Fast forward to the rep season and the Titans are sitting just outside the eight, on point’s differential, and have been one of the more entertaining sides thus far in 2016.

Young Ash Taylor has far surpassed all expectations during his short NRL career while Greg Bird has turned back the clock. The signings of Nathan Peats and Konrad Hurrell have them looking a far stronger outfit, although they had already smashed most people’s predictions well before those signings were announced.

I am still confident that the Titans won’t worry the top sides or challenge for the title, but they’re a genuine shot at the eight.

Happy to be wrong here. I’m loving the way the Titans play their footy. I underestimated them greatly.

Updated Prediction: 10th

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