Predicting an NRL premiership winner or unlocking Da Vinci code. Take your pick.

The past decade has highlighted the ever-growing openness of the NRL competition, with consecutive premierships still yet to be achieved by any club in the NRL era.

In this time, we’ve witnessed some of the great unforeseen rises and collapses in the premiership race, which have completely unwritten pre-season predictions.

So who could it be this year?

3. Penrith Panthers

One of the sides frequently mentioned in the top eight conversation this pre-season, Penrith could certainly be one of the teams that drift.

After reeking havoc on the NRL coaching setup last year in pursuit of Ivan Cleary, the Penrith Panthers will attract significant attention this season from both media and fans.

A slow start to their campaign will certainly trigger enormous debate around whether Cleary is the answer, and from there you can just see a spiral unfolding.

No doubt the Panther’s leadership will be tested, and with some of the club’s player movements in the off-season, they have arguably left themselves a bit slim on experience, having lost players like Trent Merrin, Corey Harawira-Naera, Tyrone Peachey and captain Peter Wallace.

Add to this the recent sex tape scandal that has rocked the club and the pressure of the spotlight on Penrith could prove to be all too much.

 

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 31: Nathan Cleary of the Panthers warms up during the round 25 NRL match between the Melbourne Storm and the Penrith Panthers at AAMI Park on August 31, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Michael Dodge/Getty Images)

 

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