With the ‘hit and giggle' trail matches and the arduous pre-season training regimes now behind each team, fans, coaches, and players alike have set their sights on the real deal – Round 1.

For some clubs, the pre-season period could not have panned out better, whilst the unlucky remainder will be counting the cost of their campaigns.

Although there were a myriad of positives to be taken from the summer months, all teams will be striving to improve on their trail match form and learn from the lessons dealt out across them.

With the first spin of the Steeden within touching distance, we raise the big question that face each of the NRL's 16 clubs.

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Sydney Roosters

Are they still cock of the walk or are they close to plucked?

After years atop the table and toasting new silverware, will the Sydney Roosters reign over the league finally come to an end this year?

Probably not, but there are still a number of cracks appearing for Trent Robinson to mend.

Despite still boasting a fantastic 1 to 13, for the first time in what feels like a lifetime, the Chooks are not within the bookie's top three fancies to take out the season's top prize.

Although their roster is ageing, and it could be argued that their motivation is waning, Robinson's Roosters will welcome the injection of youth that Lachlan Lam will provide in the halves and Victor Radley is known for at lock.

League fans away from the Eastern Suburbs are also howling for wunderkind Joseph Suaalii to make his first-grade debut sooner rather than later.

Although these inclusions would strengthen any side, they do come at the cost of Boyd Cordner, who is set to miss the first 12 rounds due to repetitive head knocks.

Predicting the downfall of an empire can sometimes prove more challenging than not, but if the 60 points that Souths scored against the Tri-Colours in late September of last year are anything more than an outlier, then we may well be entering the last days of Rome.

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