This action-packed, two-day extravaganza of football is fast becoming one of the highlights of the rugby league.
Let’s cast a glance over the 16 NRL teams and how they might fare.
Waiheke Pool
Cronulla – the defending NRL premiers have a strong pedigree in this event and named a reasonably strong squad tinged with representative talent.
Skipper Wade Graham’s ball playing abilities should come to the fore while Jack Bird also appears naturally suited to this format.
Could have done with the freakish abilities of Ben Barba but are likely to get through arguably the weakest of the four groups.
Unibet Odds: $13.00
Prediction: 1st in Group (Quarter Finalists)
Gold Coast – while all eyes will be on Jarryd Hayne, coach Neil Henry has cautioned fans not to expect too much of the code-hopper who, as one of the best broken field runners the game has seen, should thrive in the extra space this format affords.
Halfback Kane Elgey is also on the comeback trail after missing all of last season through injury and should enjoy the opportunity to hone his skills in a less pressurized environment.
Unibet Odds: $9.00
Prediction: 2nd in Group (Quarter Finalists)
Penrith – club CEO Brian Fletcher’s call for the event to be scrapped gives you some indication of the contempt that Penrith have for the event and with a host of top-line talent missing they might well just go through the motions here and enjoy a night out in Auckland.
Nathan Cleary burst onto the scene with an impressive season and will lead a team comprised largely of their successful junior squads but it’s a big ask to compete with established NRL stars.
Unibet Odds: $26.00
Prediction: 4th
Bulldogs – Des Hasler enters 2017 perhaps under more pressure than any other coach but clearly results in Auckland won’t be what he’s judged on with the Dogs pretty depleted.
It will be interesting to see what effect the captaincy has on firebrand Josh Reynolds while fans also get the opportunity to see a slimmer, hungrier Sam Kasiano after he dropped a considerable amount of weight in the off-season.
The club’s grinding style isn’t really suited to Nines footy though.
Unibet Odds: $31.00
Prediction: 3rd
Piha Pool
St George-Illawarra – the Dragons have never really come to grips with this format and are far too structured in their approach to be a threat to anyone, particularly with their most dangerous player Josh Dugan resting back in Sydney.
Tyson Frizell’s outstanding 2016 sees him rewarded with the captain’s armband but they’ve lobbed in a pool with two real heavyweights and it’s hard to see them progressing.
Unibet Odds: $26.00
Prediction: 4th
Parramatta – the Eels have a real point to prove having been stripped of the title they won here 12 months ago.
Brad Arthur is clearly taking the event seriously and named a powerful squad containing real strike power in the gifted Bevan French (who notched eight tries last time) while both Corey Norman and Semi Radradra are seeking redemption in the eyes of supporters after controversial off-field incidents put a dampener on their reputations.
Unibet Odds: $6.50
Prediction: 1st in Group (Grand Finalists)
Manly – you get the impression that Trent Barrett will be happy just to get through this event unscathed after the club sustained a couple of notable injuries in this event last year.
The Eagles have bigger fish to fry after a hugely disappointing NRL season but have included recruits Curtis Sironen and Akuila Uate in their squad.
They’re another club to have never really placed much emphasis on this and probably don’t have the firepower to go beyond the group stages.
Unibet Odds: $41.00
Prediction: 3rd
NZ Warriors – perennial contenders, expectation levels will be high that the Warriors can finally break through and deliver a title.
New coach Stephen Kearney has named a reasonably potent squad that will be led by Raiders legend Ruben Wiki, who at 44 joins the likes of Brad Fittler and Steve Menzies in making cameo appearances in the event.
As always, their hopes will rest on the mercurial Shaun Johnson while Tuimoala Lolohea is another player to watch out for.
Unibet Odds: $7.00
Prediction: 2nd in Group (Semi-Finalists)
Rangitoto Pool
Newcastle – the Knights can approach this tournament with a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality ahead of what promises to be another long NRL campaign.
Jamie Buhrer doesn’t exactly have happy memories of his last trip across the ditch having broken his jaw 12 months ago but he is exactly the kind of hard-working professional the Knights need.
With Jarrod Mullen suspended, young halves Brock Lamb and Jaelen Feeney can stake a claim for an NRL halves berth. They might surprise a few people.
Unibet Odds: $31.00
Prediction: 2nd in Group (Quarter Finalists)
Wests Tigers – the joint-venture club are another outfit set to engage in a damage limitation exercise with coach Jason Taylor already admitting that he ‘doesn’t place too much emphasis’ on the pre-season spectacle.
As with several other clubs, they’ve been content to leave their strike-weapon James Tedesco cooling his heels back at home while Mitchell Moses and Aaron Woods are other big name absentees.
Matt McIlwrick is an interesting acquisition from the premiers and can begin to strike up some sort of understanding with Luke Brooks but they seem up against it.
Unibet Odds: $31.00
Prediction: 4th
Brisbane – for a coach who often treats promotion of the sport with disdain, Wayne Bennett has surprisingly chosen to risk a number of his key troops, although there’s no place for Ben Hunt following news of his signing with the Dragons.
Benji Marshall was a curious pick-up in the other direction and gets a chance to impress his new teammates while James Roberts needs to focus on football.
Anthony Milford’s ‘off-the-cuff’ style is tailor-made for this and the inclusion of versatile forwards Adam Blair and Matt Gillett, plus the finishing power of Boyd, Oates and Roberts makes the Broncos serious contenders.
Unibet Odds: $5.50
Prediction: 1st in Group (Semi-Finalists)
Melbourne – the absence of the ‘Big Three’ from the Storm team sheet makes it easy to dismiss their chances but, not for the first time, the club flew under the radar a little and did well to reach the semi-finals of this event last year.
With Billy Slater set to resume his career in Round 1, rising star Cameron Munster is tipped to play a little closer to the action this season and should acquit himself well in a leadership role here.
As always, they’ll be wholehearted but may lack the punch to give this a shake.
Unibet Odds: $29.00
Prediction: 3rd
Hunua Pool
North Queensland – Aucklanders are in for a real treat with news that Johnathan Thurston will make his first ever appearance in this event.
Jason Taumololo is arguably the most devastating ball-runner in the game and could burst defences at will following his brief flirtation with the NFL, while teenage sensation Kalyn Ponga is another tipped to enjoy the extra freedom.
With clearly the most complete squad on paper and a winning pedigree, they’ll take all the beating.
Unibet Odds: $4.75
Prediction: 1st (Winners)
Roosters – with Mitchell Pearce unavailable, playmakers Connor Watson and Ryan Matterson will be tasked with the responsibility of creating opportunities for the tri-colours, who will also unveil Johny Tuivasa-Sheck.
The 20-year-old is said to possess the same speed off the mark and gnarly footwork as his older brother and should get great support from sections of the crowd.
They look a little bit light on for size though and the match against fierce rivals Souths is likely to prove decisive.
Unibet Odds: $21.00
Prediction: 3rd
Canberra – by far the highest scoring side in the NRL last season, the Raiders have left the majority of their outside backs in the capital with the likes of Jordan Rapana, Joey Leulia and Jack Wighton all rested from this in preparation for a 13-a-side campaign that promises much.
The Green Machine will get plenty of direction from Aidan Sezer and have a game-breaker in Blake Austin but probably lack the depth of other clubs and are unlikely to make a huge impact.
Unibet Odds: $26.00
Prediction: 4th
Souths – former winners, the Bunnies have named a capable squad although the likes of Adam Reynolds, Sam Burgess and John Sutton won’t take part.
Hooker Damian Cook has thrown down the gauntlet to new signing Robbie Farah in the race for the starting 9 position and will want to make it hard for Michael Maguire to leave him out.
They have a number of highly unpredictable players in their mix and are a difficult side to line up.
Unibet Odds: $19.00
Prediction: 2nd (Quarter-Finalists)