THE TEAMS AT A GLANCE

We cast an eye over every team, the big ins and outs, and the big talking points as 15 clubs come gunning for the all-conquering Sydney Roosters in season 2020

BRISBANE BRONCOS

CAPTAIN: Alex Glenn (pictured)

COACH: Anthony Seibold

LAST SEASON: 8th

INS: Brodie Croft (Storm), Jordan

Kahu (Cowboys), Jesse Arthars (Titans)

OUTS: Troy Dargan (Rabbitohs), Gehamat

Shibasaki (Knights), Matt Gillett, Shaun Fensom, Sam Tagataese (retired); George Fai,

Patrick Mago, James Segeyaro (unsigned)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Billed as the answer to their No.7 problem, Storm product Brodie Croft impressed during the trials and Nines campaign. LOOK OUT FOR: The best young forward pack in the game – Payne Haas, David Fifita and Tevita Pangai Jr – have somehow put even more muscle on over the pre-season.

PRE-SEASON HERO: Xavier Coates caught the eye during the summer. The 18-year-old has bulked up over the offseason as he pushes for a wing spot.

MELBOURNE STORM

CAPTAIN: Cameron Smith

COACH: Craig Bellamy

LAST SEASON: 3rd

INS: Ryley Jacks, Brenko Lee (Titans) OUTS: Will Chambers (rugby), Curtis Scott (Raiders), Joe Stimson (Bulldogs), Brodie Croft (Broncos), Billy Walters (Wests Tigers), Solomone Kata (union) KEY MAN: Entering his 19th season, Cameron Smith (pictured) is offering even more guidance to his young charges. UNDER THE PUMP: Losing premiership centres Will Chambers and Curtis Scott has somewhat exposed the flanks. But journey- man Brenko Lee was a standout in Melbourne’s time-honoured IDQ – I Don’t Quit – commando camp. PRE-SEASON HERO: Flyer Nicho Hynes has been demanding a spot on the bench like Ryan Papenhuyzen before him.

PARRAMATTA EELS

CAPTAIN: Clint Gutherson

COACH: Brad Arthur

LAST SEASON: 5th

INS: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Panthers), Ryan Matterson (Tigers) OUTS: Manu Ma’u (Super League), Tepai Moeroa (rugby union), Tim Mannah (retired)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The forward pack, a point of weakness in the past, has been bolstered by the additions of Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Ryan Matterson.

LOOK OUT FOR: The playmaking combination of Clint Gutherson, Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses (pictured) and Reed Mahoney now has Andrew Johns as a guiding influence.

UNDER THE PUMP: Young five-eighth Dylan Brown is looking to avoid the dreaded “second year syndrome”.

CANBERRA RAIDERS

CAPTAIN: Jarrod Croker (pictured)

COACH: Ricky Stuart

LAST SEASON: 2nd

INS: Curtis Scott (Storm), George

Williams (Wigan), Tom Starling, Harley Smith-Shields (upgraded)

OUTS: Jordan Rapana (Wild Knights), Joey

Leilua (Tigers), Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield),

Brad Abbey (Tigers), Ata Hingano (Mackay

Cutters), Royce Hunt (Sharks)

UNDER THE PUMP: The Raiders have bet big on former Storm centre Curtis Scott, but replacing two-time Dally M centre of the year Joey Leilua won’t be easy. IN THE SPOTLIGHT: English import George Williams, who will start the season as Canberra’s new halfback.

PRE-SEASON HERO: After starting the year on a train-and-trial deal, former All Blacks sevens player Bailey Simonsson will begin the season on the right wing.

NZ WARRIORS

CAPTAIN: Roger Tuivasa-Sheck COACH: Stephen Kearney

LAST SEASON: 13th

INS: Wayde Egan (Panthers), Jamayne Taunoa-Brown (Norths Devils)

OUTS: Blake Ayshford (retired), Ligi Sao (Hull FC), Issac Luke (Dragons), Sam Lisone (Titans) UNDER THE PUMP: The emergence of Chanel Harris-Tavita is putting pressure on Stephen Kearney to shift playmaker Kodi Nikorima from No.6 to the bench or even hooker. PRE-SEASON HERO: One-time Rooster Josh Curran played just 78 minutes last season. The prop, 20, will play a whole lot more in 2020 after being a summer standout.

KEY MAN: Tohu Harris (pictured) will be a welcome addition after missing most of last season with a broken foot.

PENRITH PANTHERS

CAPTAIN: James Tamou (pictured)

COACH: Ivan Cleary

LAST SEASON: 10th

INS: Apisai Koroisau (Sea Eagles),

Kurt Capewell (Sharks), Zane Tetevano

(Roosters)

OUTS: Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Eels),

Sione Katoa (Bulldogs), Tim Grant

(Illawarra Rugby League), Sam McKendry (retired), Wayde Egan (Warriors),

Tyrell Fuimaono (Dragons)

UNDER THE PUMP: Fijian international Apaisi Koroisau has a point to prove after being shown the door by Manly. PRE-SEASON HERO: Brent Naden began 2019 on a part-time contract and ended it as Penrith’s leading try-scorer.

LOOK OUT FOR: The recruitment of powerful ball-runner and Queensland hopeful Kurt Capewell could prove a masterstroke.

CANTERBURY BULLDOGS

CAPTAIN: Josh Jackson

COACH: Dean Pay

LAST SEASON: 12th

INS: Dean Britt (Rabbitohs), Joe

Stimson (Storm), Sione Katoa

(Panthers)

OUTS: Connelly Leumelu (Cowboys)

UNDER THE PUMP: Without a specialist

No.9, Jeremy Marshall-King is in line for first crack but will need to prove he can handle the defensive workload in the middle.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Brandon Wakeham

(pictured) will lead the Canterbury Bulldogs into generation next, with the rookie playmaker set to become the club’s next Kieran Foran (out injured).

PRE-SEASON HERO: One the Bulldogs’ standouts in 2019, fullback-turned-winger Nick Meaney has lost none of his pace despite packing on more muscle.

SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS

CAPTAIN: Adam Reynolds

COACH: Wayne Bennett

LAST SEASON: 4th

INS: Latrell Mitchell (Roosters), Bryson

Goodwin (Warrington)

OUTS: John Sutton, Greg Inglis, Sam

Burgess (retired), George Burgess

(Wigan), Dean Britt (Bulldogs), Kyle

Turner, Adam Doueihi (Tigers)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: How the Latrell

Mitchell (pictured) gamble pans out this season could make or break the Bunnies’ chances.

UNDER THE PUMP: No Sam, no George. Now Tom Burgess is on his own he has to become the leader of the pack. PRE-SEASON HERO: A backrower with immense potential, Keaon Koloamatangi missed the back end of last year after undergoing shoulder surgery but is ready to make an impact.

CRONULLA SHARKS

CAPTAIN: Wade Graham

COACH: John Morris

LAST SEASON: 7th

INS: Jesse Ramien (Knights)

OUTS: Paul Gallen (retirement), Matt

Prior (Leeds), Kurt Capewell (Penrith),

Jayden Brailey (Newcastle)

UNDER THE PUMP: Such was the disappointing nature of Shaun Johnson’s (pictured) first season at the Sharks, 2020 looms as a boom-or-bust year for him.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Bronson Xerri, 19, made his debut for Cronulla in Round 4 last season before going on to score 13 tries in 22 appearances. Worryingly for the Sharks, they have yet to re-sign him.

PRE-SEASON HERO: Young flyer Will Kennedy played in both of the Sharks’ pre-season trial matches and did nothing to suggest he would be overlooked for the season opener.

ST GEORGE ILLAWARRA DRAGONS

CAPTAIN: Cameron McInnes

COACH: Paul McGregor

LAST SEASON: 15th

INS: Issac Luke (Warriors), Trent

Merrin (Super League), Tyrell Fuimaono (Panthers)

OUTS: Reece Robson (Cowboys), Gareth

Widdop (Super League), Luciano Leilua

(Tigers), Jonus Pearson (Titans)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Paul McGregor has urged fans to be patient with 20-year-old, new fullback Zac Lomax (pictured).

UNDER THE PUMP: The Dragons’ forward pack has plenty of star power in Paul Vaughan, James Graham, Tyson Frizell and Tariq Sims, but must deliver.

KEY MEN: Halves Ben Hunt and Corey Norman will be expected to run the show after Gareth Widdop’s exit.

GOLD COAST TITANS

CAPTAINS: Kevin Proctor/Ryan

James

COACH: Justin Holbrook

LAST SEASON: 16th

INS: Beau Fermor (Knights), Tanah Boyd (Broncos)

OUTS: Michael Gordon (retired), Jesse Arthars (Broncos), Ryley Jacks (Storm), Brenko Lee (Storm), Leilani Latu (Warrington)

IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Ash Taylor is ready to finally reach his considerable potential on the field.

UNDER THE PUMP: Centre Kallum Watkins has been a star for England, but after struggling in his first year with the Titans he’s been tagging along with his wife for extra sessions at the gym. KEY MAN: Having stuck with the club despite interest from rivals, AJ Brimson (pictured) now wants to be the Titans’ main man at fullback.

NEWCASTLE KNIGHTS

CAPTAIN: Mitchell Pearce

COACH: Adam O’Brien

LAST SEASON: 11th

INS: Jayden Brailey (Sharks)

OUTS: Jesse Ramien (Sharks), Danny

Levi (Sea Eagles), Jamie Buhrer (retired) IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Hardworking hooker

Jayden Brailey is a terrific buy and will take over the dummy-half duties.

UNDER THE PUMP: If they are talking about

Kalyn Ponga (pictured) being worth more than $1 million a season to the Knights, then he has to start playing up to that price tag every single game. LOOK OUT FOR: Simi Sasagi, 18, exploded on to the scene at the NRL Nines. And they reckon this young five-eighth with blistering speed could well be ready to make the next step. Given he is on a development contract, it means Sasagi can’t play in the top grade until after June 30.

SYDNEY ROOSTERS

CAPTAINS: Boyd Cordner/Jake Friend

COACH: Trent Robinson

LAST SEASON: Premiers

INS: Kyle Flanagan (Sharks)

OUTS: Cooper Cronk (retired), Zane

Tetevano (Panthers), Latrell Mitchell

(Rabbitohs), Bernard Lewis (released)

UNDER THE PUMP: Former Shark Kyle

Flanagan is the only recruit and he has big shoes to fill, slotting in at halfback following

Cooper Cronk’s retirement.

LOOK OUT FOR: Restricted to six games last year, Queensland No.9 hopeful Jake Friend says his nightmare run of arm injuries in 2019 has only made him hungrier to make up for lost time. IN THE SPOTLIGHT: With Latrell Mitchell’s intended replacement, Billy Smith, suffering an ACL injury, State of Origin rep Angus Crichton will fill the void left at centre.

MANLY SEA EAGLES

CAPTAIN: Daly Cherry-Evans

COACH: Des Hasler

LAST SEASON: 6th

INS: Danny Levi (Knights)

OUTS: Apisai Koroisau (Panthers),

Kane Elgey, Trent Hodkinson (retired)

UNDER THE PUMP: With Manase Fainu stood down and Apisai Koroisau gone,

Danny Levi will get his chance at hooker after failing to find his best at Newcastle.

KEY MAN: Fullback Tom Trbojevic’s fitness shapes as the biggest factor.

“Turbo” (pictured) played just 12 games for Manly last year, winning 10 of them.

LOOK OUT FOR: Cherry-Evans will have Dylan Walker as his five-eighth from the start of the year – just the second time since Kieran Foran’s departure at the end of 2015 that the skipper will have continuity with his halves partner.

NTH QLD COWBOYS

CAPTAIN: Michael Morgan COACH: Paul Green LAST SEASON: 14th INS: Val Holmes (NFL), Reece Robson (Dragons), Esan Marsters (Tigers) OUTS: Matt Scott and Scott Bolton (retired)

KEY MAN: Many experts are warning Cowboys fans to be patient with Valentine Holmes. That said, he’s as fast and agile as ever.

LOOK OUT FOR: Scott Drinkwater (pictured) to clinch the No.6 jumper for the Round 1 Queensland derby. Drinkwater has been impressive throughout the entire pre-season and was player of the series at the NRL Nines.

UNDER THE PUMP: Coen Hess. But, if you haven’t heard, the Hess Express is back. He’s dropped six kilos, cut the sugar from his diet and hit the gym every day over the summer.

WESTS TIGERS

CAPTAIN: Moses Mbye (pictured) /

Benji Marshall

COACH: Michael Maguire

LAST SEASON: 9th

INS: Joey Leilua (Raiders), Adam Doueihi (Rabbitohs), Luciano Leilua (Dragons)

OUTS: Ryan Matterson (Eels), Mahe

Fonua (Hull), Esan Marsters (Cowboys),

Ben Matulino, Robbie Farah (retired)

LOOK OUT FOR: On his best day, ex-Canberra centre Joey Leilua sits among the most threatening centres in the game. PRE-SEASON HERO: Tommy Talau, the teenage centre who veteran Benji Marshall likens to no less than reigning Dally M medallist and one-time Tiger James Tedesco.

UNDER THE PUMP: If the Tigers are to flourish this year, much will depend on young forwards Thomas Mikaele, 22, and Luke Garner, 24, and Dragons recruit Luciano Leilua, 23.