THERE’S only a few moves still to be made before the 2018 rosters of all 16 NRL clubs will take shape.

It’s been a massive off-season of recruitment and the slew of big-name transfers are set to have an impact on the best 17 of almost every club.

With pre-season under way, we’ve made some early predictions about the new combinations your side will be bedding in, choosing the potential first-choice 17 for every club.

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Round 19

BRONCOS

1. Darius Boyd

2. Jordan Kahu

3. James Roberts

4. Jack Bird

5. David Mead

6. Anthony Milford

7. Kodi Nikorima

8. Matt Lodge

9. Andrew McCullough

10. Korbin Sims

11. Alex Glenn

12. Matt Gillett

13. Josh McGuire

14. Corey Oates

15. Sam Thaiday

16. Joe Ofahengaue

17. Tevita Pangai Jnr

Jack Bird is the Broncos’ big-name recruit: Photo credit: Brisbane Broncos Source: Supplied

Analysis: Wayne Bennett has a big call to make about how best to utilise Jack Bird and the addition of Matt Lodge may at least initially result in the star recruit finding himself in the centres. Lodge is a front-rower with a dark past but huge potential and he is the early favourite to replace the departing Adam Blair in the starting side. That will allow Bennett to leave Josh McGuire at lock, the other position that could work for Bird.

BULLDOGS

1. Will Hopoate

2. Brett Morris

3. Josh Morris

4. Brenko Lee

5. Marcelo Montoya

6. Kieran Foran

7. Moses Mbye

8. Aaron Woods

9. Michael Lichaa

10. Aiden Tolman

11. Josh Jackson

12. Adam Elliott

13. David Klemmer

14. Fa’amanu Brown

15. Francis Taulau

16. Raymond Faitala-Mariner

17. Clay Priest

Can Kieran Foran rediscover his best? Source: AAP

Analysis: The spine has been Canterbury’s biggest concern over the last couple of years and it will be Dean Pay’s biggest challenge in 2019. There are question marks over Kieran Foran’s fitness, Moses Mbye’s playmaking ability, Will Hopoate’s ballplaying and Michael Lichaa’s creativity. Pay will need to make an early assessment on each of those players and swiftly come up with a Plan B if any of them don’t fit in his plans.

COWBOYS

1. Lachlan Coote

2. Kyle Feldt

3. Kane Linnett

4. Justin O’Neill

5. Antonio Winterstein

6. Michael Morgan

7. Johnathan Thurston

8. Matt Scott

9. Jake Granville

10. Jordan McLean

11. Gavin Cooper

12. Ethan Lowe

13. Jason Taumalolo

14. Ben Hampton

15. Scott Bolton

16. Coen Hess

17. John Asiata

Johnathan Thurston and Matt Scott will be like new signings for the Cowboys in 2018. Source: News Corp Australia

Analysis: Take a grand final team and add Kangaroos stars Johnathan Thurston, Matt Scott and Jordan McLean. That’s essentially what faces Paul Green, with a best 17 that looks to be close to the competition benchmark.

DRAGONS

1. Matt Dufty

2. Jason Nightingale

3. Euan Aitken

4. Tim Lafai

5. Nene Macdonald

6. Gareth Widdop

7. Ben Hunt

8. Paul Vaughan

9. Cameron McInnes

10. James Graham

11. Tyson Frizell

12. Joel Thompson

13. Jack De Belin

14. Kurt Mann

15. Tariq Sims

16. Jeremy Latimore

17. Luciano Leilua

James Graham is a big signing for the Dragons. Source: AAP

Analysis: Matt Dufty made a promising start to his NRL career in 2017 and that will give him the inside running on the No.1 jersey. If he can continue to make strides and Ben Hunt and Gareth Widdop strike up a good combination, the ceiling will be high for a Dragons side that will benefit from the experience and leadership of James Graham.

EELS

1. Clint Gutherson

2. Bevan French

3. Michael Jennings

4. Brad Takairangi

5. Kirisome Auva’a

6. Corey Norman

7. Mitchell Moses

8. Tim Mannah

9. Cameron King

10. Kane Evans

11. Manu Ma’u

12. Beau Scott

13. Nathan Brown

14. Tepai Moeroa

15. Suaia Matagi

16. Daniel Alvaro

17. Kenny Edwards

Clint Gutherson was outstanding before he was inujured this year. Source: Getty Images

Analysis: The big question mark hanging over this Eels side is whether or not Jarryd Hayne will be added before the off-season comes to a close. Already, it’s an awesome backline but it could be further strengthened with Hayne wearing No.1 and Gutherson taking over from Auva’a on the wing. Elsewhere, a forward pack that was better than the sum of its parts in 2017 has been strengthened by the addition of Kane Evans.

KNIGHTS

1. Kalyn Ponga

2. Nathan Ross

3. Tautau Moga

4. Shaun Kenny-Dowall

5. Ken Sio

6. Connor Watson

7. Brock Lamb

8. Jacob Lillyman

9. Danny Levi

10. Herman Ese’ese

11. Aidan Guerra

12. Sione Mata’utia

13. Mitchell Barnett

14. Jamie Buhrer

15. Chris Heighington

16. Daniel Saifiti

17. Josh King

New recruits Connor Watson and Kalyn Ponga chat with coach Nathan Brown during Knights training. Source: News Corp Australia

Analysis: Will Mitchell Pearce end up in this Knights team that should give the fans plenty to cheer about in 2018? A Pearce-Watson combination would inject much needed experience into a young spine but Brock Lamb has showed enough for Newcastle to prosper even without the premiership winning halfback. The wise heads of Jacob Lillyman, Aidan Guerra and Chris Heighington should make the forward pack very competitive.

PANTHERS

1. Dylan Edwards

2. Josh Mansour

3. Dean Whare

4. Waqa Blake

5. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak

6. James Maloney*

7. Nathan Cleary

8. James Tamou

9. Peter Wallace

10. Reagan Campbell-Gillard

11. Bryce Cartwright

12. Isaah Yeo

13. Trent Merrin

14. Tyrone Peachey

15. James Fisher-Harris

16. Moses Leota

17. Leilani Latu

Analysis: The Panthers are so packed full of talent there may not be room in the first choice side for one of last season’s breakout performers, Corey Hariwira-Naera. While James Maloney’s signing isn’t official just yet, it is a formality, giving Nathan Cleary the support of a half with big match experience and the confidence winning two premierships brings.

RABBITOHS

1. Greg Inglis

2. Campbell Graham

3. Dane Gagai

4. Hymel Hunt

5. Alex Johnston

6. Cody Walker

7. Adam Reynolds

8. Sam Burgess

9. Damien Cook

10. Tom Burgess

11. Angus Crichton

12. John Sutton

13. Cameron Murray

14. George Burgess

15. Kyle Turner

16. Jason Clark

17. Zane Musgrove

Greg Inglis will give the Rabbitohs a big boost. Source: Getty Images

Analysis: The Rabbitohs played some good football late in the season and some of their best results came courtesy of some promising young players given their first opportunity. Angus Crichton is already a star and Cameron Murray and Campbell Graham are kids with plenty of potential. Throw in the return of Greg Inglis and the signing of Dane Gagai and this is a side that could do some damage. The biggest question mark hangs over the No.9 jersey, with new coach Anthony Seibold already declaring he wants an 80-minute hooker. That could mean the end of Robbie Farah, although he is not a player who should be written off lightly.

RAIDERS

1. Jack Wighton

2. Jordan Rapana

3. Jarrod Croker

4. Joey Leilua

5. Nick Cotric

6. Blake Austin

7. Aidan Sezer

8. Junior Paulo

9. Josh Hodgson

10. Shannon Boyd

11. Josh Papalii

12. Elliott Whitehead

13. Sia Soliola

14. Sam Williams

15. Joseph Tapine

16. Luke Bateman

17. Charlie Gubb

Jordan Rapana is one of the best wingers in the game. Source: Getty Images

Analysis: The Raiders are in retention mode, meaning that the core of their roster has been there for the last couple of years and the only tinkering is happening around the edges. Charlie Gubb played some good games for the Warriors in 2017 and he may force his way onto the bench, while Sam Williams will likely fight it out with Adam Clydsdale for the bench utility role.

ROOSTERS

1. James Tedesco

2. Daniel Tupou

3. Latrell Mitchell

4. Blake Ferguson

5. Michael Gordon

6. Mitchell Pearce

7. Cooper Cronk

8. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves

9. Jake Friend

10. Dylan Napa

11. Boyd Cordner

12. Mitchell Aubusson

13. Isaac Liu

14. Luke Keary

15. Zane Tetevano

16. Sio Siua Taukeiaho

17. Ryan Matterson

Will James Tedesco and Mitchell Pearce play together? Source: News Corp Australia

Analysis: Any side that finishes second on the ladder one year and adds Cooper Cronk and James Tedesco the next is in very good shape. This is a side with stars in every position, with Mitchell Pearce the major question mark. If he swallows his pride and stays he could form the most lethal halves partnership in the competition with Cronk, likely pushing Luke Keary back to the bench. If not the Roosters will free up plenty of salary cap space to strengthen elsewhere.

SEA EAGLES

1. Tom Trbojevic

2. Akuila Uate

3. Brian Kelly

4. Dylan Walker

5. Jorge Taufua

6. Blake Green

7. Daly Cherry-Evans

8. Marty Taupau

9. Apisai Koroisau

10. Darcy Lussick

11. Curtis Sironen

12. Frank Winterstein

13. Jake Trbojevic

14. Lewis Brown

15. Addin Fonua-Blake

16. Lloyd Perrett

17. Shaun Lane

Tom Trbojevic is one of the best young players in the NRL. Source: Getty Images

Analysis: After a couple of years of being one of the most active players in the transfer market, Manly have had a quiet recruitment period, only adding a couple of depth signings. That will leave them with a very similar first choice 17 to the one that led them to sixth on the ladder last season. The only thing that would change that would be the signing of Mitchell Pearce and the release of Blake Green, which still appears to be a possibility.

SHARKS

1. Valentine Holmes

2. Sosaia Feki

3. Josh Dugan

4. Ricky Leutele

5. Aaron Gray

6. Matt Moylan

7. Chad Townsend

8. Andrew Fifita

9. Jayden Brailey

10. Matt Prior

11. Wade Graham

12. Luke Lewis

13. Paul Gallen

14. James Segeyaro

15. Jayson Bukuya

16. Ava Seumanufagai

17. Braden Uele

Analysis: Cronulla have lost a stack of players in the off-season, with regular starters James Maloney, Jack Bird, Gerard Beale and Chris Heighington all joining other clubs and Sam Tagataese a free agent after he wasn’t re-signed. The blow has been softened by the arrival of Matt Moylan and Josh Dugan but a shallower pool of NRL quality forwards is a concern. The wildcard is the speculation that Mitchell Pearce is on coach Shane Flanagan’s radar, potentially opening the way for him to partner Chad Townsend in the halves so Moylan could be pushed to the back and Valentine Holmes to the flank.

STORM

1. Billy Slater

2. Suliasi Vunivalu

3. Will Chambers

4. Curtis Scott

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Cameron Munster

7. Brodie Croft

8. Jesse Bromwich

9. Cameron Smith

10. Tim Glasby

11. Felise Kaufusi

12. Ryan Hoffman

13. Dale Finucane

14. Kenny Bromwich

15. Nelson Asofa-Solomona

16. Sam Kasiano

17. Patrick Kaufusi

Analysis: The Storm’s big test will be filling the shoes of Cooper Cronk but everything we’ve seen of youngster Brodie Croft has suggested he will be up to it. While Tohu Harris and Jordan McLean are also huge losses, they have been well covered by the signings of Sam Kasiano and Ryan Hoffman. Kasiano and Nelson Asofa-Solomona loom as scary X-factor bench forwards.

TITANS

1. Jarryd Hayne

2. Anthony Don

3. Konrad Hurrell

4. Dale Copley

5. Brendan Elliott

6. Kane Elgey

7. Ashley Taylor

8. Brenton Lawrence

9. Nathan Peats

10. Jarrod Wallace

11. Kevin Proctor

12. Ryan James

13. Jai Arrow

14. Mitch Rein

15. Morgan Boyle

16. Jack Stockwell

17. Joe Greenwood

Will Jarryd Hayne still be at the Titans in 2018? Source: News Corp Australia

Analysis: New coach Garth Brennan has arrived under stormy skies, with Jarryd Hayne’s future once again up in the air. If he leaves and can’t be adequately replaced between now and March the backline will all of a sudden look pretty thin on the ground when it comes to top talent. The forward pack too has its challenges. Several of the off-season departures were back-rowers, with skipper Ryan James already admitting he may have to shift to the back-row. That would allow new signing Brenton Lawrence to start up front with Jarrod Wallace, but would also leave a bench that doesn’t inspire too much confidence.

WARRIORS

1. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

2. Peta Hiku

3. Gerard Beale

4. Solomone Kata

5. David Fusitua

6. Ata Hingano

7. Shaun Johnson

8. Adam Blair

9. Issac Luke

10. Albert Vete

11. Tohu Harris

12. Agnatius Paasi

13. Simon Mannering

14. Nathaniel Roache

15. James Gavet

16. Sam Lisone

17. Leivaha Pulu

Tohu Harris is a big addition for the Warriors. Source: Getty Images

Analysis: Here we go again, attempting to get a read on the most enigmatic player group in the competition. On paper Tohu Harris, Adam Blair, Gerard Beale and Peta Hiku look to be good pick ups but they’ll have to be to make up for the losses of Kieran Foran, Ben Matulino, Ryan Hoffman and Jacob Lillyman. The halves could make or break the Warriors’ season, so Ata Hingano will need to start fulfilling his potential and take some pressure off newly minted million dollar man, Shaun Johnson.

WESTS TIGERS

1. Tui Lolohea

2. Kevin Naiqama

3. Moses Suli

4. Taane Milne

5. David Nofoaluma

6. Josh Reynolds

7. Luke Brooks

8. Russell Packer

9. Matt McIlwrick

10. Ben Matulino

11. Chris Lawrence

12. Chris McQueen

13. Elijah Taylor

14. Benji Marshall

15. Tim Grant

16. Sauaso Sue

17. Esan Marsters

Josh Reynolds has a fresh start at the Tigers. Source: News Corp Australia

Analysis: With three of the quartet that became known as the ‘big four’ out the door, the Tigers have had plenty of cash to play with in the off-season and many of the gaps look to have been well filled. Even without Aaron Woods, the forward pack looks stronger with the arrivals of Russell Packer, Ben Matulino and Chris McQueen. The great unknown is the spine. What will Josh Reynolds and Luke Brooks look like as a combination? Can Tui Lolohea become a top-tier fullback? Will Jacob Liddle keep improving and push Matt McIlwrick out of the side, and what will Benji Marshall add? Depending on the answers it will either be another challenging season or an exciting one.