Defence: Paul McGregor deserves a lot of credit for what he has done with the Dragons' defence this season. It's the best defensive unit in the competition and is reminiscent to what Wayne Bennett was able to produce when he led the Dragons to premiership success in 2010. 9.5 Overall: They were called soft, too small and potential wooden spooners. Now, they're playing tough, above their weight and earned the title as premiership contenders. 9 Predicted finish: 3rd Biggest improver: Tyson Frizell Best player: Benji Marshall

Best buy: Eto Nabuli Most underrated: Peter Mata'utia

Brisbane Broncos Attack: The Broncos were always expected to have a few gelling issues in attack to start the year with fullback Darius Boyd missing and a rotation of stop-gap solutions. Throw in the arrival of Anthony Milford and coach Wayne Bennett and you realise the magnitude of the change at Red Hill in the off-season. After a slow start to the year Milford has been their best player over the past month and Ben Hunt is slowly returning to form. 8.5 Defence: Wayne Bennett teams always pride themselves on defence, and while the Broncos have shown they are quite capable of holding out opposition, there seems to be more importance on attack than defence. They are playing an exciting brand of football. 8

Overall: Wayne Bennett will return to finals football this season with a team oozing experience. The combination between Milford and Boyd will be instrumental in determining how far they go. 8.5 Predicted finish: 4th Biggest improver: Lachlan Maranta Best player: Ben Hunt Best buy: Anthony Milford

Most underrated: Alex Glenn North Queensland Cowboys Attack: Any team with Johnathan Thurston at the helm won't have any trouble scoring points. But the evolution of Michael Morgan and the form of Lachlan Coote at fullback has been equally as important in their resurgence. Hooker Jake Granville has been a sensational pick up. 9.5 Defence: While their defence has been strong this season, the Cowboys will always adopt an attack first priority while Thurston, Morgan and Coote are at their disposal. 8

Overall: After three straight losses to start the year, the Cowboys have gone nine wins on the trot. This could be the year Thurston takes them all the way. 9 Predicted finish: 1st Biggest improver: Lachlan Coote Best player: Johnathan Thurston Best buy: Jake Granville

Most underrated: Ethan Lowe Manly Sea Eagles Attack: The Sea Eagles have been missing Kieran Foran for most of the season, while his halves partner Daly Cherry-Evans has also had his fair share of injuries. They've had plenty of off-field distractions that have hampered their start to the season but if they can get everyone back on the park they have enough points in them to trouble teams. 5

Defence: They aren't the intimidating pack they once were. There's a vulnerability through the middle of the park and teams are exploiting that weakness. Their defensive record doesn't match their position on the ladder but there is still plenty to improve. 6.5 Overall: While injuries haven't helped, there's no doubt the conjecture about the future of their halves, in particular Cherry-Evans, has unsettled the Sea Eagles. Now that it is all settled the time for excuses is over. 5.5 Predicted finish: 10th Biggest improver: Jake Trbojevic Best player: Brett Stewart

Best buy: Blake Leary Most underrated: Tom Symonds Wests Tigers Attack: Since the joint venture came together the Wests Tigers have always neglected their defence in order to focus on attack. Under new coach Jason Taylor that has all changed. They still have the attacking prowess with James Tedesco, Luke Brooks and Mitchell Moses, but at the moment their focus is on preventing points, not scoring them. 6

Defence: Benji Marshall recently declared that during his time at the Tigers they paid no attention to defence. It was all about scoring points. Jason Taylor joins the club from the Roosters, who prided themselves on defending their way to victory. He's slowly building that at the Tigers. 6.5 Overall: This team was always going to be considered a work in progress in 2015. They might not play finals football this year but by 2017 this could be a premiership-winning side. 6.5 Predicted finish: 13th Biggest improver: Martin Taupau Best player: Aaron Woods

Best buy: Kevin Naiqama Most underrated: Sauaso Sue Gold Coast Titans Attack: It is a shame Aidan Sezer is on the way out to Canberra next season because he and his halves partner Kane Elgey are beginning to form a strong combination. James Roberts has been exceptional and is a genuine strike weapon out wide who will be pushing for representative honours in the next 12 months. 7.5

Defence: The Titans have the second-worst defence in the NRL behind Parramatta. Neil Henry had a similar problem at the Cowboys trying to prevent points and looks like he has his hands full trying to find the right balance between attack and defence. 5.5 Overall: On paper the Titans have a team capable of pushing into the bottom half of the eight but they have struggled for consistency, dogged by injuries, suspensions and off-field distractions. 6.5 Predicted finish: 15th Biggest improver: James Roberts Best player: Aidan Sezer

Best buy: Josh Hoffman Most underrated: Kierran Moseley Canterbury Bulldogs Attack: Statistically the Bulldogs attack doesn't look too bad but the reality is they are struggling to get the most out of a team that should be scoring the most of any team in the NRL. James Graham's suspension was a huge blow. Brett Morris' return from injury will help, but they need Trent Hodkinson and Josh Reynolds to find their best. 7

Defence: It is hard to be a consistently good defensive team with the amount of changes in personnel the Bulldogs have had. Their record is one of the worst in the league and needs to improve fast. 6 Overall: Put James Graham and Brett Morris into this team and they suddenly become premiership contenders once again. Moses Mbye is the X-factor but the onus is on Reynolds and Hodkinson to deliver. 6.5 Predicted finish: 9th Biggest improver: Moses Mbye Best player: Josh Jackson

Best buy: Curtis Rona Most underrated: Aiden Tolman Parramatta Eels Attack: It is hard to know what to expect from Parramatta each week. Sometimes they look crisp, other times they look like they've never played together before. There's no doubt Brad Arthur wants Chris Sandow to play to the structure, but unfortunately for the Eels that hasn't always transpired. Arthur and Sandow need to find a happy medium. 6

Defence: The Eels are the worst defensive team in the NRL after the first 12 rounds of the season. Their tendency to give away silly penalties has cost them, while their goal-line defence has been questionable, particularly on the edges. 5 Overall: The Eels are already looking ahead to 2016 and the arrival of Kieran Foran. On their day they can compete with the best teams in the competition but unfortunately those days are few and far between. 5.5 Biggest improver: Manu Ma'u Best player: Corey Norman Best buy: Danny Wicks

Most underrated: David Gower Tomorrow: Mid-season report card for Newcastle, Canberra, South Sydney, Penrith, Melbourne, Cronulla, Roosters and Warriors.