AJ Brimson will threaten Kalyn Ponga as the game’s best young player, Newcastle will make the eight and Canterbury are likely to run last.
That’s the bold three-part declaration from Fox League star and premiership winner Matthew Johns on the eve of the 2019 premiership.
Johns’ old club, the Knights, haven’t made the top eight since 2013.
JOHNS: Matty's bold tip for this season's grand finalists
But he is extremely confident the five-year drought will end this year.
John said: “I think it will be the first time in a long time they play finals.
“There’s a lot to like about Ponga and Pearce in the halves and they have made some astute signings.
“I’m really looking forward to seeing how they go.”
At the other end of the table, Johns stopped short of semaphoring Canterbury in for the wooden spoon but made it clear they would be the team most likely to struggle.
“The Bulldogs are still going through that transitional period. For them to get up to that mid-table position, they’re going to need Kieran Foran to be fit and firing,” he said.
“I am hearing good things about Kieran and Canterbury’s trial form, but if they are to make the finals it will be a helluva an achievement given what they’ve gone through with the cap.”
Finally, asked to nominate the young player he believed would emerge as a superstar this year, Johns replied: “There’s a young bloke who came through at the Titans at the back-end of last year who is absolutely brilliant.
“AJ Brimson is athletic, he’s tough, he’s talented and above all else he’s got a great attitude.
“I think he’s got a great future.”