Division One

1: Gold Coast Crusade
The Crusade deserve their favouritism, winning last year's premiership and dominating all three of their trials. Their side looks even more threatening than last year, with a full strength side capable of toppling anyone on their day. However, Gold Coast have a worrying reliance on Andrew Johns, which could cause them problems at the seasons end.
Key Player: Andrew Johns
Wild Card: Karle Hammond
Up and Comer: Iafeta Pelea'easina/ Tommy O'Reilly

2: Central Phoenix
The underachievers of the ASRL, Central boast one of the strongest lineups in the ASRL, but last year fell one match short of making a finals appearance. They dominated most sides last season, and will look to continue that dominance in 2002.
Key Player: Clinton Schifcofske
Wild Card: Lesley Vainakolo
Up and Comer: Colin Best

3: New England Ferrets
Last year they were contenders until the major semi final ended in tragedy for them, and this year they'll be out to improve upon last season's performance. The Ferrets' pre-season form has been lacklustre, but their side is solid, and will threaten heavily in the season to come.
Key Player: Ben Walker
Wild Card: David Peachy
Up and Comer: Rowland Rockachelli

4: Hobart Devils
The Devils made a strong impression on the final series last year, providing some memorable moments before fading in their final matches. The side looks a little weaker this season, but should still threaten some of the more famous sides in the ASRL.
Key Player: Trent Barret
Wild Card: James Wynne
Up and Comer: Scott Maclean

5: Brisbane Bulls
Snuck into last year's finals with a memorable charge in the dying rounds lead by Union convert Matthew Burke. The Bulls look even more dangerous this season with the addition of attacking players such as Hopoate, and will be a real premiership force.
Key Player: Matthew Burke
Wild Card: John Hopoate
Up and Comer: Chuck Randall

6: Hawkesbury Mavericks
Will push for a finals berth all year, but may lack the star players that other sides boast. Whilst Fittler and van Derwesteisen are always threatening, they've never really found their feet in the Mavericks' colours.
Key Player: Brad Fittler
Wild Card: Joost van Derwesteisen
Up and Comer: None, the side is still very experienced.

7: Central Coast Falcons
Last year was a memorable year for the Falcons, and although they weren't up to the pressure of finals football, they performed admirably to be the only expansion club to make the 2001/2002 final series. The Falcons have gained some quality attacking players in the off season, but their trial form shows some reluctance in their usually stinging defence- which could cause a problem later.
Key Player: Paul Harrogan
Wild Card: Robbie O'Davis
Up and Comer: Gunter Franz

8: Canberra Chargers
Whilst they did finish second last in 2001/2002, their end of season form cannot be ignored, and with more quality buys in the off-season, the Chargers will push for a finals berth in 2002.
Key Player: Jonny Wilkinson
Wild Card: Paul Smith
Up and Comer: Sean Towers

9: Darwin Cyclones
Produced some shocking form to crash out of last year's finals race, but their pre-season form has been ominously good. They possess the core of a premiership side, but just need to find their feet in the pressure filled final rounds to go the distance.
Key Player: Angel Withers
Wild Card: Bill Rhyven
Up and Comer: Alan Watts

10: North Sydney Newbloods
Have produced some quality trial results which could herald a performance which will see them higher up the ladder. It's always hard to judge where fledgling clubs will appear, and despite an experienced lineup, North Sydney could finish as low as last and as high as a finals contender.
Key Player: Brett Kimmorley
Wild Card: Daryl Halligan
Up and Comer: Evan Mears

11: Sutherland Suns
Another side who are proving hard to pick, as they produce more quality trial results. The Suns have a quality side, but may lack team unity, which is ultimately required in a finals berth.
Key Player: Andrew Ettingshausen
Wild Card: Ken McGuinness
Up and Comer: Asuki Miyamoto

12: South Melbourne Blues
Showed some poor form to kick off their first year back in the competition, but there were glimmers of hope in their 13-4 victory over Adelaide last week. They'll need more than glimmers to be finalists though.
Key Player: Tommy Martyn
Wild Card: Uri Novavich
Up and Comer: Dean Bosnich

13: Eastwood Pumas
Will improve on last year's abysmal performance, but how much depends on what miracles coach Matt Smith can work with the struggling club. Capturing a wooden spoon in your first year isn't the way to endear the crowds, and Eastwood will need to be good to bring them back.
Key Player: Steve Carter
Wild Card: Tim O'Shea
Up and Comer: Xander Travis

14: Tamworth City Titans
The fledgling sides pre-season form has been anything but impressive, and they look favourites to capture the division one wooden spoon, despite having some quality players.
Key Player: Casey Macguire
Wild Card: Toutai Kefu
Up and Comer: Latham Tawai

Division Two

Division two is no less competetive than division one, with only two sides look certain to make a finals berth.

1: Perth Taipans
There is no going past the fact that Perth are the best side in the ASRL, although the Gold Coast may have something to say to that should the two sides meet. Perth are big, bad and incredibly threatening on all areas of the park, and it's almost impossible to find a weakness in their attacking line. They are prone to slumps though, and that cost them the minor premiership last season.
Key Player: Darren Lockyer
Wild Card: Keiran Cunningham
Up and Comer: Mark McLinden

2: Sydney Oilers
The Oilers may not have made last year's finals, but the eight who did were certainly glad they weren't. Sydney's sheer skill all over the park is made more intimidating by the presence of their master coach, Roger Bossert- who turned the struggling side around in a miraculous second half of the season. Will push for a Grand Final berth, maybe even a win.
Key Player: Anthony Mundine
Wild Card: Preston Campbell
Up and Comer: Brett Finch

3: Carnarvon Cowboys
Carnarvon finished 4th in 2001/2002 despite some embarassing form several times during the season. However, quality sides overcome problems, and Carnarvon showed that even after some poor form- they can never be taken lightly. Their backline is probably the best in the ASRL.
Key Player: Iestyn Harris
Wild Card: Ian Roberts
Up and Comer: Mark Gasnier

4: Adelaide Attitude
Have bought solidly in the off season, and will go into the season as firm contenders despite their upset loss to South Melbourne. They were threatening all of last season, but dropped too many easy games in what should've been a memorable year.
Key Player: Henry Paul
Wild Card: Chris Walker
Up and Comer: James Lowes

5: North Melbourne Maulers
Last season's semi-finalists should make it back to back if they can avoid a similar poor start to the season. The Maulers have lost a lot of talent, but should be capable of doing it again under the guidance of Jelly Adams.
Key Player: Scott Hill
Wild Card: Paul Sculthorpe
Up and Comer: Paul Wellens

6: Country Diamonds
I'm going out on a limb by naming Country so high up after they proved me wrong last year. Despite having a quality side, coach and good support- Country finished an abysmal 17th last season. Hopefully their new buys can turn this around however, and push them into a finals berth.
Key Player: Ivan Cleary
Wild Card: Gary Connolly
Up and Comer: Howard Opan

7: Townsville Dolphins
The Dolphins look to be the most competetive of the fledgling sides, under the able guidance of master coach Chris Walker-Bush. The stars of the side make it appeal to a rugby league mad area, but it is the style of the side which appeals to fans en masse.
Key Player: Brooke Martin
Wild Card: Eric Grothe Jr.
Up and Comer: Brent Tate

8: Manly Cannons
Manly have lost a lot of players in two seasons, and are a shadow of the 2000 premiership winning side. That said, they still possess the nucleus of a quality side, and should provide a few shocks along the way. A finals berth may be a bit much though.
Key Player: Laurie Daley
Wild Card: Stacey Jones
Up and Comer: Mat Rogers

9: Port Moresby Power
Papua New Guinea may love their football, but the Power will need to perform well if they expect to maintain healthy crowds in their home. The Power have some quality Australian imports to go alongside local talent, but they have shown a distinct lack of commitment in the opening trials.
Key Player: Braith Anasta
Wild Card: Marcus Bai
Up and Comer: Jeremy Turoa

10: Sunshine Coast Beavers
Maybe a new mascot and coach can be the factor that returns Sunshine Coast to the glory days of the early 90s. The Beavers possess a talented backline and a quality young forward pack, but will need every ounce of good coaching if they are to steal a finals berth from their more experienced rivals.
Key Player: Gael Tallic
Wild Card: Timana Tahu
Up and Comer: Dan Hills

11: Parramatta Vikings
Have a good side, but always fail to deliver when it comes to the crunch. The clash between traditional rivals Parramatta and Newcastle should be exciting, as the two sides vie for position.
Key Player: PJ Marsh
Wild Card: Marcus St Hilliare
Up and Comer: Jackson Marrick

12: Newcastle Fear
The Fear can finish as high or as low as they want. They showed last season that they had the basis of a premiership winning side, but just lacked the direction and staying power to be there. If Dean Caplin can produce some consistency, Newcastle could be there come Grand Final day.
Key Player: Brad Mackay
Wild Card: Gabrielle Yane
Up and Comer: Melvin Hart

13: Victoria Voltage
Victoria have shown some rare sparks in attack so far this season, but whether or not this will prove true to the season proper is yet to be seen. I'm not saying Victoria will be this low, but they're a random factor in the ASRL premiership.
Key Player: Andrew Mehrtens
Wild Card: Willie Peters
Up and Comer: Ben Beckett

14: Coffs Harbour Wyrms
The obvious choice for last, the Wyrms abysmal pre-season form has been matched only be their abysmal crowd figures. Whether it's the crowds not being pleased with the side, or the crowds simply disliking league will be put to the test when they host Perth and Sydney.
Key Player: Sterling Mortlock
Wild Card: Richie Barnett
Up and Comer: Mitchell Sargent