So it's almost here. One of the most anticipated events of 2014 is only a few days away and everyone is pretty darn excited. A lot of the talk was about the super star players but I see this event shooting a few young blokes in to the limelight as the competition acts as a stage for the best young talent. You're going to witness something fresh, something new and you're going to be treated to a rugby league fest. Whatever else happens? Who bloody cares! All I know is that there is going to be some delicious rugby league played. Here's my thoughts on the respective teams.

Roosters

With no World Cup players in their squad, the Roosters will rely heavily on Mitchell Pearce to organise them around the park. They lack experience and don't have the tough forwards from their NRL squad so Pearce will have to make the most of the limited opportunities that I reckon the Roosters will have.
Siosiua Taukeiaho is a familiar name to many Warriors fans and will be starting a fresh at the Roosters. Mainly an outside back, Taukeiaho has the speed and size to trouble many defenders and he'll be back playing in his home town.
Two game breakers here for the Roosters - Dylan Napa and Isaac Liu. These two got plenty of game time last season and are absolute beasts. They are big, aggressive forwards who are both blessed with the ability to get around the park.

Bulldogs

The Bulldogs have a pretty underwhelming squad but do have a few players with speed and quick feet in Sam Perrett and Drury Low. These two are competing for a fullback spot this season but expect them to pop up every where at the Nines, providing a threat from anywhere on the park.
In Dale Finucane and Josh Jackson you have two of the best young forwards in the league and two guys who can never be accused of not putting the effort in. These two will do a heap of work and will have to really muscle up against some of the bigger forwards.
Tony Williams is in desperate need of a return to form and what better stage to do so? He has many of the skills needed to do well and hopefully we get to see the best of T-Rex.

Eels

The Eels are my dark horse at the Nines thanks to a squad full of pace, power and play making ability. Unfortunately we won't get to see Will Hopoate who is injured, but the fact that Willie Tonga is captain will give the Eels some experience out wide to go with their young group of experienced, but young outside backs.
This forward pack for the Eels is home to some of the most promising young forwards who fit the mould of the new style of forward. Peni Terepo, Kenny Edwards, Manu Ma'u as well as the great Fuifui Moimoi will all strike fear in to their opposition.
Chris Sandow is a game breaker by himself but when teamed up with Corey Norman and Joseph Paulo, you have a lethal combination. These three can all put the play making responsibility on their backs as well as having the ability to break a game open by themselves.

Panthers

Much like the Eels, I really like this squad from the Panthers and keep an eye on them to make a mark at the Nines. Their backline speaks for itself with Matt Moylan, Kevin Naiqama and Josh Mansour all capable of creating their own tries and are all excitement machines.
Tyrone Peachey and Lewis Brown are about the same size and both have great speed and agility. Both will have to do plenty of hard work in the middle but once they have the ball they will be responsible for a lot of the attack.
Halves who run the ball will be vital and we all know that Jamie Soward is at his best when he is running the ball. If we see a Jamie Soward who wants to run the ball then he will be the gamebreaker for the Panthers.

Titans

The Titans backline has some of the fastest men in the NRL but also has some blokes with great power. William Zillman, David Mead and Kevin Gordon are the speed freaks while Kalifa Faifai Loa and Siutonga Likiliki offer the power. Anytime the ball gets wide, watch out.
Much like Tony Williams, David Taylor has an opportunity to kick 2014 off with a bang. The Nines will provide Taylor with a chance to showcase his wide range of skills and natural ability. Whether he makes the impact that we want to see is up to him.
Albert Kelly showed that he is a gambreaker last season so imagine what he could do with only nine blokes on the field!?

Rabbitohs

Don't expect too much from this Rabbioths team, but they have some young talent on display that is worth taking note of. With no Adam Reynolds, Luke Keary will take care of the play making duty while Irae Simone is a young Aucklander who has had a rapid promotion to the Nines squad.
The Rabbitohs boast one of the best forward packs for this style of game with size, aggression and mobility the key factors. In Ben Te'o, Chris McQueen, Ben Lowe and John Sutton could have an edge over the bigger forwards of other teams.
My pick for the Rabbitohs gamebreaker is Dylan Walker who could really have a big influence on the Nines. Having played in the halves throughout his junior years, Walker could step in to set up plays while also being able to beat defenders one on one out wide.

Cowboys

I'm really interested to see how Lachlan Coote is going to fit in to this Cowboys group. Coote's arrival in Townsville sparks a new era and he has the ability to lead the Cowboys deep in to the Nines.
With no Jonathan Thurston, the Cowboys will call upon Ray Thompson, Michael Morgan and Robert Lui to control the game. This three are all capable of doing so but have been inconsistent throughout their careers but the open spaces should allow them to do well.
No forwards as big as Tariq Sims and Jason Taumalolo are anywhere as quick as these two. That is why they are the game breakers.

Broncos

How will Ben Barba start his career in a Brisbane jersey? The NRL Nines looks like it was designed for Barba but he'll have to be able to control the game as well as providing a threat in open play. Thanks to some inexperienced halves, the Broncos will look to Barba to provide leadership and direction
The Broncos have named a very strong, but older forward pack which could hurt them. I don't think Sam Thaiday, Corey Parker, David Stagg and Todd Lowrie will be able to keep up with all the young bucks running around but they will provide a tough, hard nosed edge to Brisbane
Matt Gillett is my game breaker for the Broncos. He'll do a lot of the physical work but he will also make many opposition forwards miss tackles thanks to his unique running style.

Sea Eagles

Daly Cherry-Evans will provide the best leadership from any half at the Nines. He'll be very smart with his kicking game and will bring the best out of the lads around him. DCE is also very quick and has great footwork so watch out for him making some big plays.
Jamie Burher, Justin Horo and Tom Symonds are all designed for Nines so expect them to lay a good platform for the Sea Eagles. They are all mobile back rowers who have the skills to set plays up as well as not being shy of the tough stuff.
Peta Hiku and Clint Gutherson are my game breakers for the Sea Eagles. They are both very difficult to tackle and have well rounded games which will enable Manly to attack from anywhere.

West Tigers

This Tigers forward pack will make life very tough for their opposition as they are all big boys but also have plenty of skill. Aaron Woods, Adam Blair, Martin Taupau, Curtis Sironen and Cory Paterson should be able to get on top through the middle and set up plays for the flyers out wide.
It may look like the Tigers are a bit short of play making ability, but in Robbie Farah they have a general who will lead the Tigers all round the park. Farah will have to be supported well by youngsters Mitchell Moses and Blake Austin or else teams will find it easy to defend against the Tigers.
James Tedesco is the Tigers game breaker. He's lighting quick and has great footwork so expect to see him in some exciting plays.

Dragons

Adam Quinlan and Sam Williams will be in charge of the Dragons which will be interesting. They are both relatively new to the Dragons first grade set up and will have to ensure that the firepower out wide gets plenty of ball.
The Dragons forward pack doesn't look like it will cause much damage but they have some very handy young forwards. Jack de Belin, Tyson Frizell, Leeson Ah Mau, Joel Thompson and Trent Merrin are capable of doing a fine job at the Nines but whether they can do better than the other forward packs, I'm not sure.
Obviously Josh Dugan is the game breaker for the Dragons. I don't think the Dragons will be able to compete with the firepower of many other teams, but in Dugan they have someone who can score from anywhere.

Storm

Melbourne's outside back rotation will be very dangerous. Not only are they very athletic but they are all keen to do the tough stuff and won't make as many mistakes as others. Will Chambers, Matt Duffie, Sisa Waqa, Mahe Fonua and Justin O'Neil will be very difficult to defend against and score points against.
Much like their back line, the Storm's forward pack is going to be tough to get the better of. Led by Ryan Hoffman, Tohu Harris and Kevin Proctor, there is a great balance of size and mobility.
The halves. There seems to be a lack of genuine halves but this is why Joel Romelo, Slade Griffin and Cameron Munster are my game breakers. There job will be simple - to link the play between the forwards and backs and I think many teams will overlook the threat they will provide.

Sharks

Nathan Gardner will be an excitement machine for the Sharks. He has a big point to prove after suffering a few injuries, but his speed and small size make will be perfect for troubling big forwards.
The Sharks boast one of the most skillful forward packs at the Nines with Andrew Fifita and Paul Gallen both in the offload king category. Wade Graham has plenty of experience in the halves as well.
Hard to go past Todd Carney as they game breaker here. Carney will be responsible for much of the Sharks attack and if he is able to not only set up his team mates but run the ball himself, he'll be difficult to handle.

Knights

The Knights will look to Dane Gagai, Akuila Uate, Joseph Leilua and young Jake Mamo to make the most of any chances that are presented. They are all big and quick so expect to see plenty of highlights from them.
Their forward pack is pretty boring but they'll do a great job in laying a platform for Jarrod Mullen to work from. The Knights forward's are all very experience and very tough so it will be interesting to see how they go.
Jeremy Smith is the game breaker for the Knights. Not many teams have a player like Smith who will compete on every play and defend like his life depended on it. Very useful in this type of game.

Raiders

The Raiders unfortunately lack much firepower compared to the other teams and a lot of the attacking responsibility will fall to youngsters Jack Ahearn, Mitch Cronin and Mitch Cornish. How the respond will influence how the Raiders perform.
I really can't see the Raiders making much of an impact at the Nines. Their forward pack doesn't have enough size or mobility to trouble other teams.
Reece Robinson is the game breaker as there isn't really much else. Robinson has the speed and agility to be a big player for the Raiders but I'm not sure how many opportunities he will get.

Warriors

Compared to the Raiders, the Warriors have a team full of weapons. Speed and power is the name of the game with David Fusitua, Glen Fisi'ahi, Konrad Hurrell, Solomone Kata and Ngani Laumpape all capable of setting the Nines on fire.
The Warriors forward pack also provides plenty of reason to be excited. Charlie Gubb, Jayson Bukuya, Sione Lousi, Suaia Matagi and Sebastine Ikahihifo are all very athletic forwards but they will have to be able to stop other teams as well.
Tuimoala Lolohea is the game breaker for the Warriors. With plenty of eyes on Shaun Johnson and Sam Tomkins, I'm picking Lolohea to be overlooked by many teams. He is very quick and will enjoy the opportunity to run at tired forwards.