This NRL crystal ball has me feeling like some sort of wizard - yes I use the combination of a crystal ball and a wand to create severe wizardry. This week I look in to my crystal ball and have a look at who has me excited for next season, who currently, as of right now is giving me the tingles in anticipation for 2015? Next up are the lads from Sydney's west.

Last season we saw the Penrith Panthers come close, rather surprisingly close as they gave injuries a big fend in the face and battled on. They did well to work their way deep in to the finals only to fall, but they had over achieved anyway. For me the excitement about the Panthers centres on their halves - Jamie Soward and Peter Wallace playing some consistent footy together. They aren't really exciting players themselves, but they lay such a solid platform from which the Panthers low key excitement machines can attack from.

When Wallace fell victim to injury, the Panthers had to rely on Will Smith. He's a decent youngster with obvious talent, but in the clutch he was non-existent which is fair enough. The Panthers will have greater expectations this season and will need the experience of Wallace and Soward to guide them around the field, to make the decisions and get them in the grind. The less that Matt Moylan has to do, the better as he is the key. He doesn't need the puzzle of play making in his mind, he just needs to get his mits on the Steeden and work his magic. This core group has me in a spin, Wallace and Soward just need to play basic, solid footy and serve Moylan with opportunities. Moylan is one of the best young players in the league and if he can be the polish, he'll emerge as one of the NRL's best.

Their forward pack, once read as a who's who of a battler's convention. It now reads as an exciting combination of size, footwork and aggression. They've snapped up Tupou Sopoaga who thrived in a pretty crazy situation with the Sharks last season, he's a huge threat on the edge. Combine that with Tyrone Peachey who was struck down by injury for much of last season and you have some pretty dynamic forwards. Elijah Taylor will return with his skill, versatility and toughness a huge boost while the likes of Adam Docker and Bryce Cartwright will benefit from another NRL off season.

Last season the Panthers were graced with depth at dummy half, but this season they've stepped it up a gear. This is where I'm going to have my gaze firmly fixed on as they have brought in a Premiership winner to go along with possibly the best hooker of last season. Apisai Koroisau was awesome for the Bunnies because he offered what Isaac Luke offers - dynamic dummy half running around the ruck ... which is what James Segeyaro offers! Segeyaro worked hard to brush of the impact player tag, becoming an 80 minute hooker last season so will Ivan Cleary opt to keep Koroisau in reserve grade? Or will we see Koroisau come off the bench to either spell Segeyaro OR play them at the same time and form some crazy dynamic combination. That would be awesome.

There's a sneaky group of youth coming through as well, as you would expect from recent Under 20's winners. Waqa Blake and George Jennings are beasts out wide with Isaah Yeo going alright as well, while Regan Cambell-Gillard, Cartwright and Peachey offer plenty of hope in the forwards.

Can't forget the two Kiwi lads who had great Four Nation campaigns - Lewis Brown and Dean Whare. These two will be looking to take another step up and perform consistently at a high level, the level of certified internationals for their club. There will be more expected of these two and they'll need to live up to it, they'll have to do so in a different way though as the Panthers play a completely different system

If you're a young player coming in to the NRL or trying to establish yourself, you'd want to do so at the Panthers. You wouldn't be alone, as there are plenty of talented youngsters at the joint but you've got so much experience and knowledge around you as well. The depth they have built, will not only ensure that they are a contender but it will also provide many interesting decisions for me to explore. Jah bless you Ivan.