We are in the midst of one of the weirdest NRL seasons ever. Weird is one way of saying it's bloody super duper awesome because of how competitive it is, but it's weird because teams are showing up one week and looking like a bunch of no names the next. The teams many predicted to be sniffing around the wooden spoon are putting themselves in the mix and showing some very real potential which is awesome to see. Instead of maybe three or four teams, we now have 16 to choose from when picking our winner. I'm gonna give you the teams that I think are genuine contenders and those who are just pretending to be dangerous ... like that hard nut Harry who you went to school with.

First off, I'm gonna say without much explanation that the Roosters and Rabbitohs will always be in the hunt given their rosters. They have the strike power AND the defensive attitude that will make them very difficult to beat on a consistent basis.

One team I genuinely think is contending is the Parramatta Eels. What we have seen so far this season is an Eels team who look interested. They look engaged in the game each week and are ready for whatever battle may come their way. They got touched up by the Roosters which hasn't been the first and won't be the last touch up of this season, but the way the rebounded from that performance shows that this is a team that is in a good head space.

The Eels have welcomed back Chris Sandow which I think has been an awesome boost for them. Luke Kelly did as well as he could in Sandow's place, but Sandow is the cheeky, confident, tough to handle little bugger who can not only put his team on his back, but also get under the skin of his opposition. Sandow's game does have limits though with his small stature limiting his kicking game but the way he's run the ball and attacked defenders along with the effort he's putting in on D, it looks exciting. Corey Norman is doing his job perfectly. He's a very good passer, likes to run and has a left boot to compliment Sandow's right. They've got options either side of the ruck oh and they have a bloke called Jarryd Hayne.

Hayne can only do so much when his team are on the back foot. This season we're seeing a Eels forward pack who are hungry and determined to lay a foundation for Hayne to play off. Tim Mannah and Fuifui Moimoi are two very solid props who with some help from their mobile, skillful and aggressive back rowers - Manu Ma'u, Kenny Edwards, Joseph Paulo, they are able to not only lay a platform but dominate less enthusiastic packs. The key however is Nathan Peats. This guy is tough as nails and is a great dummy half - good passer, knows when to run, can kick etc. He's not small either so he can gives them a small point of difference.

The Cowboys have had a very slow start to the season, but I think they will find a way to string a few wins together before Origin and then take advantage of that Origin period. The more Robert Lui and Jonathan Thurston play together, the better they will get and I think Lui is coming to terms with playing alongside Thurston. Remember, Lui was at his best when he was playing with Benji Marshall at the Tigers and I think it would be fair to say that Thurston is better play than Marshall. The key here is the Cowboys forward pack, they have one of the best packs going around but haven't shown anything suggest that this is true. I don't think it's too far off clicking for Matt Scott, James Tamou, Jason Taumalolo, Gavin Cooper and Tariq Sims, when it does I would watching out because they have a backline capable of putting plenty of points on their opposition.

My last team who I reckon could cause a few rumblings is the Bulldogs. I have been iffy on them for a while now, but have seen some very positive signs that have silenced these doubts. First of all, Des Hasler doesn't have a ball playing fullback. But Des Hasler does have Sam Perrett and he's making pretty good use of Perrett's very quick feet and running game. The ball playing fullback thing is a trend and Hasler is the type of coach who starts trends, I think he this might be their secret weapon. They have two halves who are now spending a heap of time of the footy field together. Josh Reynolds continues to grow and show his great all round ability but his partnership with Trent Hodkinson is the key. By themselves they would be solid NRL players but as a duo I think they could be one of the best. They are both very tough and have all skills needed to execute Hasler's game plan, which is no easy task. Then you have their forward pack who are tough as nails - Aiden Tolman, James Graham, Dale Finucane and Josh Jackson are true blue workhorses. But they've also got size, skill and x factor in Sam Kasiano, Tony Williams and Frank Pritchard ... to say they have options would be a severe under statement.

There are a few other teams who could are lurking around the contender section. You can't count out Manly but with Origin, injuries and the odd bit of drama that might crop up I don't think 2014 is their season. The Newcastle Knights are a team I can't decide on, they have one of the toughest, solid line ups going around but lack a bit of panache. Tyrone Roberts is an exciting half and Jarrod Mullen will return which will keep them in the hunt and they could easily sneak in to the top 4.

Stay tuned as I'll flip some pretenders tomorrow.