Despite the NRL Finals being awesome, I've decided to take a look at a few teams who sit pretty nicely for 2015. This means that they're set up nicely for a solid 2015 with a decent crop of youngsters, good experienced players and/or a solid environment for them to build upon.

To kick things off, I'm gonna go with two of this season's cellar dwellers. The Cronulla Sharks and the Canberra Raiders. 

The Sharks have obviously had an absolute shitter of a 2014. But we won't worry about none of that, nek year they'll be able to call upon copious amounts of young talent as well as very decent buys. Their young talent is decent with Valentine Holmes emerging as a young gun with plenty of spark and excitement. The Sharks have given him a decent opportunity to impress, allowing him to slot in at fullback around Michael Gordon much like the Roosters. 

They'll also benefit from giving the likes of Tupou Sopoaga - a stong, skillful and athletic edge back rower, Fa'amanu Brown - a solid half with a decent left boot and strong running game, a decent go this season. They've also blooded Scott Sorensen and Tim Robinson, two decent young forwards and will have players like Sosaia Feki, Dane Gagan and Wade Graham who have impressed through a difficult 2014.

Their big gun list is also impressive. Andrew Fifita probably hasn't had the year he envisioned at the start of 2014 and hasn't lived up to his potential. Fair enough, most of that is due to injuries, but a range of off field stuff also played its part. We did however see glimpses of his brilliance which will be encouraging. Oh and they signed this bloke called Michael Ennis. They've signed Ennis who for mine is in the best form of his career and he's Cronulla seems like the perfect place for him to finish his career. Throw in the super solid Mitch Brown as well and you've got two through and through NRL performers. 

The Sharks are on the surface, set up very well for 2015. But when you consider that they'll be pretty eager to put 2014 and everything to do with it, behind them, you'll come to a conclusion that will see them do much better than this season. 

The Canberra Raiders aye. How can they do better in 2015 when they have lost their best player in Anthony Milford and basically failed on their quest to find a suitable replacement?? There's not as much evidence to back up my argument here, but my gut feeling is that the Raiders will be ok. 

Instead of relying heavily on Milford to work some of his magic - the majority of their wins this season came on the back of some Mil-Magic, they'll be able to call upon a solid crop of youngsters. Mitch Cornish and Jack Ahearn are talented young play makers who you will sleep on at your peril, they go good. Ahearn can play fullback and Jordan Rapana looked very impressive in his brief NRL stint this season so not only do you have good youngsters, but you've got competition for starting spots. The return of Sam Williams is also nice, he's no world beater but having him, Cornish and Josh McCrone gives the Raiders a solid play making crew, again with plenty of competition.

Ah, and we should be able to finally say goodbye to Terry Campese ... and in the same breath say goodbye to the past 5-10 years of the Raiders. A period of time which promised so much but never really delivered. Campese has been pooz for the last 3-4 years and the quicker he can get out of there, the better. 

There's a solid crop of guys who have been good and have gained plenty of experience at an NRL level which you would expect to really kick on. Jarrod Croker, Shaun Fensom, Paul Vaughan, Josh Papali'i and Shannon Boyd have all looked very, very good at various stages of their NRL careers and 2015 will be a nice time to cash in.

On the whole, I think the Raiders will just benefit from another season under Ricky Stuart. You dislike him, I dislike him but he's going to have a pre-season with his team. He's got youngsters he can influence, he's got rid of the excess and he won't have to worry about a bloke who won't be there next season. It's hard to see the Raiders having any sort of long, relaxing summer - Stuart will be busy, as will the players.

Stay tuned later in the week for part 2 yo