Kia ora and welcome to the NRL Christmas Power Rankings. This is how I see the NRL landscape...

1) North Queensland Cowboys

As champions, the North Queensland Cowboys deserve a certain level of respect and their position as numero uno is a combination of that and the fact that they will have largely the same roster for 2016. With another off-season under their belts, there's no reason to think that the combination between Jonathan Thurston, Micahel Morgan and Lachlan Coote won't get better while their forward pack is still up there with the best in the league. Throw in youngsters like Gideon Mosby on the wing and Coeen Hess in the forwards and the COwboys are a scary prospect.

2) Brisbane Broncos

Same goes with the Brisbane Broncos who will roll out a halves combination of Ben Hunt and Anthony Milford that will have everyone around the NRL cautious, throw in James Roberts and I sense danger. What I love about the Broncos is their workman pack of forwards, there's a certain level of grit that comes with Sam Thaiday, Adam Blair and Corey Parker that makes them a tough forward pack to dominate. Like the Cowboys, there's room for Brisbane to grow into with Darius Boyd enjoying a healthy off-season while young forwards like Francis Molo, Joe Ofahengaue and Jarrod Wallace will feature more in 2016.

3) Sydney Roosters

I'm giving the Roosters the benefit of the doubt that they will be able to absorb the losses of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and James Maloney, such is the culture of their club. Jackson Hastings has shown that he's a classy play-maker who will do a fine job in Maloney's spot while the Chooks have options at fullback with Blake Ferguson touted as stepping in there or expect Latrell Mitchell/Omar Slaimankhel to get a go. Keeping the Roosters at the top is their forward pack which took a massive hit when Jared Waerea-Hargreaves got injured. The Roosters have a nailed the combination of size, aggression, skill and mobility in their forward pack which makes them a tough team to physically compete with.

4) Melbourne Storm

You can consider this the first dramatic selection, although I like the Storm so there's nothing dramatic about this for me. Last season I watched the Storm - without Billy Slater - remain competitive with their finely tuned game plan and attacking plays. This came in the first season of the Cooper Cronk/Blake Green combination which I expect to flourish in 2016 as well as young forwards like Felise Kaufusi, Jordan McClean, Dale Finucane and Nelson Asofa-Solomona getting more game time. How Cameron Munster is used in Slater's return will be very interesting.

5) New Zealand Warriors

In signing Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke, the Warriors have snapped up two of the best players in their positions which would improve any team. The core of this team is deserving of a high ranking with Tuivasa-Sheck and Luke joined by Jacob Lillyman, Ben Matulino, Simon Mannering, Shaun Johnson and Ryan Hoffman, giving this team an experienced edge. Johnson's returning from injury after a season in which he stepped up to the plate and hit home-runs for fun and their young talent should flourish with more wise heads around in 2016.

6) South Sydney Rabbitohs

Sam Burgess returns to the Bunnies which is exciting for them and will tighten up the middle of the field. This is offset by the losses of Dylan Walker and Luke, two players who gave the Bunnies a potent running threat any time they had the ball. The Rabbitohs won't drop off too much as they still have the foundations of a Premiership team and a halfback in Adam Reynolds who guides them around the park admirably, it just feels like they are missing the other pieces to really trouble those teams above them.

7) St George Illawara Dragons

Last season the Dragons were solid, with Benji Marshall and Gareth Widdop providing some spice on attack via well designed attacking moves while also getting Josh Dugan plenty of footy. A forward pack of blokes who all brought into an emphasis on defence has been bolstered by the additions or players like Mose Masoe and Russell Packer which will give the Dragons more oomph going forward. If you want a dark horse sort of team for 2016, this would be my pick.

8) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs

On paper the Doggies always have a strong team which keeps them in the mix on a yearly basis. This is countered by the fact that they never really deliver on their potential as they struggle to keep up with quicker, more mobile teams and struggle relying on inconsistent halves. With Trent Hodkinson leaving, the Bulldogs will promote Moses Mbye to partner Josh Reynolds in the halves and while Mbye enjoyed a breakout season in 2015, I'm always weary putting eggs into the basket of players still finding their feet.

9) Penrith Panthers

Forever battling injuries, the Panthers will first and foremost be worried about keeping the same team on the park for a few weeks. There's plenty of talent in their backline with Matt Moylan and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak on the comeback trail from injury, plus Peta Hiku was signed which is a great replacement for Jamal Idris. Their forwards showed that they can do a job despite lacking a big name prop and Trent Merrin's arrival will offer them some footwork and off-loads through the middle. I like the Panthers' upside, they've just gotta prove themselves.

10) Cronulla Sharks

If there's a team that could be put anywhere in these rankings, it's the Cronulla Sharks. They have the likes of Paul Gallen, Luke Lewis, Wade Graham and Michael Ennis who ensure that the Sharks always offer a level of competition. The halves combo of James Maloney and Chad Townsend doesn't feel like it's going to trouble the best and while Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes are exciting young players, they'll face far more scrutiny from opposition teams in 2016. Kinda like the Dogs; something's missing.

11) Canberra Raiders

I've got the Canberra Raiders as the most interesting team in the NRL as Ricky Stuart continues to build a contender. Blake Austin enjoyed a great season in 2015, showcasing a unique running game and he's joined by Josh Hodgson in offering some attacking impetus. Shannon Boyd and Josh Papalii are two of the best young forwards in the league but defensive woes haunt me when I think about the Raiders. I'm optimistic about the Raiders, they'll get there, but it won't be in 2016.

12) Manly Sea Eagles

Keeping Manly down here are their woes from last season, I simply can't forget about their worst season in the past decade. A lot has changed with the Sea Eagles and I actually love their changes that should enhance this team, which is why I'd encourage you to put some cash on them making the top-8 as there's class across the park in the Sea Eagles. If you ask me where the Sea Eagles will finish after a few weeks into next season, I could well say in the top-4 as there's still a freakish core (Jake Trbojevic, Daly Cherry Evans, Brett Stewart, Jamie Lyon, Steve Matai) that could see them surprise in 2016.

13) Parramatta Eels

When thinking about Parramatta, I can't fight the feeling that no matter how they try fix things through signings and what not, they'll still struggle to crack the upper echelon. Kieran Foran joins the Brad Arthur/Anthony Watmough Manly connection at the Eels, which will give them more experience and good experience at that. I do have a low key crush on this forward pack as well; watch out for Junior Paulo as he's a handful. Too many distractions and too many really, really good teams will keep the Eels struggling though.

14) Newcastle Knights

A new coach in Nathan Brown will usher a new era in for the Knight and the addition of Trent Hodkinson gives the Knights a guiding hand in the halves. The Knights lack the sort of game-breakers who are capable of snatching wins in tight games, even though guys like Dane Gagai and Akuila Uate will do their best. Most importantly the Knights lack forwards who can intimidate and serve up the sort of skills that can break down opposition defences. Brown will enjoy a solid rookie year though as expectations can't be too high.

15) Gold Coast Titans

There's no team in the NRL who share the rebuilding stage with the Titans. While I'm sure they are gunning for the playoffs, the Titans must also realise that they simply don't have the roster to compete with most of the NRL. I think they understand that are switching things up, which will keep a lid on expectations and the loss of James Roberts only hinders their hopes further. There are reasons to be optimistic as the Titans could roll out the young halves combo of Kane Elgey and Ashley Taylor, while we will also see Ryan James continue to impress.

16) Wests Tigers

Robbie Farah's been cleared to play/be a part of the Tigers, the Luke Brooks/Mitchell Moses/James Tedesco is damn exciting and Aaron Woods is extremely good. That's all good, Tigers fans will be given many moments to cheer in 2016 and they'll need some because the last 12 months have been an absolute shambles. I have a feeling that any headlines about the Tigers usually involve drama or just dumb shit and that deserves a wooden spoon in my power rankings because well, there's not much power there.