East looking like early favourites for next year.
Not sure that could be the case Bowside. Sunnybank and Uni, as T12 has alluded to, have far stronger sides on paper. Having said that, I'm excited at the depth the (supposedly) new recruits will add to Easts. If we assume that Sincock and Murphy are gone in 2012, a full strength Tigers side ( not taking into account S15 commitments), might resemble the following:
1. McBride 2. Fells 3. Birmingham 4. Stolberg 5. Enever 6. Bertini 7. Quirk 8. Butler 9. Fuller 10. Brandon. 11. Faulkner 12 Shelton 13. White 14. Wilder 15. Toua.
A number of those players won't be known to many outside Brisbane, but that is a pretty strong side. With guys of the quality of Kimmince, Riley and Tupou around, and not knowing where guys like Brabham and Ritchie are, I do fancy Easts as a Top 4, but favourites is a stretch.
I'm sure T12 and Light will remind me of a few names I've left out.