With the first round completed, it is time to reflect on how teams performed and how they are shaping moving forward.
1 = North Queensland Cowboys - The Cowboys overpowered the Raiders in golden point, showing their class. They will be hard to beat at any stage this season, especially at home.
2 = Sydney Roosters - They displayed a dazzling first half effort that blew the Titans off the park. Several of their youngsters performed well beyond their potential and there is plenty to be excited about.
3 = Canberra Raiders - A trip to Townsville is never easy but the Raiders showed their determination and grit, forcing JT and the Cowboys to produce something amazing to overcome them. Perhaps the Raiders are the real deal in 2017...
4 = Melbourne Storm - 10 mins of class, 70 minutes of determination. The Storm held out the Bulldogs in very tough conditions. Consecutive road matches makes this a tough start but they're on track so far.
5 = Brisbane Broncos - They spoiled the Premiers party in their first match back. It wasn't a dazzling display by any means, yet there is a good mix of players that can produce something special. It's about making it all work together.
6 = Cronulla Sharks - It wasn't the desired result, but the Sharks learned plenty in their loss to the Broncos. It could've been a different result if they had Holmes at fullback. They need to play with the same intensity all year that they displayed in the first 10 minutes.
7 = Wests Tigers - A great win by a young team, with plenty improvement left. The Tigers did what they had to do and now need to fix up errors, missed tackles and completion rate.
8 = Parramatta Eels - A great start for the Eels as they aim to put 2016 behind them. They had a good mixture of flair, tough defence and measured play.
9 = St George-Illawarra Dragons - The Dragons ignited their campaign by discovering their attacking flair. If this becomes a regular occurrence, it could be a different year to what most were expecting.
10 = New Zealand Warriors - The Warriors got a win, yet made things extremely difficult for themselves. They could've wrapped the game up early, yet let mistakes bring their opponents back into the game. It's a simple fix...CONSISTENCY!
11 = Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs - They fought their way back into the match against the Storm and managed to keep them scoreless for 70 minutes. Conditions didn't help them but there are also improvements needed in their execution.
12 = Gold Coast Titans - Not the best start to their season, although the Titans came up against a pretty decent team. They need to regroup and get the best out of all their players. Some rumblings around suggests all is not well in the locker room.
13 = Manly-Warrigah Sea Eagles - A below par effort from a team that promised so much. It is still early days and there are promising signs, but the Sea Eagles need to reverse their form if they are to get their first win of the season next week.
14 = Newcastle Knights - A much improved effort from the Knights, demonstrating that they have plenty of heart. It needs to remain as a part of their play, while they may not have the best players, they will push teams to earn their victory.
15 = South Sydney Rabbitohs - Things didn't go to plan once they lost GI and it is something they will have to get accustomed to now that he is out for the season. Regardless, they allowed the Tigers to make too many easy metres with their runs and need to get the balance of their team right.
16 = Penrith Panthers - Allowed one of the worst attacking teams in 2016 to post 42 points against them. A reality check the young team needed early enough to regroup and keep their campaign in check.
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