A new year has arrived, and NRL clubs will be back from their Christmas breaks to ramp up pre-season training in the next week.
The final run to the season often brings with it heightened intensity and discussion as fans ready themselves for the new campaign.
This year could on another level altogether with the season opening in Las Vegas a week ahead of schedule.
Expectations are a funny thing though. Every year, there are teams who will go well beyond what they were expected to do, and others who fall a long way short of where they were supposed to be.
But what exactly are those expectations for all 17 NRL teams in 2024?
Here is what your team needs to do to earn a pass in 2024.
1. Dolphins: Top eight
The Dolphins will enter their second season answering a few of the questions which hampered them during their inaugural campaign, and with only a solitary season left under the guidance of super coach Wayne Bennett.
With Bennett set to hand over to Kristian Woolf at the end of 2024, the Dolphins may well only keep getting better, but you feel there was enough there from the inaugural season now with the added signings of Thomas Flegler and Herbie Farnworth out of the Broncos grand final side to have 2024 as a strong campaign.
Depth was the big issue for the Dolphins during 2023.
The side were, if you remember, actually in the top eight for much of the first half of the campaign before fading as injuries and suspensions caught up with them.
This year, making the top eight is a pass mark. The Dolphins are nicely set off the field, and some of their other youngsters will be better for the run on it.
