Sunday, the returned Eden Tigers made the trip to Moruya, while the Bega Roosters hosted Tathra in a local derby.

2018 was one of the closest competitions in recent memory, and there's a good chance 2019 will be even closer.

Your regional sport editors sat down last week to discuss player movements, and now the southern sport writers will take a shot at predicting the ladder for this season.

These ranks are our predictions based on opinion only, share who you think will win the comp on our Facebook posts or you can e-mail either of us at jacob.mcmaster@fairfaxmedia.com.au or joel.erickson@fairfaxmedia.com.au. 

Everyone has their own views and even we couldn't fully agree, so see our individual predictions at the bottom. 

Moruya were around the top of the table for most of last season, but a long injury list eventually caught up with them, as they lost their final three games of the season, including a heartbreaking loss to Batemans Bay in the semi-final.

Depth shouldn't be a problem for Moruya this season, as they've brought in a swathe of first-grade quality players, particularly in the back line.

Sean Deaves, Koorin Campbell, and Yuin Campbell join Caine Brierley and Dennis Green in what should be the most dangerous back line in the competition.

If Moruya can get full seasons out of Tim Weyman, Peter Lett, and Dean Scott, they should feature deep into the finals.

Bombala are returning on the back of a drought-breaking premiership and looked capable during the Nines of defending their crown. 

However, the club has lost a lot over the off-season including Arborosio Navori and Wame Belolevu not to mention Group 16 rep star Luke Ingram, while Elvis Tui and Michael Wykes return to their home club at Eden. 

I rate Joe Bobbin as a coach and he knows how to manage his team incredibly well, plus he tells us there are some fast and agile 18s coming through the ranks in to the top squad, which means the Blue Heelers will be less reliant on powering through with their big men. 

The only reason the Blue Heelers haven't made the top spot in our predictions is the sheer number of quality that Moruya has picked up this season. 

It's hard to gauge the Eden Tigers, but based on the team list alone and some pre-season form at the Nines competition, we think the Mighty Tigers will be in for a big return season. 

Tsai Tui is making the trip down to link up with his little brother, but word has it the big man is bringing some friends for the ride from further up the coast and they will add enormous strength and ability to a list made up of well-respected and formidable local players. 

Michael Wykes has regained the helm and the Tigers have consolidated a lot of household names in Group 16 like the Evelyn brothers Matt and Andrew alongside the nimble Grewar boys. 

A critical mix of strong men up front and clever back line players, with the return of arguably Group 16's best kicker in John Aldridge, the Tigers could upstage some highly fancied opponents. 

(NB - Massive congratulations to the club on reforming in 2019, it's good to have you back in the comp!) 

The Bulldogs have been knocking on the door of finals for the last few years and we feel they'll be in the zone again after a slight shake up in the off-season. 

Jake McDonald comes down as captain-coach where he will lead a core group of last year's crew from the front. And his appointment has also seen a return to the portability partnership with the Panthers that could provide depth to the 'Dogs as injuries arise through the comp. 

The Doggies have lost out big in fullback Kyle Shepherdson, as well as forward Ruben Smahel, but Luke Rixon looks really comfortable in the fullback jumper and was among the leading try scorers for the Dogs last season. 

The Dogs have been typically slow starters before solidifying their form later in the season, but we think they'll be in the mix come finals time. 

Tathra line-up behind Moruya as the biggest winners in terms of off-season player movement. 

The club secured the services of multipe premiership winning coach James Scott, but were able to copy-paste the spine of the previous Bega Roosters outfit with some enormous pick ups. 

I rate Hayden Parbery as one of the best hookers in the comp, while Callum and Declan Bower-Scott and hard-working forwards Mitch Carter and Luke Dowdle also shift to the Maroons. 

Group 16 clubs that make a return have traditionally had a fairly big comeback season, so we think the Sea Eagles will be knocking at the door of finals footy once they gel together as a team. 

They will be a club to watch this season. 

Reality is this is a harsh call against the Bega Roosters to put them in sixth, but they were the club hardest hit during the off-season. A half-dozen key players lost leave big boots to fill. 

The Roosters are still a strong club and have called on some of their shining reserve graders to make the step up alongside some returning club favourites. 

However, we can't shake the feeling that the Roosters will be stuck in a 'rebuilding phase' as the club vernacular goes. 

Happy to be proven wrong on this one, but it's hard to overlook just how much talent left the Roosters after last season. 

(Jake note - after watching the Roosters in a pre-season trial I have them at five because they're still capable)

Cooma went from undefeated premiers to completely missing the finals in just 12 months, so it's hard to guess which Stallions' side will show up in 2019.

They've still got a lot of talent on their list, and Karlos Filiga may be the most damaging player in the group when he's on, but it's extremely hard to jump back up the ladder after a poor year.

2017 captain/coach Todd Williams is back at the helm, and his return should spur the Stallions to a better performance, but we can't see them playing finals in 2019. 

If we're being honest, it feels like Cooma are in a rebuilding phase.

If Koorin and Yuin Campbell had stayed at the club, the Devils would be higher up the list. As it stands, their back line looks very thin, particularly after losing gun fullback Mat Parsons to the Canberra competition.

The Ayers brothers will lead a small, but tough, forward pack around the park, but you'd expect them to struggle if they come up against bigger packs.

The return of Clint and Todd Wright will only be a positive, but we don't think their inclusion will be enough to get the Devils into the finals.

If we're honest, this pick isn't an indictment on Batemans Bay's playing group, it's more the amount of change that's occurred at the club over the offseason.

Batemans Bay lost more than 10 players from their first-grade squad in 2018, but have brought in some players from out further west.

Their big recruit for 2019 is new captain/coach Brent Pike, who scored 20+ tries in Group 20 last season.

It wouldn't shock us if the Tigers are decent this year, and they may very well finish well up the table, but we have to put them here just because we have no idea what their team looked like until round one.