Teams from the NRL East conference have raised the Provan-Summons trophy in three of the last four seasons, and there is every chance that 2015 will see history repeated.

NRL East is the most successful conference in the NRL, and this decade has been no different. The Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles in 2011, the Sydney Roosters in 2013 and the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2014 have all proven that teams that come out of the East have a habit of tasting success come the post-season.

Three premierships in the last four years is just the start. In the same period of time, five of the eight grand finalists have been teams from the East, and the conference has also claimed two minor premierships and two World Club Challenges. Winning this conference is no easy feat because the current quality of teams is so high.

The Roosters, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles have slugged it out for the conference championship over the last couple of years in an increasingly competitive and memorable three-way rivalry, but there is every chance the landscape will change in 2015.

The Sea Eagles limped through the back-end of 2014 and exited after two consecutive finals defeats. They have lost key players in Anthony Watmough to the Parramatta Eels and Glenn Stewart to conference rivals the Rabbitohs, and there is every chance more cogs in the Manly machine will depart at the end of the season. Their dominance within the conference no longer appears infallible. 2015 is a statement of intent for the future of the Sea Eagles: can they manage a generational change within their playing group while retaining the cultural cornerstones of success, toughness and the never-say-die attitude that have come to define the team?

The unknown element in the NRL East is the New Zealand Warriors. Their inconsistent form over the last three seasons has seen them fail to capitalise on their 2011 Grand Final appearance. With Golden Boot winner Shaun Johnson guiding the team (which includes the addition of experienced campaigner Ryan Hoffman), the Warriors could produce anything between top of the pile or rock bottom. Consistency and developing the ability to win away from home – particularly against their conference rivals – are crucial to their season’s success.

Many predict either the Rabbitohs, reigning premiers and World Club Challenge winners, and 2014 NRL East conference champions the Roosters to win the NRL in 2015. It’s easy to understand why. Both teams have lost marquee personnel (Sam Burgess and Ben Te’o for the Rabbitohs; Anthony Minichiello and Sonny Bill Williams for the Roosters) but, on paper, still appear to be the strongest sides in the competition.

Their round two grudge match at ANZ Stadium reignites the greatest rivalry in the NRL. Early dominance over the Roosters will help the Rabbitohs assert their dominance over the conference and further establish their legitimate claims to win back-to-back premierships. Conversely, the Roosters will still be seething from their preliminary defeat to the Rabbitohs. This is a perfect opportunity to get their revenge and begin their NRL East conference defence with a victory.