If you mean duels, as far as I understand, that’s a lost cause, but you have a few good are a comps you can do. I don’t know if you want to do ret or holy, but you have utility in 5s as holy and with a shaman in 2s, you can do some serious damage.
I wouldn’t say paladins are especially strong, but I don’t think they’re hopeless.
Paladins are also great in BGs. Probably still not fantastic in the open world, but you do move very quickly.
To be clear, I did initially think they were hopeless, but from what I’ve seen on the beta, maybe not