With respect we already are real top 8 contenders.

I know what you mean, but I'd wait 6 or 8 weeks before putting it so unequivocally. There's much to be positive about. However, so far, recruitment hasn't been as good as I hoped for, or even quite as good as I expected. So far.

If things go our way we can make the 8. However, I said the same before 2016 and we all know how that turned out. We've got a more experienced coach and more depth than then, and preseason hasn't revealed much either way. James Webster's quotes about us finding ways to play with a 'mobile' pack filled me with trepidation a few weeks ago, but there were some slight indications on the BBC preview show that some teams are looking to play a more attacking, expansive style. Which brings its own challenges, but maybe we won't get smashed down the middle quite so often.

The real stuff starts soon!

I feel if we have better look with injuries we will do it, and feel tim will bring in quality to add to team. If we get Luke page it would help sure up defence and attack. Help Maguire out by getting him a quality partner don't get me wrong Atkins will be Brill. But not quiet ready for super league intensity.. I think first 4 weeks big shot wakey good strong team. Leeds Maguire affect, Catalan we nearly beat them last year with our young kids in, and Salford hmmm blood bath maybe.. they will want to injure our players and if lui has rubbish game who knows

We have the highest qualified coach in Super League, the best stand off and arguably hooker and the likes of Masoe, Scruton, Jewitt and Mulhern in the pack not to mention Carney on the wing. Look at Widnes, Salford and Huddersfield we should be well ahead of all them. I remain concerned about Wakefield’s size but it seems they have made a planning error and only havea three day turnaround from landing back after warm weather training so a perfect chance to get two points.

Chester an error in preseason planning? Unheard of.
Wakefield's biggest miss will be Kear but that will bite more as the season goes on.
Lawler and Addy will be misses for us. They went well in the play offs.
Quinlan, Carney, McGuire, vital in the backs and our 2 centres as the drop off in the replacements quality may make things difficult

Wow, okay.

Brian Smith was the "Highest qualified coach in Superleague" when he was at Wakefield, with a massive history of success.. look were that got them - Sheens had all the support in the world at Salford to attract players and could not turn them into a decent SL outfit - Watson come in and did twice the job he did - Sorry but it`s true.

Scruton and Jewitt haven't seen SL quality in years, never seen. Masoe showed at Saints just how lazy he was on a week to week basis and only showed up in big games, which im sure some Saints fans were happy with but i doubt HKR will be involved in those games.

Lunt is a decent hooker is nowhere near "Arguably best in the league"

Parcell
Houghton
Clark
McShane
Wood
Randell
Roby

Are all names i would have over Lunt at Leeds from what i have seen.

If you think you have the best stand off in the league in Mcguire then im sorry you really are way of the mark and delusional. His game has been deteriorating for the last 3 seasons, he can no longer keep up to the pace of SL on a week to week basis - Yes his performance in the GF was incredible and we have seen a few of those great games from him over the last few seasons but unfortunately they are few and far between. He has been a Leeds great, and i wouldn't take that away from him but i and many other Leeds fans have been more than frustrated with his performances in the past few years. It does pain me to see Danny play for another SL club but i would of been majorly disappointing had we have given him another playing contract.

I don`t disagree that you have top 8 aspirations, but to be throwing about wild statements like your making is going to make you look a little silly come 5 days time.

Smith saved Wakey from relegation. That was what he was asked to do. Watson was the coach at Salford. TS never coached at Salford. These are three facts. The rest of your post is opinion which you are entitled to. Others obviously do not agree with you.

With regards to your comment about Danny McGuire. It's true that he probably doesn't have the pace that he once had but he more than makes up for that through his experience. He is one of those players, whether it be in football, Rugby league or any other sport for that matter, that is always one or two steps ahead of everyone else in what is happening on the pitch, his reading of the game and situations is second to non.
McGuire is one of the modern era’s most decorated players: only one man, his close friend Peacock, has won more Grand Finals than the seven McGuire has won.
That experience will be invaluable and worth an extra man in some games, plus, like i said will make up for the lack of genuine pace that he may not have in abbundance anymore.

See the Salford CO "laughing behind the scenes" and he can "smell the desperation" after KR approach for Lui? Hope we give them a good stuffing when we play them and still wouldn't be a huge surprise to see Lui sign at some point? Think that game will be very tasty as mentioned earlier. Interesting times

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