Just wondering if I could count on your help? Basically I'm a 3rd year student studying Sports Journalism and need help with my final project. I'm producing a super league preview magazine and am hoping to use Q and As with fans from each club as part of it. Most on my course are doing generic sports such as football so I'm hoping I can use mine as something a little bit different, using my passion of Rugby League. I was just wondering if any of you could help answer the following questions: Name: 1 - How did you rate your side's 2009 performance? 2 - Who are the key players for you? 3 - Young star to watch? 4 - Player you would most like to get rid of? 5 - What's the general opinion of Kevin Walters? 6 - Which game are you most looking forward to this year? 7 - Who is your most hated opposition player and why? 8 - Have you been happy with your transfer activity for 2010? 9 - Do you believe Rugby League can grow in France? 10 - Season prediction? eg where will you finish and how do you think you will perform? Much appreciated guys. If you want to e-mail me for any queries or even if you want to answer via e-mail, don't hesitate to contact me at gfarrimond@uclan.ac.uk Thank you very much and a happy new year!

Just wondering if I could count on your help? Basically I'm a 3rd year student studying Sports Journalism and need help with my final project. I'm producing a super league preview magazine and am hoping to use Q and As with fans from each club as part of it. Most on my course are doing generic sports such as football so I'm hoping I can use mine as something a little bit different, using my passion of Rugby League. I was just wondering if any of you could help answer the following questions: Name: 1 - How did you rate your side's 2009 performance? 2 - Who are the key players for you? 3 - Young star to watch? 4 - Player you would most like to get rid of? 5 - What's the general opinion of Kevin Walters? 6 - Which game are you most looking forward to this year? 7 - Who is your most hated opposition player and why? 8 - Have you been happy with your transfer activity for 2010? 9 - Do you believe Rugby League can grow in France? 10 - Season prediction? eg where will you finish and how do you think you will perform? Much appreciated guys. If you want to e-mail me for any queries or even if you want to answer via e-mail, don't hesitate to contact me at gfarrimond@uclan.ac.uk Thank you very much and a happy new year!

1- First half of the season, average at best, secondhalf, awesome and surpassed all mid-season expectations.
2- The obvious ones like Mogg, Bosc, McGuire, Greenshields and I hope the Johnson steps into he large boots left by Bird. The less obvious ones are Guisset, Mounis, Carlaw and Pelo doesn't get the raps he should IMO,
3- Bartheu, Bentley isn't so young but doesn't get so much of a chance
4- It pains me to say it because it will please one particular member of this board, but due to the strength of the squad and the wages i suspect he is taking up, Steven Bell.
5- Got the team to perform when it mattered, I think he'll push the side on now.
6- Leeds at easter, would be nice to get a bit of revenge for the play-offs. That and the obvious one being the Derby.
7-Harelequins, the history between the sides is legendary, only Rinaldi, Gigot and the Monochromed one have ever crossed the divide, and I suspect there may not be another.
8- Very, the lack of pace has been addressed, and although we have lost Bird and Ryles, we have signed Johnson, Sa and Walker.
9- Yes
10- second.

1 - Turned out OK in the end, once we were able to get our key players on the field, together, on a consistent basis.
2 - Don't think I'm going out on a limb by mentioning Mogg, Greenshields, Bosc. Johnson has a lot to do to match what Bird gave us last year, but I've every faith he will do so. Olivier Elima was so important last year as well - at times we looked incapable of winning if he wasn't on the field.
3 - William Barthau. He looks a way off being first pick, but I've every faith he can take a chance as and when
4 - Bell has much to prove after a disappointing 2009, but there's no-one I'd be active in campaigning to get shut of, not now Perry's fecked off.
5 - It was always going to be difficult taking over from Colonel Potter, but he's slowly got his ideas across and that showed through towards the end of the season once he'd realised the colossal error re Perry.
6 - The derbies. As ever. Knuckledusters at the ready. Headingley is the only ground left to conquer as well, so I'd love to go there and win.
7 - Any Dirty Quin (apart from double agent Tony Gigot)
8 - Very
9 - Of course it can. It'd be ridiculous to suggest otherwise. I have major doubts re the enthusiasm the FFRXIII are showing in this Stade Francais project, but the game has often had to overcome the follies of the Federation and will do so again.
10 - No reason why we can't push for top four with the additions to the squad which have gone a long way to addressing the issues that many of us have been highlighting for a while now.

1 - Fair
2 - Bird, Ryles, Bosc, Elima, Baile
3 - Gigot
4 - I am good with the team as it is, will answer at the end of the season.
5 - Need to prove it was not a run of luck. Hopefully he will prove it.
6 - For the moment none in particular.
7 - Why so much hate?
8 - Yes
9 - It is already
10 - Third

I suspect you are an undercover journalist of some kind. In function of the answers to question 7 here, I expect the Sun to have at some point the headline "Rugby League: the Frogs hate [fill with the appropriate name]"

Name:
1 - How did you rate your side's 2009 performance?
Not bad at the start... not great in the middle... memorable at the end.

2 - Who are the key players for you?
Bosc, Elima, Baille, Pelo, Greenshields, Mogg

3 - Young star to watch?
Barteau... he seems to be the one over whom most fuss is being made.

4 - Player you would most like to get rid of?
Bell... I am no tactician but if I were a manager I would get cross field kicks to his wing all the time... see Pat Richards scoring against him among others

5 - What's the general opinion of Kevin Walters?
He has done ok. Wasn't sure to start but I think he has shown his mettle and deserves another season.

6 - Which game are you most looking forward to this year?
Leeds... we owe them after the play off.

7 - Who is your most hated opposition player and why?
Danny Maguire... his England performances in the Autumn back up my feelings on him...

8 - Have you been happy with your transfer activity for 2010?
Unlike some I would have kept Greg Bird had it been possible. Losing Duport could haunt us.

9 - Do you believe Rugby League can grow in France?
Not just France. I think with the right promotion and publicity I think the UK is still a possiblilty. League is more interesting to watch that Union

10 - Season prediction? eg where will you finish and how do you think you will perform?
3rd. Play off semis again. Challenge cup winners.

maybe not having signed Sa and Walker to strengthen the back line!

Maybe, but I like Vince!

Hello and I reckon top 4 finish and ... GF win.

I reckon Bell will come good this year. It's not suprising for Ozzies to struggle with the higher pace of SL and the greater emphasis on skill than cheap shots. Wouldn't be the first time a foreign player took a year to settle in.

And I reckon you could be right!