The four 'other' teams that reached the play-offs last year, aside from the eventual Grand Finalists are currently sitting 9th through to 12th in the table. At the start of the season most people, I guess, would have chosen one of Catalans, Wigan, Warrington or Bradford as the team most likely to break the recent Leeds-Saints duopoly. These dark horses have endured starts to 2009 which are various shades of terrible, so are we looking for new pretenders, if not yet contenders? Or will the peloton again be led by the same teams, come September?

hopefully fartown will be wearing yellow jerseys in september

Catalans were a bit of a surpirse package last season and perhaps finished above their "natural" level, though no denying they are a playoff club who have had bad form this season.

Bradford have been sliding down the league slowly for a couple of years, this season seems to be just a continuation of that.

Warrington have ben "the next big team" for how long now? Since they moved into the HJ at least I think, unless Tony Smith can work his magic, they will continue to "look good on paper"

Wigan, like Bradford have dipped out of the race, though they are able to maintain their crowds it seems, though how long that will continue is anyones guess.

I forgot to add...

Yes the some of the pack are fading, but others are strengthening

Hull FC were blighted by injury last season, and look stronger this one, with the crowds to match

Hull KR keep making a lot of noise, but so far have yet to do more than Warrington really, but have the makings of a top side

Huddersfield are slowly getting there, this season will be a good indicator of how far is to go though, certainly behind Hull FC I think in terms of progress.

Cas have started great guns this season, but lets see how they get on with injuries taknig toll.

They also lost four of their first five last season, when they finished third …

Stuart Jones, Brett Ferres, Michael Wainwright, Ryan Clayton, Ryan Boyle all missing or were injured on Sunday v Bradford.

Yeah but bradford are crap

And as for Cats losing last season, were they so emphatically beaten?

To me last season when they were losing they looked a good team, this season they dont.

To be honest the whole league is fading bar Saints and Leeds.

Catalans, Salford and Celtic will be lucky to win a single game other than those between them.

Wire, Wigan and Bradford will come good at some stage of the season no doubt, get into good positions and then fail anyway.

Wakey are firmly mid table.

Shuddersfield and the Hull clubs are the ones exploiting the poorness of the 'big clubs' and should finish higher than last season.

Cas are the surprise package, but no doubt they will head downwards as Wigan, Wire and Bradford come the other way.

1 - Leeds
2 - Saints

3 - Hull
4 - Huddersfield
5 - Wigan
6 - Wire
7 - Quins
8 - Bradford
9 - Hull KR
10 - Castleford
11 - Wakefield

12 - Catalans
13 - Salford
14 - Celtic

League within league winners in bold.

Saints and Leeds are so far ahead yet again it is embarrassing.

The rest are all mediocre.

Improvement needed massively, especially defensively.