'plastic' turf pitches are the way forward though, certainly in rugby IMO

I agree with you there. Too many ageing players for me.

Played on the rugby specific 3G at York St John a few weeks ago and it wasn't that bad, certainly allowed faster rugby even in the rain. The scrapes weren't anywhere near as bad as what you get off bone dry thin grass pitches.

The bookies say:
Wigan
Saints
Wire
Leeds
Cats
Hudds
Salford
Hull
Cas
KR
Widnes
Wakey

Leeds 4th seems a stretch but all the bookies seem to agree that they are a street better than Catalan.

First 6 games are crucial. Any points in the first 4 games should be a bonus compared to last year's same fixtures. 4 points from 8 would be a great start seeing we have Huddersfield, Warrington, Salford and wigan

O good glad I'm not the only one.

We play Leeds before Wigan but I agree I agree 4 points from 8 should be the aim, but as always the manner of the defeats counts, I don't expect a win at Wigan for example but I won't accept another 56-10 debacle like last year. So long as we pick up some points and show we improving I'm happy.

Looking at that, my prediction is not too far off!! can I have a bit of what they are on please??

Bookies only put out initial odds to get the ball rolling. Once punters start putting money on the odds change to take the relative support onto account. They might lose in respect of an individual team but ensure they win overall. In a league their initial predictions are relatively unimportant.

You can only have a bit of what they are on by being a bookie yourself and manipulating the odds to your own advantage.

I have a mate who is a professional gambler. Whenever I question the odds on something he says "Do you know something the bookies don't? Then they know something you don't."

If anyone think the professionals don't know what they are talking about then they can always go over to an exchange betting site and offer their own odds.