St Helens Wigan Leeds Hull KR Catalans Leigh Huddersfield Warrington Hull Salford Castleford London
I'm 50/50 on top spot. To me it feels like Saints are being written off a little by some - I personally think they'll have a very strong year. The reality is they finished joint top last year despite the WCC exploits and went down to the wire in two semi finals. Improving their attack will have been a priority in pre-season and if Dodd gets back to his best they'll be very dangerous. Wigan will be very strong as well - particularly as their squad depth is utilised when other sides begin to struggle. The front row will be very difficult to handle, confident that Harry Smith will go from strength to strength and French and Field are French and Field. The injury to Walters maybe exposes a weakness in the squad in the backrow though and I'm not convinced by Keighran's defensive capabilities. If there are no major injuries to key players, I'd be surprised if there isn't a Wigan v Saints GF.
Pretty confident that my top 5 clubs will end up in the 6 at the end of the year - Leeds and Hull KR have strong squads while Catalans may struggle adjusting to the loss of so much experience but will still have enough. Leigh and Huddersfield I'm less sure on - my instinct is that Hudds will improve a little with Adam Clune and Leigh will regress a little now teams are more aware of their threat. Tough to work out whether Warrington will be rocks or diamonds under Burgess but my gut tells me its a gamble that won't pay off. The concerning thing for SL this year is the lack of depth is more apparent than ever - Hull were poor yesterday, Salford's squad has been decimated, Castleford's recruitment has been uninspiring and London have a Championship squad with nothing to play for. Hopefully next year Wakefield will make an impact with their new ownership, Salford sort their stadium issues and Castleford/Hull begin to develop competitive squads.
I'm 50/50 on top spot. To me it feels like Saints are being written off a little by some - I personally think they'll have a very strong year. The reality is they finished joint top last year despite the WCC exploits and went down to the wire in two semi finals. Improving their attack will have been a priority in pre-season and if Dodd gets back to his best they'll be very dangerous. Wigan will be very strong as well - particularly as their squad depth is utilised when other sides begin to struggle. The front row will be very difficult to handle, confident that Harry Smith will go from strength to strength and French and Field are French and Field. The injury to Walters maybe exposes a weakness in the squad in the backrow though and I'm not convinced by Keighran's defensive capabilities. If there are no major injuries to key players, I'd be surprised if there isn't a Wigan v Saints GF.
Pretty confident that my top 5 clubs will end up in the 6 at the end of the year - Leeds and Hull KR have strong squads while Catalans may struggle adjusting to the loss of so much experience but will still have enough. Leigh and Huddersfield I'm less sure on - my instinct is that Hudds will improve a little with Adam Clune and Leigh will regress a little now teams are more aware of their threat. Tough to work out whether Warrington will be rocks or diamonds under Burgess but my gut tells me its a gamble that won't pay off. The concerning thing for SL this year is the lack of depth is more apparent than ever - Hull were poor yesterday, Salford's squad has been decimated, Castleford's recruitment has been uninspiring and London have a Championship squad with nothing to play for. Hopefully next year Wakefield will make an impact with their new ownership, Salford sort their stadium issues and Castleford/Hull begin to develop competitive squads.
Agree with your top 4 but I’ve got a hunch that Wire may have a slow start but I do see them finishing in the top 6 at the expense of Catalan. As usual Saints will be a very difficult opponent and I think that they will come top. I’d love a GF of Saints versus us with both teams at full or virtual full strength. It would be a classic and I’d like to think that we could sneak it. Injuries will play an important role and Leeds and Leigh could struggle if they get a few injuries to key players.
I'm 50/50 on top spot. To me it feels like Saints are being written off a little by some - I personally think they'll have a very strong year. The reality is they finished joint top last year despite the WCC exploits and went down to the wire in two semi finals. Improving their attack will have been a priority in pre-season and if Dodd gets back to his best they'll be very dangerous. Wigan will be very strong as well - particularly as their squad depth is utilised when other sides begin to struggle. The front row will be very difficult to handle, confident that Harry Smith will go from strength to strength and French and Field are French and Field. The injury to Walters maybe exposes a weakness in the squad in the backrow though and I'm not convinced by Keighran's defensive capabilities. If there are no major injuries to key players, I'd be surprised if there isn't a Wigan v Saints GF.
Pretty confident that my top 5 clubs will end up in the 6 at the end of the year - Leeds and Hull KR have strong squads while Catalans may struggle adjusting to the loss of so much experience but will still have enough. Leigh and Huddersfield I'm less sure on - my instinct is that Hudds will improve a little with Adam Clune and Leigh will regress a little now teams are more aware of their threat. Tough to work out whether Warrington will be rocks or diamonds under Burgess but my gut tells me its a gamble that won't pay off. The concerning thing for SL this year is the lack of depth is more apparent than ever - Hull were poor yesterday, Salford's squad has been decimated, Castleford's recruitment has been uninspiring and London have a Championship squad with nothing to play for. Hopefully next year Wakefield will make an impact with their new ownership, Salford sort their stadium issues and Castleford/Hull begin to develop competitive squads.
I half agree about Saints. It wasn't long ago since they were head and shoulders above the rest of the comp, and their pride will be hurt after last season. I expect them to start next year like a house on fire and be top at Easter. I just think their depth will be their undoing. Four or five injuries really hurts them in a way that (on paper) it doesn't to us, so I see them falling away by the end of the year. I'd have them in third behind us and - whilst this might look daft in October - Wire.
MadDogg wrote:Warrington finishing above St Helens is a huge call - no chance of that whatsoever IMO.
They could be anything from 2nd to outside the play offs for me. Their squad is very decent, with a few class players who would get in anyone's team. Their depth isn't as good as ours and their best team isn't as good as Saints', but if Burgess going there gets the best out of them they'll be a formidable outfit.
Joined: May 27 2003 Posts: 20241 Location: educating League Freak on all things rugby league
MadDogg wrote:Warrington finishing above St Helens is a huge call - no chance of that whatsoever IMO.
I may be way off the mark but I feel Saints are entering a bit of a transitional phase, which started last year.
They have lost a genuine talismanic leader, key players are a year older and they are relying heavily on a lack of injuries in the pack.
They are still going to be up there but I think by their usual standards until they are able to undergo a bit of a rebuild and some of their quality youngsters get experience at SL level.
Unofficially the most boring poster on Cherry and White.
I think we'll see a hugely determined Saints side and that will be dangerous. The issues for Saints could come via a few injuries, especially in the 1,6 and 7 spots, as well as at prop. If they lost 3 or 4 lads at the same time in those areas there could be real issues but if they have a decent season on the injury front, I think they'll be right in there for the LLS again, as well as the other 2 trophies on offer.
As for Wire, I saw an interview with Sam Burgess after the Leigh game and from thinking he'd fill them full of confidence and belief and get them in the top 4, I thought he looked pretty shocked at how they'd played in that game and seemed a bit lacking in confidence himself. That was hugely surprising for me because I expected him to be brash and full of bravado even if he didn't quite believe it. Maybe it was his way of giving them a reality check and I do still think he'll get them finishing somewhere between 3rd and 6th over the course of the season.
Joined: Jun 20 2005 Posts: 15751 Location: Listening to the reggae band, Jihad
LeJeanRobBron wrote:1. St Helens 2. St Helens 3. St Helens 4. St Helens 5. St Helens 6. St Helens 7. St Helens 8. St Helens 9. St Helens 10. St Helens 11. St Helens 12. St Helens
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