Personally I'd say its a tough call to work out who finishes were in the top 4 next year , injuries will be the key for me . Any combination from Barrow Fax Widnes Fev .

If Fax can play like they did in the first half of the year all through next season then they will be hard to beat, but if they play like the second half of the season they will miss out on the top 4.


The Vicar

Agreed we lacked leadership to get us through those tough times throughout the second half of the season. Hopefully thats where Gene will come into play, taking control in tough situations.

valid point. The reason we dipped in the second half was down to reduced fire power in the pack (loss of Matt James) and the settling in of a standoff.

I think we have addressed both these areas in re-signing Maloney, and getting Auzuie and Gene.

Branighan (Gene cover) will be our answer for the standoff question. If Calland can get them playing as a team early on then I think we will be tough to beat.

big test for MC next season, high expectations from Fax fans and quite rightly with the quality he has.

All the above subject to an injury crisis!

Tables up side down.

Widnes beat barrow in the nr final cos had pickersgill in the front row,tkl on form is the best centre in the league.After having his operation end of last season and seeing him train he will be on fire.Young thompson,houghton,grady and mullaley will surprise a few.If we sign penney and chris dean i am really confident of widnes getting a top 3.Not been the favourites will give widnes more determination and this year got more beef upfront.

I think people are just going off your last couple of seasons.

After the closeness of this season, Making a prediction on the table isn't going to be easy,

I'd expect it to be tight again, Toulouse might not do so badly... If they're serious about applying for a franchise they'll have to improve, Catalan had a bad first season but improved in their second.

Dewsbury aint got a bad squad, and provided they make a good start in the Northern Rail they should keep that winning Mentality. not sure how Keighley will fare but would like them to do ok.

Absolutely hit the nail on the head.

Leigh lacked self belief last season. I will await some really silly results next season because Leigh will certainly find the try line under Millward!

End of the day you cant polish a turd.

correct thats why fax still havent won owt

Jesus, now Leigh are getting involved.

Bad times

People in glass houses.......

I think we will currently not finish top as we have a very small squad of 21 with no Youth neither that we could bring through. I think we looked at times knackered and players were not anywhere near fit towards the end of the season due to the size of the squad. I think we need a squad of atleast 25. We have the talent but my concerns are the size of the squad though if we add a couple more signings then I feel we will be top.

1. Fax
2.Widnes
3. Barrow
4. Fev
5. Eagles
6. rams
7. Haven
8. Leigh
9. Toulouse
10.Batley
11. Cougars

I think Millward is shot to pieces as a top rugby league coach and i wouldnt be at all surprised if he didnt last the season as coach of leigh.

Fax
Barrow
Fev
Toulouse
Leigh
Eagles
Haven
Widnes
Batley
Rams
Cougars

NRC: Barrow.
GF: Fax.

If we can boost our sqaud with a couple more decent players (to cover injuries and loss of form), then Fax top of the tree, and who cares about the rest?

TBH, I think we're in for a cracking season, and anything could happen. We have a better spread of talent this year (Penky at 9, please!!), and should be capable of beating anyone (everyone..??).

Get our defense organised (let the entertainment flow when we've got the ball) and we should be unbeatable given the team we've got. We don't need the big hits - just a co-ordinated defensive plan.

This thread will be thown back at us if we blob, but hey, a bit of fun!!

Oh Rich , have you thought about a career as a comedian.

The Vicar

1. Fax (we're blatently just better than the rest)
2. Whitehaven
3. Leigh (think Millward an Paul may have good influence an some good additions
4. Fev
5. Widnes (usual low play-off spot for them
6. Eagles
7. Barrow (1 season wonders)
8. Dewsbury
9. Toulouse
10.Batley
11. Cougars (going to struggle, sorry)
=whitehow many widnes and barrow fans will bite at that? Lol

When he took over in 1999 (Finished Rock Bottom!) to when we got to the GF in 2000 with vertually the same squad states it isn't impossible!!

If I remember correctly, Leigh were going well in 2006 - NRC winners and chasing Hull KR at the top of the table. Millward was taken on as an 'advisor' - it was pretty much all down hill from there.

He left soon after the NRC win!

How can you look back at a couple of months and make a judgement on Millward.

Lets look at several seasons and Cullens record at Warrington, biggest spenders in RL and won nothing,infact came nowhere near to winning anything.Won something last year I know,but come on mate to base a comment on Millward as a coach on an "advisory" role is poor.

Leigh will be in top half next year and a much better team all round.

Don't discount Tolouse some big signings could be on the way.

As much as i dislike Ian Millward, he's got a proven record at winning things. So you can't really argue with that.

I'm not sure how anyone can predict this seasons finishing spots because we won't know how the teams will gell together before they even start playing. Plus injuries on top.

The only thing i'd say is the top six will be comprised of the following eight teams: Barrow, Fev, Halifax, Leigh, Toulouse, Sheffield, Widnes, Whitehaven.

Batley and Dewsbury will have some good results but i don't think will be close to top six by the end of the season.

Keighley I think will struggle as their team is made up of many players who have played this level where as the top teams are now picking up super league players and are much stronger now.

But where from? Doesn't their permissible number of Antipodeans reduce from 5 to 2 next season or have the RFL changed that?