So now we are on the eve of a new season how well do people actually think we will do?

Can we top the league?

Can we finally make the Blackpool showpiece and win the Northern Rail cup?

Can we defend our tittle?

Just wondering what people think as I know we have recruited well but I am really not sure just how strong our rivals are.

Barrow have a strong squad now, better then last year, so it all depends if Schofield cane mak them work, it will eitehr go well and they will be the frontrunners or it will end in disaster.

Fev I think will be as strong as last year.

Widnes 4th/5th.

As for us, tbh im not sure, we have lost some class from last season and I think we will be more steady then spectacular and a lot depends on our defence as I reckon our attack wont be as good as last year. So I think wins will be earned by defence this year so all depends how good we are at that.

For my money the key areas are

How Ben Black and Danny Jones gell and if the forewards do the hard yards and tackling

AS LONG AS WE GET TO THE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL THEN IM NOT BOTHERED!

We have lost some key players, Maloney, Shad, Branno to name a few but we have replaced them with Gannon, Jones, and we already had Miles.

they are 3 good solid championsip players, we are still as good on the wings and no doubt we will continue to thrill with some big points scoring games.

i think we will finish 2nd again, but i think we will get to the final again, we have the no how,

from what seen in pre season the defence looks better so far but not scoring as many points. but if defence is better will win lot of games as wont need as many points as last season.

1988 was pretty naff compared to 1987. We need to win it.......

I think it is looking like a very exciting competition with a number of very good squads, and I suspect the top teams will lose more matches than last season. MC has recruited well and, whilst we have lost some class, we have replacements who have the potential to fill the shoes. Our pack also has much more depth this year, which is always key in a long season. It is also worth remembering that neither Ben or Mikali hit form until the latter half of last season (not until the play offs for Mikali!) and Sam only joined us mid way through the year. We also lost Goddard and Haley for long periods.

As MC has stated, our weakness will be at half back if either BB or DJ get injured but hopefully cover will be on its way.

Its hard to say who will come out top given the strength of the competition. Featherstone were hugely impressive last year, as were Batley when they hit form. Barrow, Leigh and Widnes will all be highly competitive and no doubt Toulouse will continue to improve. Roll on....

League Table

1. Barrow
2. Featherstone
3. Halifax
4. Leigh
5. Widnes
6. Toulouse
7. Batley
8. Hunslet
9. Sheffield
10. Dewsbury
11. York

[uPlay offs[/u

Round 1

Halifax beat Toulouse
Leigh beat Widnes

Round 2

Barrow beat Featherstone
Halifax beat Leigh

Round 3

Featherstone beat Halifax

Grand Final

Barrow beat Featherstone

[uNRC Final [/u

Leigh beat Barrow

[iMy ill researched and un-educated guesses are:[/i

League Table

1. Widnes
2. Featherstone
3. Barrow
4. Halifax
5. Leigh
6. Batley
7. Sheffield
8. York
9. Toulose
10. Dewsbury
11. Hunslet

Grand Final
Featherstone Vs Widnes

NRC Final
Halifax vs Featherstone

1.Widnes
2.Fax
3.Fev
4.Leigh
5.Barrow
6.Batley.

This all depends on injuries and strength of the squads.It will be competitive and any of the top 5 could swap places with each other.I just feel Widnes will concentrate on the league more this year.

1. Featherstone
2. Barrow
3. Halifax
4. Leigh
5. Sheffield
6. Batley
7. Widnes
8. Dewsbury
9. Toulouse
10. York
11. Hunslet

I think Fev have the best squad in the league by far even losing Briggs. Barrow always look strong but are sometimes inconsistant. I feel we have the best backs in the league but im skeptical as to whether our forwards are good enough and as such i feel we are a bit weaker than last year. If Leigh start well they could top the league but if they struggle with the tough start they have then they will be playing catchup the rest of the season. They look to have a decent team though. Sheffield look strong but whinger Aston struggles to get the best out of them. Batley are capable of beating anyone on their day but im not sure they can break in to the top 4. Same goes for Widnes, they look stronger than last year but even so dont look a patch on the top teams and they will be the team everyone wants to beat once they get their SL license. The rest have no chance of making the top 6.

i think fax forwards are stronger than we had last year with the new ones got.

Hunslet and York have strengthened well this year whereas I'm not sure Toulouse have managed to replace any outgoing players. I reckon they could be in the scrap for the wooden spoon.