My prediction:
Saints
Wire
Leeds
Hull
Wigan
Cats
Wakey
BULLS
Hudds
London
HKR
Cas
Widnes
Salford

And come the season's end you'll be reading allegations by apoplectic Wigan fans that despite their finishing fifth the road to OT was much harder than it was in 2012, mainly because the top four comprised better teams than it did a year previously.

as promised jonesy is keenly keeping an eye out for all the celebrity big hitters out there that dare to predict the outcome of the 2013 season,garry schofield is predicting his finishing positions in weekly installments in the league express newspaper so these can't be posted just yet,i reckon that he is just buying himself some more time after his poor showing last season!



brian noble has predicted his final league table in this months 40/20 mag and it is as follows-

1: warrington
2: leeds
3: saints
4: wigan
5: hull fc
6: catalan
7: huddersfield
8: london
9: wakefield
10: bradford
11: hull kr
12: castleford
13: widnes
14: salford

1 Saints
2 Wigan
3 Wire
4 Cats
5 Rhinos
6 Rovers
7 Hull
8 Giants
9 Wakey
10 Bulls
11 Tigers
12 Vikings
13 Reds
14 Broncos

One too many Wakefields and one too few Huddersfields in there. OK to edit or post an ammendment - without a correction though the entry won't be valid come season start.

1 - Warrington
2 - St Helens
3 - Wigan
4 - Leeds
5 - Hull
6 - Catalans
7 - Huddersfield
8 - Hull KR
9 - Wakefield
10 - London
11 - Bradford
12 - Widnes
13 - Castleford
14 - Salford

1: Rhinos
2: Wolves
3: Saints
4: Wigan
5: Hull FC
6: Catalan
7: Hull KR
8: Wildcats
9: Bulls
10: Giants
11: London
12: Tigers
13: Widnes
14: Salford

I doubt Salford will finish bottom now should the T/O get completed1

i recalled reading a post from william eve regarding the 2013 finishing positions so i have sought out this big hitters predictions and have posted it here for all to see:

1 warrington
2 wigan
3 st helens
4 leeds
5 catalan
6 hull fc
7 huddersfield
8 wakefield
9 bradford
10 hkr
11 castleford
12 widnes
13 salford
14 london

can i also add junior slippery morris who was to tight to pay £10 out of his pocket money to take part in our weekly rounds but because this is free he would like ago
1 warrington
2 wigan
3 saints
4 leeds
5 catalan
6 hull fc
7 huddersfield
8 bradford
9 hull kr
10 salford
11 wakefield
12 london
13 castleford
14 widnes
cheers

some big hitters are never afraid of putting their opinions to the test and garry schofield never fails to tell us his opinions on all things rl,he has made his predictions for the 2013 sl table via his column in the league express and it is as follows

1: warrington
2: st helens
3: wigan
4: leeds <grand final winners>
5: hull fc
6: catalans
7: huddersfield
8: castleford
9: hull kr
10: wakefield
11: bradford
12: london
13: widnes
14: salford

Cas in the 8?? I'll have some of what he's smoking!

For mine(tm)

1: Saints
2: Wire
3: Wigan
4: Les Cats
5: Hull
6: Leeds
7: Huddersfield
8: Wakefield
9: Hull KR
10: Bradford
11: London
12: Cas
13: Salford
14: Widnes

1: Leeds
2: Warrington
3: Saints
4: Wigan
5: Hull
6: Catalans
7: Huddersfield
8: Wakefield
9: Bradford
10: Hull KR
11: London
12: Widnes
13: Salford
14: Castleford

IIRC that (unofficial) thread failed to gain any traction. Of the two entries the one from Seperate Ways bears little resemblance to the one he posted in this thread after making nine positional changes in the fourteen.

For the removal of any doubt only entries made or copied to this thread will be scored come season end.

Numbers are a little down on this time last year despite several new entrants. Here is a list of those participants from last year still to submit: Al Rhino, batleyrhino, BigJake, bishops finger, Bullseye, Cala Millor Rhino, Damo-Leeds, El Diablo, Exeter Rhino, finglas, G1, jarvis12345, Leeds_Luke, leespam, MossdaleRhino, Norman Stanley Fletcher, NorthumbriaBull, Old Feller, Paxo, rhinochris, rhinogonemad, rodhutch, SmokeyTA, Stozza's Nose, Teddy Picker, Trinity Till Death, Wheels, Wnidyone2012. (Sorry if there have been any name changes amongst them that I've failed to spot)

If you know any the above why not give them a nudge - the more the merrier.

__________



Entry will remain open until the first whistle of the season.

Edits and/or amended entries will be allowed up to that precise point but not beyond.

I know friendlies are a poor gauge of how a side will go, but based on our game against Cas they won't threaten 13th never mind 8th. Their first choice pack got beaten up by our kids in the first half, then O' Meley played a full 40 minutes in the second half and was still punching holes in the 79th minute. In attack they had a couple of nice touches from Chase and absolutely nothing else.

St Helens
Warrington
Hull
Wigan
Leeds
Catalans
Huddersfield
Hull KR
London
Wakefield
Bradford
Widnes
Castleford
Salford

Top 2 are set I reckon. 3 to 5 are fully interchangeable, it was only a bit of bias that made me put Hull 3rd. Catalans and Hudds should be safely in the 8 and Rovers and London will fight for 8th. 10 to 13 are also interchangeable and I can't see past Salford for last.

1- Wolves- GF Runners up
2- Saints
3- Wigan
4- Rhinos- GF Winners
5- Hull FC
6- Huddersfield
7- Dragons
8- Bulls
9- Wildcats
10- Hull KR
11- London
12- Salford
13- Widnes
14- Castleford

It's interesting to see so many still thinking Wigan will hit top2/3 without Leuleui and Finch who imo they have down-graded at least 2 levels with Smith and Green!
Saying that 2 new HB's still to gel with each other and the 9 i dont think Wigan will be as fluent or as strong as last year.

Rhinoms-have to agree. If you look at strongest sides compared to last year, Wigan are:

2012:

Tomkins, Charnley, Goulding, Carmont, Richards, Finch, Leuluai, Mossop, McIlorum, Lima, Hansen, Hock, O'Loughlin

R: Smith, Lauaki, Prescott, Farrell

2013:

Tomkins S, Charnley, Goulding, Thornley, Richards, Green, Smith, Mossop, McIlorum, Taylor, Hansen, Lauaki, O'Loughlin

R: Tomkins L, Prescott, Flower, Farrell

7 changes in the best X7 to last year, and have lost 5 of their big-hitters, with only one (Lima) being replaced with anywhere near the same quality.

Top three will be Wire, Leeds & Saints, with Wigan fighting it out with Hull FC & Catalans for the dreaded 4th spot.

Quote ="Separate Ways"Top three =#0000BFwill be Wire, Leeds & Saints, with Wigan fighting it out with Hull FC & Catalans for the dreaded 4th spot.'" That sounds pretty definite except it's not what you were saying prior to christmas - viewtopic.php?f=17&t=540817&start=9 what's changed at Wigan apart from a potential loose cannon bad influence being removed from the dressing room ?

Quote ="Separate Ways"Top three =#0000BFwill be Wire, Leeds & Saints, with Wigan fighting it out with Hull FC & Catalans for the dreaded 4th spot.'" That sounds pretty definite except it's not what you were saying prior to christmas - viewtopic.php?f=17&t=540817&start=9 what's changed at Wigan apart from a potential loose cannon bad influence being removed from the dressing room ?

1- Wolves- GF Runners up
2- rhinos Gf winners
3- saints
4- Wigan
5- Hull FC
6- Huddersfield
7- Dragons
8- Bulls
9- Wildcats
10- Hull KR
11- London
12- Widnes
13- Castleford
14- Salford

I've changed my mind?

1. Warrington
2. Saints
3. Leeds
4. Hull FC
5. Wigan
6. Catalans
7. Bradford
8. Hudderfield
9. Wildcats
10. Hull KR
11. Castleford
12. Salford
13. Widnes
14. London

1 - Warrington
2 - St Helens
3 - Leeds
4 - Wigan
5 - Hull
6 - Huddersfield
7 - Catalans
8 - Bradford
9 - Hull KR
10 - Wakefield
11 - Castleford
12 - London
13 - Salford
14 - Widnes

1. St Helens
2. Wigan
3. Warrington
4. Leeds
5. Hull
6. Catalans
7. London
8. Bradford
9. Huddersfield
10. Hull KR
11. Widnes
12. Wakefield
13. Castleford
14. Salford

1 St Helens
2 Warrington
3 Wigan
4 Leeds
5 Hull
6 Catalans
7 Bradford
8 Huddersfield
9 Hull KR
10 Wakefield
11 London
12 Castleford
13 Widnes
14 Salford

Could see St Helens and Wire being either way round in the top 2 but I think Saints may finish top. Wigan 3rd as for me they are not as strong as last year. Can't see Cas getting in the 8.

1. Warringto
2. Saints
3. Leeds
4. Hull
5. Wigan
6. Dragons
7. Giants
8. Hull KR
9. Bulls
10.Wakefield
11.London
12 Widnes
13.Cas
14.Salford