Well, the season is almost upon us and I was just wondering what your hopes and aspirations are for the season ahead for your team. Who do you believe will be the standout player in your team and the best young player to emerge in 2012 within your team?

At Wigan I am hoping for another trophy like the last two years. I would love to do the double but I can't see it, we appear to be looking towards a very close comp at the top with a few good teams all coming into their own.

I hope to finish in the top 2 and win at least one trophy.

The stand out player will again be Sam Tomkins, he just gets better and better. Without any injuries he will win MOS IMO.

Joe Mellor is the best young player coming into the first team at Wigan. He is rated just as highly as Tomkins was.

for cas to be in or around the play offs and another decent cup run would be a good season,also blood a few more youngsters for the future.

star man - rangi chase will lead the team around again although it will be interesting to see if im uses him any differently to the free role he`s had in other seasons.

young star - daz clark,showed glimpses of how good he could become last season and with a full pre -season under his belt the reports are he has really bulked up and is a lot stronger although he`s been given the 9 shirt i wouldnt at all be suprised to see him playing at loose forward during the season.

Top6, but more importantly I want to see more attractive, attacking rugby than the one-man dross served up under Agar.

we still have a lot of deadwood to clear from the squad, but if we can finish top6 and win a playoff game I'd be happy next season.

In London we are the most optimistic for six years. We have the quins monkey off our backs and the ten new boys have some real quality. We still have a rookie coach and it could all go pear shaped but we do seem to have cover in the main areas. Expect a serious tilt at the play-offs though a lot depends on how Witt/Gower partnership hit it off.

We won't be as strong as the past couple of years but we'll still be there or thereabouts imo. I hope we can win a trophy but hand on heart I think it may be a bridge too far for the next season or 2 but as long as we're patient I believe we can have as good if not better side in a couple of years then we've had for the past 2 seasons. To lose guys like Coley, Hoffman and Deacon is tough but then we have 2 guys like Fielden and Hock to come in who will be like new signings and then at halfback we have a couple of very handy youngsters in Mellor and Powell.

To sum up I hope for a trophy but expect to just miss out on both the major prizes.

Anywhere above 12th should be regarded as a success for us. Some people have claimed that we will get in the play offs, but I think we will struggle. We will probably compete, but I see us finishing 10th. Three year plans take three years afterall, not one or two. We will need time to gel, especially in the halves, so a decent cup run may be a possibility, but I doubt that we will get in the top 8.

One to watch: Dean Collis looked good on boxing day, Fox will hopefully be better than ever, Tim Smith could be amazing (or dire), Isaac John looks talented, Andy Ellis was underrated at Quins- I'm looking forward to seeing him play, and Ali Lauititi of course!

Young gun: Matty Wildie, Kyle Wood, Frankie Mariano, Paul Johnson and Lucas Walshaw. Wildie, Mariano and Johnson were stand outs last year in a team, so will probably improve surrounded by quality. Wood has bags of potential, will he fulfil it? We all have high hopes for Lucas Walshaw, who could be an explosive centre for us next year. Looks strong, quick and very big for a centre, maybe in the mould of Senior or Inglis. I'm not saying he will ever be as good as them, but I think he deserves a shot next year.

Leeds

The only thing I am bothered about is the challenge cup because I dint get to go in 99 and have seen us lose in 6 challenge cup finals (95,00,03,05,10,11).

I expect us to be 3/4 in the SL and if we get to OT we will win it, however I suspect it may be a wire v saints gf. No team will do the double anytime soon with the CCF in august.

One to watch will be Zak Hardaker, potential to play anywhere in the back 5 for england for the next 10 years!!
Young Gun will be Liam Hood, he will be our first choice 9 by the end of the season imo, not confident about Mcshane.
Needs to impress will be Kallum Watkins, no doubt the guy has bundles of talent but needs to work on is defensive skills and stay injury free.
Biggest Loss is without doubt Danny Buderus, is defensive efforts in our run in were immense and will force everybody to up theirs by 10% at least!!
Best signing Daryl Griffin, hopefully it will mean the end of Kirke who is quite frankly useless!!
Last chance saloon will be Lee Smith, not been the same since his return and is turning into a mediocre utility player and probably about to sign for bradford because of it!!

Hull KR - I would say 7th again or above would be a fantastic year with around 8 new signings and some of last years fringe players possibly coming in to be more regulars. With a new coach, new tactics and as stated new players I don't think us HKR fans should be too critical early on as I think the back end of the season we will see a better standard. I'd like to think we have a feel good factor around the club again with optimisim in bucket loads which will be good as long as the team start well. However if they do fall short as we did at the start of last season then I dread to think how down in the dumps not only the fans will be but the players too. We do have some good quality in the side but it is whether they are going to gel together soon enough to really push for a 6th or above position.

Star man I think will be IMO Shannon McDonnell who probably didnt get a true crack at the Knights due to Gidley being in outstanding form. He is as quick as you know what off a stick and has a stupendously good side step with great support play (something we have lacked). I also expect Craig Hall to come in to his own during the course of this season from the wing position and suspect he'll be playing outside Jake Webster who fully fit is one of the best centres in the league both defensively and offensively.

Young player to stand out this year I think will be the young centre Liam Salter. He may not make a great number of appearances but from what I have heard off first team players he's already looking the part with his offloading ability, size and speed. If we do suffer injuries to our centres I have no doubt this guy will come in and possibly be as good if not better than Josh Charnley at the back end of 2010.

Warrington - Top spot is definitely a realistic target again. We may have lost key players like Matt King and Louis Anderson, but have recruited equally well. We play a great brand of rugby and with Tony Smith at the helm, everyone in the town feels confident of success, and rightly so. Hopefully this year we won't choke in the play offs too!



Star Man: Lee Briers. Still the best stand-off in the league for me. His decision making and kicking will guide us around the park, we're a far lesser team without him. He doesn't have long left though, which is worrying, hopefully Ratchford can be a long term solution.

Young Player: Rhys Evans. Looked a terrific prospect last year and judging by his performance on Boxing Day, there's a lot more to come from him. With Matt King gone, he should hopefully get more game time and fulfill his promise as one of the best young British three-quarters in a long time.

Broncos to make the play-offs, N.W. Crusaders to win promotion from CC1 and less one sided games on Sky, although I think I'm whistling in the wind with the last one.

Saints:

Aspiration - to bring some silverware back to Langtree Park for our first season there. Been 3 years since our last trophy now and whilst a GF win would be nice, I'd be equally as happy with Challenge Cup to end our recent drought. Would also like to see us go unbeaten at home and turn it into a place where teams fear coming to, but that would be an added bonus

Star player - Lance Hohaia. Comfortable at 1, 6, 7 or 9 so provides great cover and if he stays fit I think he could be a major contender for MOS at the end of the season. World class player on his day and cant wait to see him in the Red V

Young player - Tommy Makinson. Came through last year and was very impressive, and fully expect him to improve greatly this season and make the wing opposite Foster his own for 2012 and beyond

If we could rise just once place in the league I'd be thrilled.

Rangi Chase has won player of the year at Cas for the last 3 years. I predict he will lose the title come the end of the season and Daz Clark will be our player of the year / young player of super league.

I am hoping that the Bulls finally return to the Play-Offs to appease our 10,000 + season ticket holders. We seem to have strengthened in the backs which is good and I am hope Manuakafoa proves to be an astute signing coupled with the rise of Tom Burgess and the return to fitness of the likes of Diskin, Le'Strange and Scruton. Whilst I am hoping Whitehead improves further.

I believe that Adam O'Brien (England Academy Hooker) or John Bateman (England Academy Captain) will really break through this year.

My only hope is that Saints get some luck on the injury front as the last 2-3 seasons have been terrible.
But 5 losing grand final apperances can't be sniffed at?

Lomax & Hohaia to shine hopefully this year?

Huddersfield

Once again I hope this will be the year we get crowds of 9,000 and above, and the 'Huddersfield Curse' doesn't strike again, maybe leading to us actually getting to OT/Wembley.

I hope we see good, attractive rugby and some close, entertaining games at the Galpharm, and we continue our solid home form. I just hope to god we can win a trophy or impress someone.

I think this'll be the year of Danny Brough becoming the player we all know he can be, and Greg Eden and Joe Wardle really breaking through as a top player. No Mid-Season or End-Season Slump

Leeds

Grand final win and unbeaten at home are what I hope for. Key player will be Sinfield with Burrow getting the best reviews.

Young gun? Chris Clarkson.

I'd say the majority of Wakefield's goals are away from the playing aspect of RL. So long as we're competitive, improve and ensure we continue to promote academy lads to the first team and give them opportunities i\ll be happy.

As previously stated, Walshaw, Wildie, Trout & possibly Slater are ones to watch. Davey may need to Dual Reg to progress.

The biggest battle for us is the PI outcome. Then improving grounds to 7k+

Pretty much what PP said for me, but I'd love us to get to Wembley now we're back as the Broncos. So happy to be putting the H********s 'flag of convenience' days behind us! The best squad on paper for years and I hope we go well for Rob Powell's sake. He took a lot of stick last season, and while some of it was deserved a lot of it was harsh considering he was a rookie with the remnants of Mac's last squad, a few loanees and some kids! He's been given a chance to build his own squad this season - and I hope it works for him this season. Roll on Feb 4th!!

Saints:

A relatively injury-free season please. 2011 was ridiculous on the injury front from start to finish and while the fans all got behind the young guys it wasn't an ideal way to play through a season.

A Grand Final win would be terrific, if only to get the OT monkey off our backs.

The roof on Langtree Park to stay put!

Young guns: I'd love to see Makinson get a lot of game time because I think he is a special talent. Also, even though we have recruited Hohaia, I would like to see Gaskell get a fair amount of time in the halves to build on his great effort from last season.

Should we get to another Grand Final in 2012 I don't want to see Meli anywhere near the 17.

Generally:

I'd like to see both Welsh teams promoted into the Championship at the end of the season and I'd like to see the Broncos challenging for honours this season. It's way beyond time that the hard work of the dedicated in London had something to cheer about.

Hopes/Aspirations
1 - I'd settle for being competitive and in with a shout of winning games right up to the end. 11th or above at the end of the season would be good for us but would really hope to be in with a chance of the top 8 with a month of the season left.
2 - Would be nice to win a CC game or two against SL opposition (something we haven't done for a long time).
3 - A positive outcome from the Public Inquiry and to see some building work start at Newmarket

Best Experienced Player
Steve Southern or Dean Collis (Southern will hopefully be the leader we need and Collis provide some quality in the centres)

Best Young Player
Paul Johnson or Frankie Mariano (both had good seasons last year and I would expect more with better quality players around them)

Breakthrough Player
Lucas Walshaw or Adam Slater (Walshaw looks a good prospect but needs some game time and experience to help his decision making. If Slater can be half the player his dad was, and indications are that he is on his way, then we could have a very good prospect)

Widnes - Any finish of 12th or above would be successful for me. Hopefully a cup run for some cheer amid some inevitable beatings.

Star man - Anthony Watts - if we keep him fit.

Young gun - We have plenty. Craven, Owens, Gilmore, but I think Anthony Mullally, a young prop (the one who went to Brisbane on loan, if you remember the VT thread) is in for a big year.

BTW Wiganers, I never really saw much in Joe Mellor at Widnes, albeit he was in a poor side. Do you really see him shining? I can barely imagine him playing in that side.

league position- get in to the play offs after dropping out in the last round two years running, 9th at least, and a good cup run building on last years semi final appearance.

Best experienced player-chase will grab all the limelight but am expecting a big season from orr and mcgoldrick with it probably being orrs final season and goldy wanting a new contract.

Best young player- clark without a doubt, but expect thompson, milner and arundel to all do even better than last year.

To break through-clare (w/fb) seems most likely but martin(p), johnson (sh) and brierly (so) are all in with a shout.

Hopes/expectations: Top 8
Challenge Cup Semi

Aspirations: Top Six finish.
Challenge Cup Final.

Stand out performer: Con Mika

Young Gun: Scott Taylor (England International by the end of the season.)

I don't understand how wakey fans can have mariano as young player to watch out for considering he is mid 20's.



As for Hull KR, one thing I am looking for is the younger players such as Taylor, Cox etc to kick on and others such as Salter, Heil and Green to show promise. Anywere in the bottom 4 of the top 8 I would be happy with considering the changes whilst wanting to be more competitive for example if we conceded a gap of more 12 points we seemed to give up and get 40 or 50 points put on us as we appeared lazy in defence which is something the new coach has higlighted but we will see what will happen as the season goes on.

Hoping for a good start and even in defeat, I hope to see positives were as in the last two years we continued to concede the same tries week in, week out.