I know exactly how it works you idiot, that was part of the humour of the post and the show of respect to Leeds Rhinos ability to come back from 2016 & the early season drubbing against Cas, except you were so eager to score a point and have a go that it went over your head!

Nothing fortunate about having to go and watch Leeds Utd on a Saturday, that's sheer desperation or a lack of respect for money.

Back on topic again (get a room you two)...

I find it incredibly difficult to predict the order of that top 8 for the split in 2018. I don’t think we will see runaway leaders like last year with Castleford.

1. Saints
2. Hull
3. Cas
4. Wigan
5. Leeds
6. Warrington
7. Huddersfield
8. Wakefield
9. Catalans
10. Salford
11. Hull KR
12. Widnes

Sorry Widnes, I don’t think you’re that bad and I fully expect you to play better than last year. I just think the league as a whole is very close for 2018 and any injuries might prevent you making 9th/10th especially if you lose Mellor or Olbison.

Them poor souls are far superior to the bandits singing "we all love leeds" on a Friday night and then go home to their Manchester United covered bedrooms.

Difference between our posts is mine is true

I'm sure Donald Trump would agree with you but that's about it.

I particuarly like this idea that Wakey and Cas fans are scum yet I assume all Leeds RLFC fans are gents - not my experience at all - Leeds fans are some of the worst I've come across, very derogatory and usually unable to Hanley there ale - certainly worse than the much maligned Hull FC fans.

Never called Wakey or Cas fans scum. Said they call Leeds scum when it comes to RL and your post just highlights that and based on me only pointing out that SOME Wakey and Cas fans support Leeds when it comes to football.

No doubt this will be total sheet come end of the season but

1. Hull IF we can tighten our D which was awful at times last year I reckon we are in with shout.
2. Saints
3. Leeds
4. Wigan
5. Cas
6. Wakefield
7. Warrington
8. Catalans
9. Huddersfield
10. HKR
11. Widnes
12. Salford

St Helens ( if they get there half back paring sorted ASAP)
Wigan ( surely due some injury luck)
Hull ( great pack and HBs, Fonua is a miss)
Leeds ( will miss Burrow/McGuire still will challenge for both comps)
Warrington ( freshened up this year with good signings and new coach)
Cas ( I like a lot of there recruitment, Hardaker was a huge player last year for them. Dont think they’ll get the injury luck that they had last year)
Wakey ( played some good stuff last year)
Huddersfield

Who knows what the finals will be. A lot will determine on which side can keep key players fit.

Can’t wait though! We’re nearly there guys.

Delighted that everyone has Salford so far down. Same as always and am happy to go under the radar again. Recruitment has been good and have strengthened the pack considerably. Would like another speedster, but am happy for young Bibby to get more game time.
Can’t wait for the season now, off season seems to have dragged.
Good luck to u all

You may well confound the critics who know.

However let's be honest you may have recruited well within limitations but you look to me to be considerably weaker on paper than last year - sorry

1. Saints - Started to look like they were coming good late last year.
2. Hull - Should be up there but depends on how they cope without Ellis.
3. Leeds - Even without McGuire they know how to win.
4. Castleford - Hangover from last year and losing Hardaker will set them back.
5. Wakefield - Good squad depth will see them pick up points over smaller less experienced squads.
6. Wigan - Lost a few players and don't seem to have replaced them properly, looking stale.
7. Warrington - So much depends on new coach. Players tossed it off last year not a good sign.
8. Hudds - They should be capable of this if they keep key men injury free.
9. Catalans - Depends if McNamara can change the loose culture at the club, I'd guess not.
10. Salford - Still have some quality but not much depth - can see them in the bottom 2 if they get injuries.
11. Hull KR - Not much stronger than when they went down.
12. Widnes - Lacking quality and depending on the kids coming through.

On paper I would say KR are much weaker than when they went down. The side they got relegated with just shouldnt have ever gone down. The difference is they have a much better coach now.

Perhaps so. I don't see them doing better than 11th really either way. They'll be in the mix with Widnes and Salford in the bottom three.

I wonder how things are behind the scenes though. The reason I think Salford will be relegated (if relegation is still in place) is partly because the squad looks weaker, but more because I think the club may have to offer reduced contracts, not offer new contracts, sell players mid season etc to stay afloat, which may impact on field performance. I hope I'm wrong, but think Salford are in for a tough time.

So many unknowns for Salford at the moment around the off-field stuff. Nobody seems to know if the £8m debt has been written off, transferred to the new owners or what. It’s obvious the club loses money so who is covering losses going forward?

As a Bulls fan I’m very familiar with these issues. If they're not sorted it can go pear shaped very quickly.

On the field I think Salford have a decent enough starting 17 but things depend a lot on their new Aussie halfback and losing BMM takes away a lot of their impact. They will upset a few of the top sides while they stay fit but I think the season will take its toll on their meagre squad.

Hull fc will pick up key injuries this year and struggle,you heard it here first.

1. Saints
2. Cas
3. Warrington
4. Wakefield
5. Wigan
6. Leeds
7. Hull fc
8. Widnes
9. Huddersfield
10. Catalans
11. Hkr
12. Salford

I really think the Oz effect on Leeds, Wigan and Hull will be quite telling especially how its placed in the season.

Saints
Wire
Cas
Wigan
Hull
Leeds
Hudds
Catalan
HKR
Wakey
Widnes
Salford

2016 was incredible for low injury rates but the coach didn't take advantage of this and flogged the players without rotation thus we flagged extremely badly at the back end which cost us dearly.
2017 wasn't too bad either though the coach learn't from his previous blunder and got the youngsters in early doors.
I think we have a few reasonable back ups, there are some inexperienced youngsters in the forwards but Ellis isn't a big miss for me, his go forward waned long back though his tackling and on field presence were still top notch however we lost him for far too many games anyway and barely did half a season (18/35 in '17 and only 82 games in 5 seasons).
Every team has injuries in any case so it shouldn't ever be an excuse.

Aside from Shaun Wane and Wigan of course.

Be fair Wigan don't have injuries they have epidemics.

1. St Helens
2. Castleford
3. Hull FC
4. Leeds
5. Warrington
6. Wakefield
7. Wigan
8. Catalan
9. Huddersfield
10. Widnes
11. Hull KR
12. Salford

It was so difficult to pick a table this season. I feel based on current squads Salford are in the most danger with Murdoch-Masila, T. Carney, Dobson, Walne Brothers and J. Carney departing and I'm sure if the replacements are of the same calibre. Plus as many have said I think they will have off field problems too.

I think Widnes have actually recruited decently with the acquisition of the Albert brothers, Wilde and Inu. Hence why I think they will finish above Hull KR and Salford. But not cause any major problems to the top 8.

Perhaps my most controversial and potentially silly prediction is Wigan in 7th. Based on their current squad I am struggling to see how they will replace McIllorum and Gelling. My guess is they will go out and recruit someone but if they get one or two injuries (especially to O'Loughlin) then I think they could struggle.

Catalan have recruited well. And I think Wakefield look good this season too despite losing Allgood and Sio. Hence their higher finish. Still won't do damage to the top 4 though. Warrington look stronger with a fresh coach and some very good players brought in.

Finally I think Castleford will finish 2nd because of Powell as their coach. They have lost a talisman in Hardaker, but also the leadership of Lynch, and some good backups in the likes of Crooks, Monaghan, Patrick and Larroyer. Mitch Clark could well be a good signing (we've seen him in 2016 at Bradford) and Lo, Clare and Wardle look good. However I am very unsure of Aston, Green and Ellis.

I am positive there will be a restructure for 2019 but for the sake of this thread:

Grand Final - Castleford (hopefully) but head says St Helens.
Challenge Cup - Leeds or Hull FC
£1 Million Match - Leigh vs. Salford with a win for Leigh.

Salford and Widnes to go down with Leigh coming up through £1M Match and Toronto through finishing top 3 in Middle 8's.

Both were fairly mediocre players who weren't first choice and took up quota spots. Squad is much better without them IMO.

Had a first look at Salford's new signings yesterday and pleasantly surprised.

Jack Littlejohn started at 7 and showed some nice touches and has a decent turn of foot for a half. He's a big lad as well and defensively looks pretty sound.

Levy Nzoungou ran the ball in hard and made good yards. He looks very promising for a 19yo and should be a good solid squad player.

Ben Nakubuwai is a big unit but doesn't look the most mobile. A few nice offloads tho and he could be a handful if he gets into decent shape. Not quite a like for like replacement for BMM but again he's young and there's potential there.

Derrell Olpherts - Strong and quick and looks like he could be a handful on the wing. At 25 he's not mega young but he's obviously done his time in the lower divisions and he looks like he could be a good solid SL player. I'd be more than happy if he turns out as good as Josh Griffin was for us.

Gavin Bennion - Likely to be a squad player at best with the forwards in front of him. Scored a good try tho and shouldn't be any worse than a couple of players that departed at the end of last season.

Losing the likes of Dobson & BMM were a big blow but everyone on here seems to think we've lost half our squad. I certainly don't expect us to be whipping boys like most forumites but I'm not expecting a top half finish either. We've got plenty of size in the pack so shouldn't be bullied by anyone but we do lack pace in the backs so will come up short against the best backlines in SL. Overall i think we've got a stronger squad than last season but the starting Xlll is probably a touch weaker.

Realistically we should finish above Widnes and KR and then it's a matter of picking up those extra couple of wins that sneaks us into a top 8 position.

I'm going to say we'll finish 9th and hopefully another decent cup run.

Top 4 for me will be Saints, Hull, Cas & Leeds with Wakey having another decent season and finishing top 6. W@nky can't be anywhere near as (rather enjoyably

) awful as last season and Hudds will need need their big 4/5 star players to stay fit or they'll be lurking around the bottom 4 again.