And you expected different?

It will be interesting to see how bulls do this season, they've brought in a few aussies, will they hit the ground running or take a while to settle in? will the injury prone players they have signed get a good run of games, can orford match his 2008 form? i reckon bulls could be anywhere between 5th and 10th depending on the answers to these questions.

A few clubs are in the same boat and will have to answer those same questions.

Whilst agree i with that upto a point, nowhere more so than bradford, they have lost there best forward, changed both there halfs (if the deacon to wigan rumours are true, which given the orford part coming true seems likely) changed there starting hooker, brought in more overseas signings than anyone else (i think) and bought a number of playes that have been injury prone in the past. Plenty could right for bulls next year or plenty could go wrong.

Leeds
Wigan
St Helens
Warrington
Catalans
Huddersfield
Bradford
Hull
Hull KR
Wakefield
Castleford
Salford
Harlequins
Celtic

5th to 10th will be very tight with those clubs in just about any order depending on injuries.

Wigan will be the main threat to Leeds. Saints will be going through a transition but should do well enough for 3rd at least. Warrington should improve under Smith but it'll take time for those players to gel and Catalans should have a much better year.

Leeds
St Helens
Catalan Dragons
Hull FC
Warrington
Wigan
Wakefield
Huddersfield
---------------------
Bradford
Castleford
Hull KR
Harlequins
Salford
Crusaders

Cant see anyone but Leeds taking it, Saints will still be there or there abouts if they can keep a lot fitter than last season. i think Catalan and FC will push on this season, added quality and in FC's case shed a lot of dead wood. Warrington may find more success next season after gelling and finding their feet with a fair bit of movement. Hudds i dont think will repeat last seasons efforts. Wakefield will maintain a play-off spot, added quality, just for some reason they always seem to under achieve. Hull KR havnt added enough quality yet to show we can get back up into that top 4, cant see it myself. Quins have added a lot of average NL players. Salford i cant recall them signing anyone of big note and the Crusaders dont even have a team yet do they!?

Thats my effort anyways.

Leeds

Wigan, Saints and Catalans in any order.

Warrington close to that 2nd group.

Bradford, Cas, Wakefield, Hull FC, Hull KR and Huddersfield fighting it out to be Yorkshire's 2nd best team.

Quins, Salford and Celtic not far behind.

1. Leeds
2. Saints
3. Warrington
4. Huddersfield
5. Wigan
6. Hull KR
7. Hull FC
8. Wakefield
--------------------------
9. Bradford
10. Catalans
11. Castleford
12. Harlequins
13. Celtic Crusaders
14. Salford

boo

A bit of realism always helps. Think Warrington and Hull will go above us, and Bradford have made enough decent signings to push on too.

Am i the only one who isn't convinced with Hull FC's signings?

Leeds

Wigan
St Helens
Warrington
Huddersfield
(above 4 any order)

Catalans
Hull KR
Wakefield
Bradford
Hull
(above 5 any order)

Castleford
Harlequins
Salford
Celtic

Alot of Wigans season will depend on how quickly McGuire and Wane can get their message across. I am though expecting a big season from both Fielden and Paleaaesina because they're both off contract at the end of the year.

I'm going-

Leeds
Warrington
St Helens
Wigan
Catalans
Huddersfield
Hull
Bradford
Hull KR
Wakefield
Castleford
Quins
Salford
Celtic

Without sounding like Eddie or Stevo next year really could be the closest ever. So many teams are stronger then last year and the play off race from 4th downwards will be really tight.

I've got Hull KR and Wakey outside the 8 when in reality either could easily be 4th or 5th.

No but you might have a tough time explaining that to the FC fans.

Leeds
Wire
Saints
Hudds
Wigan
Cats
HKR
Hull FC
Wakey
Bradford
Cas
Quins
Salford
Celtic

Leeds - a couple of new signings should make them even stronger.
Warrington - Good signings, good coach, added to what they already had.
St Helens - Will depend more on youth, but still a quality outfit.
Wigan - Good side, a change of coach will do them good.
Huddersfield - Good signings made and good retention.
Bradford - Made some good signings, but losing Burgess will hurt them.
Hull F.C. - Made some good signings, but lack of firepower out wide.
Catalans - Very good side on their day and made some good additions.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wakefield - Great coach, good additions, but struggle against the big boys.
Hull KR - Lack forward power as the squad stands, to make a challenge.
Castleford - Good side, but the competition has got stronger.
Celtic - New coach and alot of additions will make them stronger.
Harlequins - Young squad may struggle with the week to week intensity.
Salford - I cant see them improving as much as the other teams.


The middle pack in bold could finish in any order. The competition looks very tight.

As a Hull fan i'm not 100% convinced. Fitz and Long are cracking players but will age start to take it's toll? O'Meley, he was excellent in his Canterbury days but hasn't reached those heights for a couple of years now. Turner is a good prospect but he's just a kid.

However people forget that we have Lauaki who only played 3 games this year. Tansey who showed alot of potential when he came over early, Craig Hall who looked a new player when he came back from Widnes. Tom Briscoe who will be better for his England experience, Moa who didn;t have a pre season last year. I am as excited about seeing these players as I am the new guys.

I am confident that we will make the 8. If Long has a good year and we stay reasonably injury free then who knows?

As for my prediction:

Leeds
Warrington
St Helens
Wigan
Hull FC
Huddersfield
Catalans
Hull KR
Bradford
Wakefield
Castleford
Quins
Salford
Celtic

But tbh 2nd to 12th could be in any order imo. Who knows what will happen?

I agree.

No.

Just like to point out, all you guys who put Celtic as 13th and 14th are DEFINITELY out of luck.

Celtic are a football team that don't play in Superleague.

Celtic Crusaders are now THE Crusaders RL (because SOMEBODY couldn't pronounce Cetic properly and p155ed off our MD - Keltic = correct, Seltic = bladdy stupid)

And since all predictions are actually tedious and pointless wishlists anyway, here's my "prediction".

Crusaders
Wakefield
Quins
Leeds
Catalans
Hull KR
Warrington
St Helens
Wigan
Huddersfield
Bradford
Castleford
Hull
Salford

They will be the Cumbrian Crusaders in 2011 when they relocate to Barrow

St Helens
Wigan
Leeds
Catalans
Hull FC
Bradford
Huddersfield-Sheffield
London
Warrington
Wakefield
Hull KR
Cas
Salford
Celtic

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

Haha brilliant Grendel.

1. Leeds
2. Saints
3. Catalans
4. Wire
5. Wigan
6. Hull KR
7. Huddersfield
8. Wakey
9. Bradford
10. Castleford
11. Crusaders
12. Hull
13. Quins
14. Salford

Alright then