Think Huddersfield will struggle this year.

Top 5 in no order. Probably decided on who handles injuries the best.

Wigan
Warrington
Saints
Catalans
Leeds

Then

Cas
Salford
Huddersfield

Bottom 4:

Hull (might be ok if they can find a good coach by March when they're bottom)
KR
Wakey
Widnes

I remember this thread from last year, when I was predicting Salford wouldn't make the top 8, and some Salford fans, high on the whiffs from Koukash's wallet, took issue with that prediction. I've been trying to find the old thread so I could see how accurate the rest of last year's predictions were, but I can't seem to search for anything older than September this year !

So, for what it's worth, this year's prediction.

[uWinner[/u







Saints - Best pack, best halves and competent backs. If they stay fit, the only question mark is the new coaching team.

[uPlaces 2-4 (in no particular order)[/u







Wigan - Losing Green is a blow to them, and unless they turn up a remarkable youngster to partner Smith, they'll offer less than this year. Still too good for most.
Warrington - quality all over the park, but need to find a way to settle a halfback combination to allow the team to develop more structure
Leeds - Yes they're getting older, and they're most likely to be fourth of the big four, but the best threequarters in the competition and a decent pack will see them right.

[uPlaces 5-8 (in no particular order)[/u







Catalans - too strong at home, too weak away. Nothing will change for this mid-table side.
Castleford - no repeat of last year's heroics for Castleford, but still too much class for the bottom half
Huddersfield - Last season was a plateau for them. Can they get off it and carry on upwards ? Forwards probably slightly weaker than last year. It all hinges on Brough again.
Hull FC - What is going wrong at Hull ? Why can't they turn into proper contenders ? Maybe this is the season they will. I doubt it though - mid section for them.

[uPlaces 9-12 (in no particular order) [/u







Widnes - There's just not enough on the pitch to see them repeat last year's top 8 finish
Wakefield - Frightening times for Wakefield now their "cushion" of London and Bradford have gone. On the plus side, they're still too strong for any semi-pro outfit in play-offs
Salford - Sorry Salford fans. The whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. In particular, the Salford pack looks very weak compared to the top half sides. The backs might win them a few games.
Hull KR - Lost too much quality to finish above their Hull FC rivals this year. The Kings of inconsistency will continue to be, er, inconsistent.

Top two (no particular order):

St. Helens
Warrington

Third and fourth (no particular order):

Catalan Dragons
Wigan

Fifth and sixth (No patricular order):

Huddersfield
Leeds

Seventh - tenth (no particular order):

Castleford
Hull FC
Salford
Widnes

Stragglers (No particular order):

Hull Kingston Rovers
Wakefield Trinity

I would argue we have lost dead wood and replaced with quality, particularly in the backs.

Found it ! viewtopic.php?f=2&t=563453&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights.

Found it ! viewtopic.php?f=2&t=563453&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights.

Our backiline has massively improved from last season, we're a good hooker and 2 forwards short but still time to fill the gaps.

of those who posted a list on Roy's reposted 2013 thread, including Wakefield fans
60% had Wakefield finishing lower than they did
36% had us in 12th which was correct
4% had us higher (one place 11th)

That's pretty indicative of the last 14 years when just about every fans forum, Trade paper journalist and TV pundit has had us down for relegation, we're still here and have NEVER finished bottom

I am amazed at how many posters on here are unaware of the exceptional talents of Todd Carney and Albert Kelly.

In 2014 Catalans came 7th but in the playoffs defeated Leeds and Huddersfield away to make the final 4, without the services of Carney. Hull KR came 9th without Kelly. Both clubs are better off for their buys vs their losses for 2015. So expect Catalans to make a stronger challenge in 2015 (they have also acquired a very good centre in William Tonga) than in 2014, and expect Hull KR to at least make the 8 (assuming that they can find a decent new hooker).

I don't want to get into a Hull v Rovers slanging match but since it's my team and we are Derby rivals I think it's a good comparison.

Out of the signings you have made I would only be interested in, as a Hull fan, Kelly, and perhaps Dixon and Donaldson as squad players. I don't think any others would improve Hull's squad.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your first choice back line will be, I imagine;

Mantellato
Dixon
Goulding
Welham
Sio

That's compared to:

Shaul
Lineham
Sa
Michaels
Talanoa

Hull every time for me.

Wakefield were very good at planning ahead for 2015 and replaced Richard Agar with James Webster who finished the season with 7 wins from 10. Trinity also sent the players who required it for early surgery so as to ensure a fully fit squad and a full pre season. Recruitment started early with physical size and real depth in the pack being the priority, as a result the inevitable injury crisis, that hits all clubs at some point, won't destroy our season. The size of the pack gives our key player, Tim Smith, every opportunity to be at his best alongside Jarrod Sammut. Pita Godinet has shown himself to be an international class hooker alongside Paul McShane. We've finaly got Dean Collis 100% fit and have signed some quality in the backs with Riley and Craig Hall. They'll give us speed, size but more importantly experience as we blood two or three of our really exciting young backs from the youth system.

Perhaps the biggest step forward on the field will be the stability off it with the club recently announcing a £355,000 profit being in the starkest contrast to last year.

I don't think that will be our first choice backline, not sure on who will play full back as Dixon has also put his hand up to play there. I don't think Welham will start, plus if and it's a big if, we get another off half which Chester has mentioned then possibly Blair to centre.

As for your backs, I don't see where the threat comes from apart from Shaul, not great pace and if Yeaman starts, even less pace. Not seen much of Michaels but I believe he can play S/R to like Sa, not much mobility between them. Plus Talanoa, I just don't rate, seems to be out of position a fair bit from what I have seen, I don't see how Radford rates him as possibly the best winger in the comp.

As for your signings, Sneyd I like but can he back up his previous good season, plus I think Minichello will go well for you.

Huddersfield being written off again... seem to be going under the radar which will suit us down to the ground!

lost the least number of games last season and was very close to winning the LLS again, that after a poor season!

if we can keep the squad fit we will go well yet again in the league i feel, alot of it is how fit your squad is nowadays as not alot between the top sides when they have their best 17

Sio will kill it for Rovers, have an outside bet on him as top try scorer if Kelly clicks. Eels fans are spewing he's left.

Michaels is quick. I'm not aware of him ever playing second row, he may have done once or twice I suppose. Whether he will be a success or not I have no idea, but he can't be accused of not being mobile. Also I think you underestimate Lineham's pace. He'd beat Dixon over 100 metres no problem. Admittedly Dixon is quicker off the mark though which often counts for more, but when Lineham is in space it's good night.

Sa needs to recapture his pre union form, but he's a big threat close to the line. Talanoa does a lot of things really well, but you are correct he does need to work on some other stuff. Don't forget he hadn't played the game for almost 2 years before he came to us, and arrived after the friendlies had started. He should be better for having an off season.

We've also got Lancaster as back up on the wing who is a real prospect and the quickest of the lot.

We are all biased towards our our teams and players. Fwiw I agree that your back line is much improved. But I actually really like our backs this year. If we are going to struggle it will be because of our front row, especially hooker.

I disagree.

8.Adrian Morley

9.Tommy Lee

10.Lama Tasi

11.Harrison Hansen

12.Weller Hauraki

13.Gareth Hock

16.Scott Taylor

17.Jordan Walne

20.Adam Walne

21.Tony Puletua

22.Jason Walton

23.Andrew Dixon

24.Liam Hood

26. Carl Forster

27.Luke Menzies

29. Brad England

31. Matt Groat

Got to agree.

Salford's got a good mix of experience and youth in its pack. Plus it's got size and pace too. Good young hungry back-up adds depth. Probably lacks a 'name' at hooker but with Hood, Fages, and even Chase slotting in there you never know.

Absolutely no way is that a weak pack.

Wet sponges? Not this year, I think you need something much stronger sir.

You're clearly insane





Of course we'll never know but IMO, if Tom Briscoe didn't drop that ridiculous pass in the play offs Leeds would have done the double last season.

We'll finish in the top 3 in 2015 alongside Wigan and either Saints or Wire.

My top 8.

Saints
Wigan
Leeds
Wire
Catalans
Salford
Hudds
Castleford or Hull

Challenge Cup - Catalans or Salford hopefully
GF - Leeds or Wire definitely

The Butcher & NMDevil seem to be missing the point made by Roy H.

It doesn't matter what names you have in individual shirts, the club and its team seems incapable of realising its potential.

The outcome is LESS than the sum of its parts.

Quote ="Roy Haggerty"Found it ! viewtopic.php? ... 3&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights. '" Can we have another Saints vs Salford squad run through again?

Quote ="Roy Haggerty"Found it ! viewtopic.php? ... 3&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights. '" Can we have another Saints vs Salford squad run through again?

Wigan
Leeds
Wire
Saints
Catalans
Hudds
Salford
Hull
Castleford
Hull kr
Wakefield
Widnes

The bits underlined I agree could happen in any given year but we had two teams in SL in a similar position this year as well, such is sport sometimes unfortunately. The last paragraph is an overstatement though as it would mean that the bottom two were already relegated at the time of the split (if 6 of the bottom eight as you suggest were safe from relegation). The top 2 in the 3rd eight may sometimes be safe from the drop at the start of the second phase but in that case they would be focussed on finishing high up to get more cash and possibly a trophy.

As far as the bit in bold goes even in that scenario they would have something to play for (a SL place) they would just achieve that goal prior to the last day of the season. With points being reset though a top 3 place can't be confirmed until at least 4 of the seven games have been played. Even a team walking that middle eight would have no more than 3 games to play where they already knew they were in SL.

Warriors
Wire
Saints
Dragons
Giants
Tigers
FC
Rhinos (only just - a team that is now beyond its sell by date with a CE who won't splash the cash)
Rovers
Reds
Wildcats
Vikings

Always fun to see the giants get put in 6/7/8 spot

Think we've been top 6 for a few years now and top 4 the last three
Last season we were hampered by injuries (of course no one credits that we lost our first choice 7 for half the season, our first choice hooker for 9 months, and our strike centres carrying injuries all season)

Next year we've improved the pack and most of our players will have had a full rest (again the giants contributed more teams to international duty in the world cup than any other)

I'm happy to be written off but expect to see us in the fight for LLS

He actually said "I don't think there's a better winger in the competition who's better at finding you a ruck win when he's returning the ball". He never claimed Talalnoa is possibly the best winger overall.

He went well for us last year, even winning our PotY (nothing to brag about given our season, admittedly).