Mr koukash seems to want a top 4 finish so that's not entirely true



There doesn't appear to be more saints fans tipping great things this year than there are fans of other teams predicting saints to do well (though to be fair the saints bunch on here are generally pessimistic souls) - I'm quietly confident well be challenging this year - as has been said our signings appear better than those leaving and with an injury crisis last year we still weren't too far away so who knows - I don't think anyone's setting up for a fall - no ones said "this is definitely what's going to happen!"

If you don't want a team examined closer don't accuse someone of smoking things when they predict!

(or whatever was said)

Anyway league predicition:

The top 5: Huddersfield, Warrington, Leeds, Wigan, Saints in any order.
Fighting for the 8: Hull fc, Catalans, Hull kr, Salford in any order
Potentially at risk if not careful: Widnes, Castleford, Wakefield, Bradford in any order
Seems like certain: London

1) Warrington
2) Saints
3) Leeds
4) Huddersfield
5) Wigan
6) Hull
7) Catalan


Salford
9) Cas
10) Hull KR
11) Bradford
12) Wakefield
13) Widnes
14) London

Hmmm, care to explain?

Hudds, Wigan and Wire have finished top in the last 3 seasons and come unstuck in the playoffs. Representatives from the clubs have stated that they aren't bothered about finishing top. Leeds have a well developed habit of winning it from lower places. Saints would get away with a good regular season this time around after several years of relative underachievement. he rest aren't good enough to challenge.

One of the major drawbacks from the new structure in 2015 is that you will still get scant reward for finishing top.

Okay, this and your following posts indicate you are an extremely arrogant person. So I'll start by saying most Salford fans are nothing more than cautiously optimistic, but there are many faults with the points you've listed above.

Firstly, Morley still managed to average more than eight meters per carry last year, which is more than Chris Hill.

Secondly, whilst I wouldn't argue about our Saints recruits, most of your own fans seem to think Meli did a good job in the centres last season.

Then if you want to know who Lama Tasi is, type 'bondi bruiser' into any search engine or more specifically Utube, he's the guy hitting Greg Bird so hard his ancestors woke up in pain.

Noble is the coach who previously got the best out of Hock, and he had similar success with Tommy Lee at the Crusaders. The quality of a hooker can be considerably improved by the other forwards creating time and space for them.

Harrison Hansen is one of the most destructive tacklers in SL, in fact, I would rate him as the most effective second row in last seasons playoffs.

Then we come to Chase and Smith, please can swap them for Hohaia and Wilkin? Ok, so we're not exactly Koukash and McManus so it's not our place, but imagine we were, there is no chance McManus would/should turn Koukash down. I seem to recall many Saints fans on your forum were wanting McManus to outbid Koukash for his services.

McPherson is a very effective player, when he's on the pitch, and you can clearly see the difference he makes to our defensive line. Plus he regularly manages to find a quick play the ball.

Dixon works hard, but I wouldn't rate him anymore than a squad filler. Ashurst, on the other hand, played some good rugby for Reds in 2012.

But league position do mean more generally under it. 5 into 4 wont go so Wigan/wire/leeds /Saints /Hudds will be desperate to finish in the top 4.

But no real difference if you finish 1st or 4th.

Wigan
Saints
Warrington
Leeds
Huddersfield
Catalan
Hull
HKR
Salford
Cas
Widnes
London
Bradford
Wakefield

How is one home game away from the GF "scant reward?"

Same reward as 4th placed club - therefore "scant".

I am a bit more optimistic about Hulls chances having seen our new signings play. Rankin looks good, Feka is in great shape and Talanoa is a real unit. I think anything less than 6th would be disappointing.

i'll give you that, just a home tie and that doesnt make any difference.

I think a couple of posters are over-ranking Wire here.

They've taken a massive blow in losing Briers, Hodgson, Carvell & Morley all at once, and the pack looks paper thin. They have three replacement forwards in Harrison, Wood & Currie - them aside, the entire backup for the pack is kids.

Leeds are probably a stronger proposition as well, given they have a hooker this year, and will play the entire season with a right winger (as opposed to Joe Vickery).

So I'd go for:

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

Huddersfield
Saints
Warrington
Catalans
Leeds
Wigan
Salford
Hull KR
Bradford
Hull FC
Wakefield
Castleford
Widnes
London

Except 4th place means you play away.

Wigan
Huddersfield
Saints
Wire
Leeds
Catalans
Hull fc
Widnes
Salford
Hull KR
Bradford
Castleford
Wakefield
London

So playing at home is no advantage over playing away?

it wasn't in 3 of the last 4 years


Huddersfield in 2013 Lost to Wigan
Wigan in 2012 lost to Saints and 2010 lost to Leeds

I think technically it's actually more pressure on the home team, they're expected to perform by the home fans given the home advantage but as PW has said it's hasn't been the case.

The only thing this thread shows is how biased people are to their own Club.

Shocking. Who'd have thought it?

No I (was) a broncos fan, until the latest farce this winter and the retention of the Warder as Chief Exec, and I think we will do well to finish 18th!

Hull and Rovers to fight it out for 7th.

Salford and London ready for the drop. Wakey will also the among them.

I really can't call the top 4.

My team in the top 8, anyone but my team in the bottom two.

That's pretty much how this thread goes, right?