1. Leeds ( Slightly stronger than last year )
2. Saints ( Slightly weaker )
3. Wigan ( Biggest top 2 challengers )
4. Bradford ( Good pack )
5. Harlequins ( Much better than they are made out to be )
6. Warrington ( Nothing much will change )
7. Hull ( Less injuries I feel )
8. Catalan ( Still spring up some good wins )
9. Huddersfield ( Expectations too high )
10. Hull KR ( Perform with passion but lack of quality )
11. Castleford ( Much improved year )
12. Wakefield ( Going backwards )
13. Salford ( I think there defence will be good, just not sure where the points are )
14. Celtic ( Will put up a good showing )

Leeds v Wigan final I feel.
Warrington Challenge Cup winners

What a crock of this thread and most of the contributions too it.

firstly lots of teams still have not finished their recruiting.

there seems to be no consideration of squad depth and competition for places. what will be the effect on teams of injuries crocker is going to be the saviour of Hull. If he gets injured does that mean Hull will be crucified.

how will the new players fit in. if they click the teams might do well if not they will struggle. ( If Carney plays well as he is the creative link we have lacked for so long i can see huddersfield in the top 4. If not i can see us in the bottom 4 )

Too much emphasis is put on too small facets of indavidual teams ie Bradford have a good pack. According to their board they have no backs.wakefield fans feel they have good backs but no 2nd rows.

What influence will the new coaches have potter at saints, Brown at the Giants.

will some players have hangovers from the World cup. how long will it take for them to recahrge their batteries.

When someone starts making predictions based on looking at some facts then thequality of the contributions on here might improve

I'm amazed Saints do so well. Considering they're back line is so bad.

Crocker aint our saviour, however based on the fact that Horne, Dykes, King, Motu and Carvell barely played at all last year injuries perimtting we should be a lot stronger in 2009.

To be honest, there's a few teams that could apply to.

But surely these are the opinions of people on the recruiment so far , as that is all you can do

As regards facts , the only facts are the players recruited anything else is purely speculation , ie opinions like yours

Quins recruitment is over so start worrying!!!!

your on drugs aren't you

And I bet they taste bitter.



Here's my uneducated (and optimistic) guess..

[iTop 2 from: [/i
Leeds
Saints
[iNext 4 from:[/i
Bradford
Catalans
Warrington
Wigan
[iNext 4 from:[/i
Castleford
Huddersfield
Hull FC
Hull KR
[iBottom 4 from:[/i
Crusaders
Harlequins
Salford
Wakefield

Replace wellens with greenshields and you might have a point, though the point that richards is one of the best backs in the league remains valid, can you think of one team he couldnt get into?

Top 4
Leeds
St Helens
Warrington
Catalans/Hull/Wigan

5-10
Hull/Catalans/Wigan
Bradford
Hull KR
Huddersfield
Cas/Wakefield

11-14
Wakefield/Cas
Harlequins
Salford
Celtic Crusaders

The teams in each category could finish anywhere within that category imo

Thats wrong Nicky Standton at Leigh next season.

Halequins are much better than most are making out with their predictions. They also seems to be getting the youth policy right at last. I'm very exited about Clubb, LMS, Sharp & co.

I would certainly agree with you that quins youth policy is producign some excellent players, the reason why (and perhaps others) put quins low down in the table is that they have lost 3 playmakers (rinaldi, hill and paul) and only brought dorn in to replace them, while dorns not a bad player he can be expected to fill the shoes of three players, and plays his best rugby as a support player (for me he is arguabley the best support player in the league), who thrives off converting his playmakers hard work into points.

Celtic and Salford to finish above Wakie Cas and Hull FC, a pint of what your having please.

why cause i think cas will finish bottom...again?

He said top 3.

Mogg is also better and Whatuira

think he is a dobbin, enough said

My Super League Prediction Table: [size=9(ATMIT)[/size

1. Leeds Rhinos
2. St Helens
3. Les Catalan Dragons
4. Bradford Bulls
5. Wigan Warriors
6. Huddersfield Giants
7. Warrington Wolves
8. Hull FC
9. Hull Kingston Rovers
10. Castleford Tigers
11. Salford City Reds
12. Harlequins RL
13. Celtic Crusaders
14. Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

When you look at what we have lost it could look bad but
Paul was at the end of his time . Very much a defensive organizer
Rinaldi didn't get much play time of Mcdermott as Randell is an 80 min hooker
Hill on his day was brilliant. He was injured a lot. Mcdermott this week said when he played we were to reliant on him and this year we will go through several first receivers in our plays
Mclinden was injured all last year although a great player.

We've brought in 2 hard working Aussie back rowers. Mac said at the forum this week we have played with no recognised back row for 2 years( Purdham excepted)

Our big loss last year was Gafa getting injured. He is now back in training.

Lets see. Like all supporters Im hopeful, realistically bottom half.

Ok, here goes...

Leeds
Stains
Catalans
Wigan
Dire
Hull FC
Bulls
Hull KR
Huddersfield
Quins
Cas
Wakefield
Celtic
Salford

HKR 5th can't see it.

Yes we have finished botome twice in 5 years, we finished two points off this year and have strengthened our sqaud since. Salford and celtic will struggle as all promoted teams struggle, some player will have never played super league before, new faces will be brought in meaning the team will take time to gel, and they will have had less of a chance to build a squad than other teams. Still if you think cas will finish bottom perhaps i can intrest you in a wager

?

Whats more do you really think that hull will struggle again so much, they were plagued by injury last year, but they have some good young players and have a decent chance of being able to put out there two first choice halfs this year, something which i dont believe the did last year. Wakey are having some problems but to say they will finish below both promoted teams is naive in the extreme, players like brough, latu and drew will see them pick up points.

I would say he would be in with a shout at top 5 though, certainly top ten, if i could have one wigan player at cas it would be him.

Obviously you know alot more about your recruitment than i do but i really think you will miss these players, you have some excellent young players though and one of the best coaches in the league though, so you will continue to punch above your weight, the recruitment from the national league and reletive lack of signings though suggests that money might be tight.