Us, Catalans, Warrington, Wakefield, Bradford, Hull FC, Celtic (sounds strange) will all improve IMO.

The rest will stay the same or get a little worse.

Ths first 3 mentioned are the biggest threat to Leeds and Saints.

Leeds are the favourites. It is defo their season to lose. They have the best squad and alot of their key players playing at their peak.

Sts are weaker but still the second best team in the league but I predict they will miss the organisor in Long in the close games which may cause them to drop a few places.

Then there are three teams I feel that are open to BIG improvement, they are Warrington, Wigan and Huddersfield. All these teams IMHO are capable of knocking Saints of their perch....maybe even touch Leeds if they maintain consistancy.

Hull KR, Catalans same again will be in the mixer but I do not think they are as strong as the three above and will struggle with consistancy.

My [ioptimistic[/i guess at the final league standings:

1) Leeds
2) Wigan
3) Saints
4) Huddersfield
5) Wire

I honestly think by the end of the season there will be at most 5 points between at least 4 of these 5 teams.

Interesting season for you pie's I shall be watching close. I think it can go 2 ways for you lot. you could have a nightmare year like the bulls did in 09 and not make the 8! Or your coach does what Nathan brown has at hudds and gets the best out of the players in the squad!

1. Leeds
2. Saints

The rest doesn't matter.

Perhaps the rest shouldn't bother turning up then?

Sorry, daft opinion - made to look all the dafter by the assertiveness with which it's given, and because it's unsupported by any kind of factual analysis.

It's got to be Leeds again for me, I think we'll be challenging but I think Leeds will win SL again.

Teams to challenge? Well Warrington, Us, Huddersfield and Catalans will all mount very respectable pushes. I didn't mention Saints there as I think they don't need to be predicted to challenge, because they will anyway.

CAM. I think your post is somewhat ridiculous. IMO any of Wigan, Warrington, Catalans or Huddersfield could finish 2nd in SL this year. It is far from a two-horse race.

I don't expect Salford and/or Celtic to do anything and thus I can't say I expect them to climb the SL ladder.

I'll predict my SL table.

1. Leeds Rhinos
2. Warrington Wolves
3. Saints
4. Wigan Warriors
5. Huddersfield Giants
6. Catalans Dragons
7. Hull KR
8. Bradford Bulls
9. Hull FC
10. Harlequins
11. Castleford Tigers
12. Wakefield Wildcats
13. Salford City Reds
14. Crusaders

As for the CC

I expect to see one of if not two of the 4 teams I've named as top 4 SL finishers in the final, but I've got a feeling there may well be a shock in this years CC competition.

Journey - Dont sop belivn. should be the enterance music when the players walk out

i think we will make the top 4 and show more consistency but feel we will be a good 8 points off top spot.

Leeds
Saints
Warrington
Wigan
Huddersfield
Hull KR
Catalans
Hull
Bradford
Wakefield
Harlequins
Castleford
Crusaders
Salford

Super league winners - Leeds
Challenge cup - Wire to successfully defend

Leeds are obviously the team to beat and then Saints will be there or thereabouts. I think we can go well and get a top 4 spot if things come together and i'd expect Wire to join us in that bracket.

After that Catalans and Huddersfield will be the biggest challenge to a top 4 spot for Wigan or Warrington. They've both brought some quality players in and are tough to play against. I expect slight improvments from Bradford and Hull but i'm overly convinced their new signings will be as good as some expect.

Hull KR and Wakefield will both be hard to play against again although i'm not sure they'll finish as high as 2009.

Cas and Quins will have a big job on to make the 8 imo but are outside contenders.

Salford and Celtic will be bottom 2.

It should be a very competitive season.

Saints need players like Pryce & Wilkin to take on the mantle from Long and im interested to see how 3 hookers will make their 17. Salford & Quins look poor to me and Im not sure Cas have enough quality to maintain their development.

Everyone else will improve, Celtic will get better as the year goes on, but Nobby seems to be getting some decent players down there.

For us, consistency is key as our attack and defence were fine for the most part last year.

Leeds are by far and away the team to beat though.

for me its going to be a strong 8 this season with not much between any of them......

Leeds
Wigan
Wire
Saints
Hull KR
Catalans
Hull FC
Castleford
--------------
Bradford
Huddersfield
Wakefield
London
Wrexham
Salford

An Orford led Bradford won't be outside 8 and saints will definetly miss long at many key times throughout season IMO

Leeds by distance
Saints Wigan Wire Bradford Hull Fc
Huddersfield Wakefield Cat Hull Kr

Quinns Crusaders Cas

Salford wooden spoon mc crae first out

CC Leeds Wire final Leeds

I just want to see Wigan perform better by:

Not be bullied by teams on our own pitch, make other teams worry about coming to the DW.

When taking a lead, I want them to put the game to bed. Maybe even win a few with 20-30 minutes to go.

Not be afraid when playing 'The Top Two', we beat Leeds at the Big One last season and consistently beaten them at Headingley. Re: Stains, they could be on a lean streak due to their leavers / age of team, we need to take advantage of this.

Improvement in defence, enough to win tight games despite pressure on our own line.

These four pointers should be enough to see Wigan glide up towards the top positions, where they end up would depend on how often they stick to the above.

I genuinely think we're stronger than last year. I appear to be in a minority of one though

I dont think wigan have particulary recruited well. I think the big thing for wigan is if mcguire can inspire the squad to push for a title challenge or a challenge cup win.

Leeds will definately be up there as there squad is as strong as ever, interesting season for saints but i still feel they will be up their. A lot of teams will be looking at huddersfield to repeat last years effort but for some reason i just cant see that happening.

I think bradford will be the suprise package to the season but will be interesting to see how they cope without burgess.

Leeds
Saints
Wire
Wigan
Bradford
Catalans
Hull FC
Hudds
------------
Hull KR
Wakefield
Quins
Castleford
Crusaders RL
Salford

CC Leeds/Bradford - Leeds Win

We are 99% the same squad as last year and we got to within 80 minutes of two finals despite being gash for large parts of the season (the first 50% of it and a few shockers along the way). If we can improve by 20% in performance throughout the season, then we should naturally rise in position...where is unknown due to outside factors like others teams performances..etc.

I'm not convinced thats how is works. Luck becomes a big part of the season. You could boss every game but if the decisions dont come your way then it doesnt really matter. Also a lot of teams will improve next season leaving games in 50/50 situations even more so than 2009. Mcguire needs a good start at wigan, if he doesnt i fear the worst.

You could equally argue that you have 99% the same squad that was rubbish last year so why should you be anything other than rubbish without arguably your best player (Hock) this year?

I still think wigan will be a fair way off the pace of Leeds and Saints. I don't doubt MM is a good coach, but I do doubt that he's a miracle worker. Wigan are still 2/3 signings off a genuine challenge for SL IMO - it's no coincidence you keep coming up just short in SL/CC.

Will be good to see how it all pans out though, hopefully we're in for an unpredictable season in 2010

For wigan to mount any form of challenge we need our fowards to fire.

This is shaun wanes department. At times last year our pack were simply average. If he can get them to raise their performances by 20-25% we stand a real chance.

The second thing we need is direction from the halves to move the side around the park. The recruitment of deacon will take a lot of pressure off sam and will allow tommy to spend more time at 9, his best most natural position IMO.

Our threequaters have pace and are capable of finishing tries we simply need a strong platform set by the forwards every week, behind which our halves can dictate play.

I also think we need to play a far deeper and much more aggressive rugged style of rugby.

Unfortunatley for 2010 we missed the boat with new quality signings, due to the timing of announcing Maguire as coach. The next best thing is to improve the performances of the players you already have. This is where Maguire, Wane and Mark Bitcon (new conditioner) come in.
Already Feka is rumoured to have shed 1-2 stone whilst announcing he feels he's at his fittest he's ever felt. (With five weeks to go yet)!! Other players have commented on how this new training regieme has improved their standards in fitness not seen in years. Who do we blame for that? Noble? Seems the case here!

I'd be suprised but chuffed if we win any pots next season, much like Wire fans must have felt winning the cup despite their poor league campaign.

For me, 2011 season is the big one, big names out of contract (particularly the last name on the list below).



Phil Bailey 1 Year Extension December 2009 November 2010
George Carmont 1 Year Extension October 2009 November 2010
Andy Coley 1 Year Extension July 2009 November 2010
Cameron Phelps 1 Year Extension July 2009 November 2010
Karl Pryce 1 Year Extension June 2009 November 2010
Darrell Goulding 2 Years Extension April 2008 November 2010
Harrison Hansen 2 Years Extension September 2008 November 2010
Mike McIlorum 2 Years Extension April 2008 November 2010
Lee Mossop 2 Years Extension September 2008 November 2010
Paul Prescott 2 Years Extension April 2008 November 2010
Iafeta Paleaaesina 4 Years Extension November 2006 November 2010
Stuart Fielden 4.5 Years Initial Contract June 2006 November 2010


Some fresh quality signings in addition to our current squad (and quality youth coming through) should see Wigan compete for silver at least.

I've said before, I'm not going to get 'too' giddy just yet, I am giddy about the fact that the next five years should be more pleasant than the last five years.

Agree with that. Unfortunately (for me) I think that within 2/3 seasons of 2011 wigan will overtake Leeds as best side in SL.

Might start watching union then.

As a neutral why do you feel were in such a strong position for the future?

I'd just like to hear your opinion as someone who doesn't support Wigan.

1. Terrific academy (incredibly important in a salary-capped SL)
2. Complete overhaul of the coaching set-up including the recruitment of one of the most forward thinking coaches in RL
3. Expensive mistakes of the past coming off contract

Thnx for that.

I feel most Wigan fans would agree with you on those points.

Thx from me too FTV. I don't think many here expect us to be straight into silverware next season... Its the future that we like the look of. As was said earlier in this thread, the next five years look like they should be better than the last.