Huddersfield will be a much different and tougher proposition in 25

I think they will be stronger too.

I know I shouldn't read too much into it, but I saw a video on SM, showing Ken Davy go into dressing room at the end of their last game of 2024, and he gave the team a bit of a pep talk, and said basically, that they are a club on the rise. There was just something in his body language.

There were 5 teams vying for the last 3 play off spots last season, I think there will be more.

I also think those that finish bottom will pick up more than London last year, and us the year before

I'm pretty confident Ken will do that every year.
I'm sure they'll improve though. They've made some decent signings.

I personally think Hudds will miss playoffs and be around 10th next season. They are going backwards from a few seasons ago. They’ve made a couple of decent signings though so it wouldn’t surprise me too much for them to be within touching distance of playoffs end of season.

There’s a lot to improve on though. They were poor when I watched them a few times last season.

I'd be happy to wager a bit on Huddersfield finishing 11th. They've lost their best back (Marsters), best forward (Hill) and signed poor man's replacements in Jacob Gagai (28-year-old who's played 17 NRL games) and Tom Burgess, who struggles to play more than 40 minutes. They've also lost Connor (maybe for the best), and Russell, leaving them with Lolohea and Clune as their only recognised playmakers. It's looking like Gagai will play fullback - a position he's never played at senior level. I live on the other side of Huddersfield and their fans are completely dejected ahead of next year.

Cas 12th - until they signed Rimbu I felt they might only win 4 or 5 games.

It would be the shock of the season if Leeds finish in the top 4. It's not that their squad is particularly bad, and Arthur will get them playing well, I just don't think they've got the talent in key positions to finish higher than Wigan, Saints, Warrington, and Hull KR.

Catalans are a nit of an unknown and could finish anywhere between 4th and 10th. Leigh and Salford will drop off. Hull FC will improve but not enough to finish higher than us. That's what makes this season pretty exciting for Trin - the pressure's off, and as the top 4 is sewn up we could finish anywhere between 5th and 11th. I'm a believer!

Agree with a lot of what you say, however I think Wire are going to be the team to slip down the ladder. I think their recruitment has been poor to average at best.

Saints have improved their backline but their forwards still look average too.

Wouldn’t shock me to see Leeds above both those 2 come the end of the year.

First few rounds are always difficult to call as most teams are 'bedding in' new players and combinations. I hope that our pack can perform as well in this league as they did last year, and I'm pretty confident that they will. That'll hopefully give our new halves and backs time and space to really get going. I think we'll be a force to be reckoned with from day 1, I'm looking forward to a SL season for the first time in ages!

3pm kick off Sarurday 15th Feb if confirmed a great kick off time hopefully a big following from us

Delighted with the confirmed fixtures so far. Leeds on a Saturday afternoon so can make a day of it.

Rovers at home on a Thursday night is fine by me - I’d rather play them early in the season but the only downside is only a few hundred KR fans will be able to make it over. But why shouldn’t we sell it out with home fans anyway?

And Cas at home on a Thursday night before bank holiday Friday is a cracker.

I expect Leeds to pull a few strings and get our fixture switched to Friday night. Hopefully.

I'm a Rhinos fan and I agree with your quote and tbh I would be happy with a 5th or 6th place finish in 2025 and anything any higher would be a bonus.
Although IMO Saints also look a little weak outside of their starting 17 and it will be very interesting to see what Lee Briers brings to them.
I'm looking forward to visiting Belle Vue next season now that the stadium has been upgraded and it will be interesting how the club goes in 2025,As they have made some very good signings.

How do the Wakey Trinity fans think that the 2025 season will go?

I don't think many of us really know to be honest , if you force my arm I reckon we might be a bit of a surprise package and could be in with a shout for 6th .

I think that a top 6 finish for Wakey is being optimistic for their first season back in SL tbh.
But I do think that the club is now in far better hands financially and that in 3 years time that the club could be a top 6 side

I’d be disappointed if it took 3 seasons to reach the playoffs spending close or to the cap.

I’m being ambitious in my outlook and I think anywhere between 6-9th this season would be acceptable. I think I’d be dissapointed if we fell below that.

Let’s not forget that last seasons recruitment was also in part preperation for this SL season. We aren’t starting from scratch.

Have to agree with Trojan. 6th would be a dream season, but if we finish 9th, play good rugby, and beat the teams around us I’ll be happy enough. Anything below that I’ll be disappointed.

Biffs Back - glad to hear you’re looking forward to watching us. Not sure how much you’ve kept up with us but we’ve got some top class players in our squad - Ky Rodwell who’ll be among the top props in SL next year, along with some young lads like Oliver Pratt and Isaiah Vagana who are going to do great things. We probably still have a few too many solid-not-special players you’ve seen before but they’re all on one year contracts.

When you say ......
Because we are spending close to the cap.......so are most other teams now.
That isn't a guarantee of anything.

It gives us a good chance but there's a lot of other things that will get us the 6-9th place.
Luck with injuries, player ability to transition from Championdhip, player and coach ability to deal with adversity.....etc.

I do think we will be competitive but it's not going to be easy.

Well, all that doesn’t just apply to us but the other 11 teams too naturally.

We have made a huge investment into player care and back room with chefs, physio to an England international standard, recovery rooms.

We appear to be giving ourselves a better chance than ever.

Nobody said it will be easy and it looks a competitive Superleague with likely a good 6 or so teams all capable of finishing anywhere between 6-12th.

I have a lot of confidence in the players to step up to SL level on what I’ve seen. The forwards especially. All bar 2 backs are SL rested too and the pivots. I feel we are in a good position assuming we get the pre season right and the players reach that level of fitness we ended last season on and improve even further.

I’m feeling more confident for 2025 that we will be fighting for something come the end. We may not reach the playoffs offs but it will be nice of we are talking about them a few games to go rather than looking at other teams fight it out.

I can’t wait for 2025.

My concern for 2025 is the quality of our spine and the ability of our relatively inexperienced centres.

Our spine in particular has questions marks across every position. Lino has struggled in SL, Russell has generally been back up. Trueman is quality but injuries have stunted his development.

Max has been outstanding this year but I do worry about his pace and he has been prone to defensive lapses however I hopeful a year out on SL has given him time to develop.

9 is my biggest concern, I think this is maybe our weakest position across the squad.

If I’m honest I’m thinking 10th in 2025 however I’m hopeful we can get into the top 8 in which case it will be an excellent return.

Our props/middles are undoubtedly our strength and hopefully those boys can lay a platform most weeks to get our spine playing on the front foot.

some really interesting viewpoints here... personally I don't have any expectations of next year other than we play to the best of our ability, each and every time we pull on the jersey.

sure we have some inexperience (and I include our middles who are, for the most part, unproven at super league level)... but I love that we have gone for younger players... and I can't wait to see their development.

I’m hearing Catalans away is last weekend in April, week before Magic.

I’ve booked a hotel on a book now pay later free cancellation for the Thursday to Monday of that weekend just in case the info isn’t right. .

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=12 ... 7168214109

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=12 ... 7168214109

Your spot on about our spine said the same and been shot down .9 is a big worry two inexperienced young players who are not ready for S L and the first choice Nine can tackle but no kicking game of speed for attack Got told at Championship final that Truman was a Marquee signing . If true it is a big risk for a player who as played less than half the games in two year .Hope you are right about the pack .they went well last year, but S L is a big step up .This year is a free hit at S L so if we are clear of the bottom 2 i will be happy

Most people agree that halfbacks is where the most uncertainty lies as it’s new combinations and there’s a degree of unknown. It could be great, it could click straight away or it could take time. But they are of SL quality for the most part. It’s okay to be apprehensive about this but it could just as easily turn out to be a good combination also.

Doyle is mid 20s and when you say not ready that’s your opinion but he went very well with a number of strong performances last season so I see no reason why he isn’t ready for SL.

Smith isn’t ready for week in week out but he’s an England academy international and will not let anyone down when required and gain good experience in SL.

I agree
I've no doubts about Doyle.
I think he'll be fine.

I get why Hood is an unimpressive starter, but he'll be fine for another year. And I'm confident Doyle can develop into a good SL player this year, with Smith getting a few minutes before coming into the 17 in 2026. And if - for whatever reason - those things don't happen, then I'm sure Mills will line up a signing. That's the crazy position we're in these days.

As for halves, that's obviously the big unknown. In Trueman I honestly believe we have potentially one of the top 5 halves in the comp, but he hasn't played a full season since 2019. That year he helped Cas to the semis, as he did in 2018. Olly Russell I'm not sure on, but let's give him a few games.