Every single year around this time I start to get excited again. The end of last season seems a lifetime ago however the boxing day friendly at the bulls seems a lifetime away (unsure if this is happening this year but just generalising).

I think this off season the media team at the Panthers are doing a fantastic job of keeping the fans engaged and generally drumming up some positive press for the neutrals/other fans along the way - which can’t hurt!

We seem to be adding some real quality to our squad this year.

So my question is, how far do people think we can go this year?

Another cup run? 3rd place or higher?

I’ll go first:

Quarters of the Challenge cup
2nd in the league

I think we should be very optimistic for the new season. I thought last season squad wise we were third behind Toulouse and fev. I know other sides last season had bigger budgets for players but other then the 2 sides mentioned I thought we should be the best of the rest and credit where it is due to simon and the players for achieving that. I did not see last season as a over achievement thou so considering the investment on the playing front for next season I
think we should be looking to challenge for top spot and the gap between ourselves and fev should be considerably closed to the point that we are a big a threat as anyone for promotion. As for the 2 cups the challenge cup is a lottery as to how far we could go but winning it should be beyond our reach right now. As for the 1895 cup we should be 1 of the favorites for it. The pressure is on simon and the players from word go to deliver.

Like most on here I'm delighted, and probably a bit surprised about the quality of squad bring assembled for next season. I've been a big supporter of Grix as coach, but can see next season being a completely different challenge for him both because of the massively increased expectation levels that come with much better squad, and the challenge of getting the best out of that squad, at the same time keeping the large numbers not playing onside and ready to take their place when needed. Last year team selection for the majority of the season probably took him about 5 mins each week due to the low numbers we were running with - its going to be a bit more of a challenge this year.

Leigh top and Fax, Fev and Newcastle battling it out for 2nd. We have improved our squad and have the depth , which we didn't have last season.
Charlie knows

Without having seen what amounts to as close as it gets to a completely new side here’s my two penneth.
Much improved in the backs, halves and at 9.
The pack has triple the number of players to pick from so unless we set a new world record for injuries being short on numbers or being forced to play players who are busted shouldn’t be a problem.
Several of the pack are similar in strength and for the sake of a yardstick I will rate them at a 7/8.
In no particular order a combination of competion for places, determination, ability and how each of them respond to the challenge and settle into a new environment of club, coaching and shear luck will determine who is a 7 and who is a 8.
I am led to believe there are still a couple more to come in and if both or even just one were a 8+/9 then that would be off season excitement and it really could be game on next season.

I'm optimistic and excited about next season. I think we can definitely get 2nd place but as other=s have pointed out we need to start from game 1 and not have too many off days. I agree with GFB that a cup run would be good but it is what it is. The league is the most important thing for me. We have a good squad on paper and we need them to deliver on the pitch.