I can see us finishing anywhere from 6th to 10th depending on our and others injury situations. We simply don't have the quality to challenge for the top 4 in my opinion, well not without some pretty disasterous runs for Warrington, Wigan, Hull, Cas and Saints who I would have above us, meaning we are in the mix with Catalans, Huddersfield, Wakefield for the 6-10 places.

I can see an end to the McDermott era if we look like we are not going to make the 8 again, but not until the end of the season. Like others have said I think McGuire, Burrow and JJB will all retire. Can't speak for Parcell, but the others signed are Johnny Nobodies and will not play this season without serious injuries so the squad is no stronger than last seasons debarcle.

Hold on folks we are in for a bumpy ride.

this ^

Given a 'normal' run of injuries throughout the year I think our prospects are almost entirely dependent on how good Parcell turns out to be.

I'm not expecting Segeyaro like performances from him, but if he ends up at or above the level of Ainton then IF Magsy also comes back to form, I think we can be up there challenging for top 4 but most likely 5th or 6th and have a good CC run with luck in the draw.

If however Magsy is 'done' AND Parcell turns out more like Falloon then I think we are near certainties for the middle 8's again

I think people lie are over estimating Cas's chances 5 or 6 at best,they will have to improve on last year just to stand still, and other sides like wakey,us, Catalan will all be looking to improve last years league placing

I probably was the only one. But it doesn't mean much I say it every year

Be absolutely amazed if we got top 6, too many teams better than us. Will stick with my 8th position, but can really see us in bottom 4.

They finished in the top 6 with a huge injury list & they have recruited better this year i think they've more than earned their rating.

Cas were 9th with only a few weeks of the regular season left, they only jumped up because Catalans, Wakey and Widnes took the final third of the year off.

Exactly this.

Definitely feel castleford are the team to watch next season, recruited fantastically and a good coach in Powell. I think that they'll win the CC.

What part of that is untrue? The only game any of those 3 won in final 12 rounds that WASN'T against each other was Widnes' lone victory against Wigan. Shocking form and the only reason Cas got up to 5th. The final 9 point gap to Saints a true indicator of how far away they were instead of people saying they were 5th as if if they were anywhere close to a playoff place. They were further away from the Top 4 last year than they were in 2015.