Interesting how on here most have Wire in the top 2 yet over on their boards they are nowhere near so optimnistic and most have them around 4th/5th. Whilst rightly people are questioning how Wigan will do without Tomkins, have they forgotten how integral Briers has been to Wire?

Also everyone, almost without exception, are predicting a big season for Saints based on Walsh and Masoe (who is currently injured). Is Walsh that good?

The league is likely to be a close contest - perhaps with the leaders losing 7 or 8 games - with most teams being weaker this season than last (excepting Salford and Saints)

FWIW

1. Leeds (best backline) 2. Wigan (lots of depth to squad) 3. Huddersfield (Brough is unlikely to have as good a season) 4. Wire (TS is still a great coach) 5. Saints 6. Catalans 7. Salford 8. Hull 9.Hull KR 10. Widnes 11. Cas 12. Wakey !3. Bulls 14. London

Challenge Cup - any of top 4 depending on the draw
Grand Final Wigan to beat Leeds (it would be nice to see top 2 contest the final)

Hudds
Wig
Warr
Saints
Leeds
Catalan
Hull
Salf
Hull KR
Bfd
Cas
Widnes
Wfld
London

C..C Leeds
G.F Leeds

It would be very similar to the Wigan board at this stage last year, where there was so much disillusionment with the forthcoming season & numerous posters not getting season tickets or only attending certain games. Not so many this year.

That means nothing. The Warrington fans have been sitting in a dark room wollowing in their own self pity since the 2011 playoffs.

Why do you think so many Leeds fans think that Wire will be strong this season then?

If moaning was an Olympic event we'd do pretty well - perhaps along with your annual "McDermott out" brigade!

He's a Cas fan.

McDermott out.

First time entrant

1 Wigan
2 Leeds
3 St Helens
4 Warrington
5 Huddersfield
6 Catalan
7 Salford
8 Hull KR
9 Hull FC
10 Wakefield
11 Bradford
12 Castleford
13 London
14 Widnes

CC Leeds
GF St Helens

because he is one person expressing his opinion

That's why I put Warrington down for 4th. I remember them coming to Headingley last year without Briers or Morley and whilst they could still boast a talented team it look leaderless.

Briers and Morley missed a big chunk of the first half of the season and in their absence Wire went W7 L5 in SL and were floating around 4th/5th place. After they were both back Wire went W11 L1 and finished in 2nd place. That one loss came against Widnes at home and guess which two players Tony Smith rested for that match?

All in all a Wire lost 6 matches during the regular season in 2013. Briers and Morley together missed 5 of those. The other defeat Morley was missing and Briers was making his first start for 3 months.

They have the talent, but do they have any leaders left?

Is not just that though is it?

Amor in, hopefully Roby and lomax playing more rugby (with the latter settled in his best partition of fullback), walmsley with another off season at Saints, the emergence of swift as a genuine try-scoring winger, Beaumont to give some size in reserve at prop.

Plenty to be optimistic about and is not all just Walsh and Masoe.

You don't have to explain. Only a Wigan fan could not see further than their own @r5e.

Your smartass comment doesn't answer the question does it? Every poster is "one person expressing his opinion". Are people not allowed to engage in debate?

On the thread roughly 15 posters had Wire in the top 2. I just wondered why about 40% of the poll felt that Warrington would be as strong this season as last given that they have lost Morley, Briers, Hodgson and Carvell and have Asotasi and some untried (though talented) youngsters in their places.

Nice.

Given that Saints were so poor last season it is a huge leap of faith to see them winning anything this season. It surprised me that so many posters see Saints as a bigger threat than Wigan as well. Personally I welcome a better Saints team. Added spice to the derby and all that...