Pretty much agree with Dosey. We're weaker this coming season, but so are Leeds and the other teams haven't signed enough class to worry me about closing the gulf. The only way I can see us slipping is if we cannot weather any injury crisis.

Funny you should say that but I've had the exact same thought at the start of the 07 season and then at the start of the 08 season. Fair enough we've lost both GF's to the only other decent side in the comp, but given the minuscule number of signings we've made in that period I think we've done pretty well.

Still not sure about 09 though. Perhaps there'll be a few autographs collected down in Oz over the next week or two......

I don't think we are weaker,we've lost ellis who has been great but eastwood doesn't look too bad and buderus is an improvement on tansey a lot of our youngsters will be better for last year's experience players like watkins,allan and ben jones bishop so if anything i think we'll be stronger.
I still think it will be us and you in the top 2 although i'd like to see eastmond given more gametime as i think he's got the x-factor and can add to your armoury.

Saints will win the hub cap again. Our oldies are still goldies and they'll bring the young ones through and claim their 5th top spot on the trot!

Amazing how Bradford have disappeared off people's radars and almost off the map. What a fall from grace.

I can see what you did there...

Thats because they are rubbish, McNamara has brought in some of the most mediocre players in SL

When I was leaving my seat after the GF I said to my son. "Take a good look at the place as I don't think we will be back here for a while".

I hope I am wrong, but with the likes of KC and Longy getting older and not having got a left centre plus after the 1st 17 we seem very light I think we will finish 3rd or 4th in the league, win our home play off game then get KO'd away.

The CC is down to luck of the draw. You could get the likes of Leeds, Wigan, Bradford, Warrington and the Hull clubs all knocking each other out whilst we play National League teams, get to the final and anyone can win a "one off" game

my opinion, if it counts, is you need to stay virtually injury free. 1-17 is still class although not as good as leeds, although i am biased obviously.

Has anyone actually thought this through ?

Who in the division, with the exception of Leeds, is going to compete with Saints ?

Nobody is the truth, we have basically lost a left centre and ideally a replacement will be signed but that is it. Saints will finish either top or second and barring some catastrophe will be at OT again next year.

Even Leeds!

We are desperatly lacking pace in the outside backs, Meli is a liability, Wellens form looks poor atm and we are heavily relying on Gidley,Cunningham and Long who are the wrong side of 30. If key players stay clear of injuries and some of the young guys continue to get game time and develop we will go well.

Most imortant issue is we need a Centre - Several young lads maybe options but are they ready? Wheeler, Foster, Tyrer all being touted as our centre option , can they make the step up?

who's our new number 4 and is he class?

Wigan and Catalans can compete and maybe afew others, you cannot just look at recruitment, the players already at the club can improve, we have many players who still have not hit there full potential plus afew new signings and some youngsters coming through.
Fielden, Smith, Mathers, Goulding, Lulu, Tomkins S, Tomkins J, Hock, Lockers, Coley, O'Carroll, Prescott and Feka all still have massive room for improvement, where as the Saints and Leeds players do not have this same room for improvement as many of them are already class.