1st) Leigh
2) Fax
3) bulls
4th London
5th) seagulls
6th Dewsbury
7th Batley
8th Fev

Can't see Havalaff making second tbh..

1. Beaumont's thugs
2. Us
3. The rest/don't care

I can see Fax having a good season. They finished on a high last year and go into 2016 on the up. They will be even tougher opposition for us. Over the course of the season I can’t see them getting 2nd but 3rd is well within their grasp.

I’d say 2nd for us given our recruitment and lack of a decent halfback to partner Gaskell. Leigh should be favourites for 1st given their squad strength. The only doubt I have about them is if Rowley can deal with the influx of egos and potential dressing room disruptions that may be caused. It’s a test of his man management skills that he won’t have had in the past but I don’t see him under any pressure in that department until the middle 8s when they’re properly tested. Leigh’s only real tough league games look to be versus us and Fax. Fev look weaker and Sheffield don’t look much stronger on paper at least.

suspect fev might be a bit stronger than their recruitment suggests. Now they've taken over hunslets status as Leeds A, they'll probably have a few extra players available.

1. leigh
2. bulls
3. fax
4/5. fev/dews
6. london

notice they've announced a few rule changes too. main ones that affect us are signing deadline for middle eights being 48hrs before first middle eight game and dual reg players being eligble to play for both parent and dual reg clubs in middle eights, i.e. not having to stay with one club once middle eights starts, if I understand new rule correctly.

Dual reg thing only really benefits SL clubs as they could theoretically influence middle eight games by strengthening their dual reg partner when they play other Middle eight teams, but I guess its only an issue if a SL side that is involved in the middle eights is also dual reg with a championship team in the middle eights.

1 Leigh
2 Halifax
3 Featherstone
4 Bradford

So everyone within the game thought that the signing deadline should have been brought forward to May/June to stop sides signing new teams for the middle 8s. And the RFL decide to extend the deadline.

Sounds like we've got some cap space to sign players later in the year so I'm content with our squad. It changed a lot throughout the season last year and it probably will again.

I think Leigh will finish top but will lose more games. I think they learnt a lot last season in the middles and won't go all out to win every game in the first 23 rounds this year. I think we'll be under more pressure for 2nd this year. I hope Jimmy rotates too.

We're still a young squad so hopefully the players will all be better than last year.

Does the dual reg thing mean they could play one half for the parent team and the second half for the dual reg team?

I can definitely see Fax challenging for second. They have a better squad than last year IMO and if they continue the form they had at the back end of 2015, they'll be a hard team to beat at this level.

I don't think Fev will be surprising anyone though. A couple of injuries in their team and they're going to struggle.

Sadly, Leigh top after 23 rounds is as inevitable as Gareth Hock getting suspended.


The dual reg thing is just ridiculous when it comes to the Middle 8s. Could have been an issue with Fax and Hull KR last year, but thankfully they hadn't used their Dual Reg link up very much. Changing the rules so players can still be registered with both is just stupid if they're in the same league.

I can see Leigh going the whole season unbeaten and that includes the challenge cup

Has Tipsy Ste hacked your account Roger?

Fookmee Rog can i have some of whatever it is you're smoking?

I'd suspect it's going to be pretty much as you were regards to top 2 of Leigh and Bradford.
Bradford are, in the majority, still the same team that made the MPG. Leigh have recruited hard, however I still feel that the players they've brought in have question marks over them in terms of attitude as well as the effect they'll have on a settled and established side.

Very good post roofy. I really do hope Paul Rowley can keep them settled with a good attitude, He really has a tough job on his hands.