I think if Tomkins develops a bit more, with help from Deacs and if Maguire can get Piggy and Paleaasina fit, they could be a force next season. I have a sneaky feeling that they will come good at the right time.

suppose you have to be the optimist

went to see Morrison and newton tonight in an audience with at the cats bar I just hope they live up to their full potential

If they can, and I expect Morrison over Newton to be better, then you have recruited two players of proven talents.
Not so sure that Newton will be d to put the hard yards in but Morisson will.

Would you be happier doing that than winning the grand final? i know i would as no one has ever done it in sl it would be unlikely to ever happen again.

It's really hard to predict, since I honestly believe that standards have levelled out in the last couple of years (some might say they've levelled downwards, but that's another topic!)

Our late season run proved that there isn't a lot to choose between teams in the top 4 and teams at the bottom end (which was us at the time), and I think we are going to be quite a bit stronger squad-wise this year.

I think that Leeds will probably finish top in the regular rounds and Saints should have enough for 2nd, even though they are starting to slide a bit. But there's not a lot to choose between the next seven or eight teams, and we are most definitely in that bunch. I suspect that Hull KR and Huddersfield might find it harder to sustain their Top 4 push than it was to get to that point last season, whilst there's no particular reason to think that the likes of Catalans, Quins, Wakefield etc are going to be massively better than us

So, I'm pretty optimistic. If the squad can gel and we steer reasonably clear of injuries, I honestly think 3rd or 4th is achievable - and I'd be seriously gutted if we aren't Top 6.

Go on then, here's my very early stab in the dark;

1. Leeds
.............................
2. Warrington
3. Saints
4. Wigan
.............................
5. Huddersfield
6. Bradford
7. Wakefield
8. Castleford
9. Hull KR
10. Hull FC
.............................
11. Catalan
12. Quins
13. Salford
14. Crusaders

I reckon the league will be split into 4 distinct groups, with the teams above finishing in those groups, but within those 4 groups I think its far too close to call and a team could end up anywhere in their group (apart from Leeds obviously

). So I reckon we could easily be anywhere from 5th to 10th.

I can't see anyone but Leeds finishing top, a settled champion side with quality throughout, and I'd be surprised if it wasn't Saints/Wire/Wigan in some order to make up the top 4 - saints being slightly worse than last seaosn but still too good for most teams most of the time, Warrington to make huge strides froward and I just have a gut feeling that Wigan will be much better than last year and will reach one of the finals this year.

In our middle group at this stage you could argue for any order of those teams I reckon, as I think they will all be able to beat each other on any given day, should be too good for the bottom 4 but will struggle to perform consistantly, especially against the top 4. Us and Hull FC to be not as bad as last year, Hud and Hull KR will still be good but find it harder to maintain last seasons efforts.

Quins and Salford will be competive in some games but will not be consistant and will struggle overall, Catalan I think will be worse than last year with the loss of Bird, and the crusaders are a cert for the wooden spoon again IMHO.

And one thing I am certain of, a couple of teams will be completely different to everyones expectations and make my predictions V wrong....as usual

Top 6 is probably what they should finish but it's going to be tight across the board.

Are you being serious?

Im a warrington fan and i dont think we'll finish second. I mean, yeah great if we do, Fantastic, but i cane see it happening really though. Maybe 4,5,6, :/

Well, like I said, in that group 2/3/4 yeah. I think we'll see serious improvement in your league position next year. Your right though, maybe 2nd is pushing it-thats probably still saints' to lose rather than yours to take, but then I did back you at the bookies to win the CC the week after Smith took over......you never know.

Whatever, I just can't wait to smack Huddersfield back into last century on the first game of the season.

Huddersfield are e, there's no way they'll finish any higher than 7th. They got found out at the end of the year, teams will be wise to them this year.

Havent a clue where we'll finish. If Orford and the other signings gel and a couple of the younger players make great progress we could do well. Equally we are very vulnerable if we pick up a few injuries, put too much pressure on the youngsters and the new signings disappoint. Could be anywhere between 3rd and 10th.