Looking at the new recruits and past performances, one would have to say that the 2018 Challenge Cup finalists [iWarrington[/i and [iCatalans[/i, will be the two top teams.

However [iLeeds[/i under new coach David Furner, -- if he can get the two Tongan fatties Tuimoala Lolohea and Konrad Hurrel, to lose weight -- will certainly be in the extended top group.

[iSt Helens[/i and [iCastleford[/i will also be competitive in the extended top group.

However [iWigan[/i is the big mystery. They have lost three players, two of whom (Samuel Tomkins and John Bateman) are top rank. They have acquired Zachary Hardaker, whose form after two years out is uncertain. They have a new coach, whose experience as head coach is nonexistent. It is hard to think Wigan is going to be as competitive as it has been in recent years.

Then what about [iHull FC[/i? I see them as mid table along with [iWakefield[/i.

Do you agree?

No

Wigan always do well bar the odd season

1. St Helens
2. Catalans
3. Warrington
4. Castleford
5. Wigan
6. Leeds
7. Wakefield
8. Huddersfield
9. Hull FC
10. Hull KR
11. Salford
12. London

Saints beat Catalans in the final. Leeds win the CC

Catalan and Warrington?? The top sides??? hahaha

Last season will be as good as it gets for Dire for a long time.

Leeds are finished for the time being. Mid table next season which will be an improvement on the season just gone.

Wakey are nowhere near as good as their delusional fans tell you. I don't rate them and they're lucky to even be in Super League given that dump of a 'ground' they have.

The pies, Saints and Cas will be the front runners next season with Huddersfield being dark horses. They've improved greatly under Woolford.

I can understand you putting us where you have but to put Hull FC in 9th is bizarre. They will start the season with a relatively healthy squad and their 1st 17 is a match for any team.

:

Is this yet another of your insightful predictions ?
Have you ever been close with any of your previous efforts

Next season will be similar to last, with the exception of some improvement from Huddersfield and Catalan, who both improved after changing coach (although it did take McNamara some time to get Catalan posting some victories).

You have to fear for London, Salford and KR, who appear to be the clubs in most danger of relegation.

The "extra" play off spot could literally be any of the rest, with Catalan probably squeezing in.

Hard to see Leeds not improving too. We set the bar very low last time. No prediction of where we'll finish yet as I'm holding out some hope of further comings and goings.

It's one place lower than they finished last year so hardly a massive change. If I've counted right they've lost their last 12 games against teams who will be in SL next year. I appreciate they had a lot of injuries but they still shouldn't be that far off the pace. That's a lot to turn around when you've got Huddersfield finishing the season in great form, Leeds with a new coach and big signings, Wakefield signing Brough, Catalans signing Tomkins and coming off the back of winning the CC......

I agree, Leeds will definitely improve but, it would be a huge ask for them to make the top 5, although as I said in my previous post, any club, with the exception of KR, London and Salford will be hoping to make the Top 5.

The top 9 could still throw up a couple of surprises and recent seasons have also seen one (or two) of the top sides massively under perform.
Leeds will probably be right up there again but, Furner would need some magic dust for it to be next season.

Huddersfield & Catalan could be dark horses if they get off to a decent start although it's still likely to be last seasons top 4 finishing in the top 4 spots but, perhaps in a different order.

Saints looked like LLS material from the off, last season but, I expect a much tighter comp next year.

Maybe with the change in format, every minute really will matter

Good point about supposedly-good sides underperforming in recent years. Picking a long shot for next year's chumps? Maybe red faces at Cas and I'm not just talking Adam Milner here.

I think the travelling will always hinder Catalans to some degree, so I can't see them making the top three. But top 5 is certainly possible.

Could next year finally be Warrington's year? They've made some good signings, if Blake Austin is here to play then they could be in with a shout next season.
Saints will be up there again, as will Cas and Wigan.

Not sure what to make of Hull's off-season, stability and lack of major personnel changes could be good for them maybe? Their terrible form at the back end of last season would worry me though if I was an FC fan.

It will depend on who can keep their squad healthiest over the course of the season. Every team looks stronger with the exception of Wigan really, but you can never back against them.
I'd be cautious if I was a Catalan fan, they tend to struggle until the spring time, and they may have too much ground to make up at that point.