A lot of people on this forum are joyous about the news of Wayne Pearce's son, Mitchell, being exposed in a drunken series of events that will cost him his participation in the WCC.
St Helens players are likely to be complacent knowing that the Sydney Roosters' and NSW Blues star half back will not be playing against them.

What all of these cynical people do not grasp is that both of Mitchell Pearce's likely replacements, Tyler Cornish and Jayden Nikorima, are both consummate professionals with loads of talent. They will be playing behind a pack of forwards, led by Jared Wharea-Hargreaves and Jake Friend, that will easily overpower the St Helens pack. In that situation Cornish or Nikorima will have no trouble unleashing the Roosters talented back line to score bucket loads of tries against their English opponents. How ironical that one of the try scorers is likely to be former Wigan star Joseph Burgess.

Brisbane also have far too much talent to be seriously challenged by the Wigan Warriors, now deprived of Joseph Burgess, and with Samuel Tomkins still hampered by injury. Brisbane narrowly lost last year's NRL Grand Final, but have been strengthened by the addition in the centre position of James Roberts -- Dally M centre of the year 2015 and the fastest man in the NRL. The Brisbane pack of forwards is stronger than Wigan's, and the dazzling Brisbane halves of Benjamin Hunt and Anthony Milford will run rings around their Wigan opposites. I cannot see Wigan getting within 18 points of Brisbane.

I am afraid that two of the three WCC matches are likely to be one sided in favour of the Australian teams. Only Leeds have the talent to keep the scorelines close against North Queensland

so,just to clarify, the purpose of this post was for you to w@nk yourself dry over the NRL.... again? can't you do that elsewhere?

Whereas if catalans where playing in one of the games they would demolish the opposition.....

If the Catalans were playing at home at full strength --- just as Wigan and St Helens will be -- Catalans would put up a very good performance. I am sure that it would be better than what will be served up by Wigan and St. Helens. The fact is that Brisbane is an even stronger team in 2016 than it was in 2015, and it will even be hard for most other NRL teams to compete with it.

Catalans is now partly an NRL team in exile, with the likes of Patrick Richards, Krisnan Inu, Todd Carney, William Mason, Glenn Stewart, David Taylor, and others fresh out of the NRL.

And here was me thinking they are a FRENCH team but dont get me started on your so-called quota

And remind me, where did Catalans finish in SL last year? Thats right, not high enough to qualify to play in the series

No SL team won at the DW last year, Brisbane did but it took added time.Ridiculous but expected assesment from OP to say wigan won't get to within 18 considering they have pretty much the same squad. I also can't see Saints being as bad as they were last time and they will have a point to prove, their pack will get smashed to pieces is ridiculous.For JWH and Friend i give you Walmsley and Roby two of SL's absolute best last year.

Last year Saints were poor and the Bunnies had their best game of the season, and a large slice of the rub of the green to go with it. I'll be surprised if Saints aren't more competitive this year. As noted, Wigan went toe-to-toe with the Broncos last year, no reason they shouldn't do so again.

Well their full strength this year reportedly seems to involve dropping Morgan Escare as first choice FB

Utter crap all English sides are Capable of Winning. Saints will be looking to set the record straight after last year. As will wigan, and Leeds will want to show they meen business without Sinfield and Peacock.

Predictions

Leeds win
Wigan win
Saints lose but will be very close and can go either way.

2-1 to super league, time to show the NRL that they are not the NFL, and are not the big completion they think they are.

REMINDER TO MYSELF : Log in first to avoid this dolts diatribe!

Brisbane are now a stronger side than they were last year. Unless it rains and the pitch is a soggy mudheap, the Brisbane Broncos should have much too much class for Wigan (now minus Joe Burgess). To repeat, the Brisbane pack is very strong, the Brisbane halves Benjamin Hunt and Anthony Milford will run rings around their Wigan opposites, and centre James Roberts is too fast for anyone in Super League.

The game is mid February in England so I'd say it might be a little soft under foot. Additionally I would predict there might be the odd Aussie star who cries off. I'm certain wigan will be competitive . Leeds will win , Saints will be determined to make up for last year, so none will be a walkover, if thurston doesn't play leeds will win by the biggest margin.

Did you predict similar last year by any chance? Wigan might or might not win but it will be a hard fought contest that.

Thurston will play. He wants this title badly.

Well I sure hope he does.