2011 League table predictions..

May as well share this...

Quote: Mild Rover "There are so many variables, but I think you can split the league into 4 categories of expectation.

Group 1 - realistic hopes of winning it.

Wigan. Champions and quality additions.
Leeds. Drifted a bit in 2010, but they had a really bad spell on the injury front and still managed 4th and a play-off win at Wigan. New coach is always a step into the unknown.
Wire. Back to back cup winners - no reason that they can't be the fifth club to lift the SL trophy. Don't think they will go all the way, personally, but they won't be far off.
Saints. Another big club with a new coach. Have lost their talismanic hooker and losing 4 GF in a row has got to take a toll. On the other hand LMS and Shenton are pretty decent recruits and they keep producing young players who make the step up look easy.

Group 2 - Get to the play-offs and hope to hit form at the right time. Challenge Cup remains best chance of silverware - but the flat cap is working!
Huddersfield - will keep on being powerfully competent. Loss of B. Hodgson is a blow though.
Rovers - Mason, Green and Hall replace players that barely played in 2010. The first 2 particularly should give us an extra, much needed, dimension.
Bradford - New everything, should jumpstart them and end what seems to have been a period of stagnation rather than transition.
Hull - If they get over the tough early season hurdles could do okay. Couple of good signings, but could have done with a couple more to build on their improved performance in 2010. Maybe 1 more to come?

Group 3 - Hope to sneak a play-off spot.
Catalans - the spoonists in 2010 - a massive disappointment. Must be better in 2011, surely?
Salford - Fresh start, a little like Bradford, with a big turnover of players. Their shocks won't be such a shock anymore, but I think they'll not quite have the consistency to make the 8.
Cas - Loss of Shenton and Westerman has got to be a blow to their ambitions. Orr will take some pressure off Chase though and if they win the race for the signature of cynophile Joel Monaghan that would be a boost.

Group 4 - The spoon-dodgers.
Wakefield - ongoing uncertainty over their future has badly hampered recruitment. Kear seems to thrive on adversity however.
Quins - seem to have secured their medium-term future - but too late to build a competitive squad. Will outperform expectations I reckon, but only because they are so low.
Crusaders - Should be starting the season (