You underestimate the difference that Gregory Bird will make -- based upon his influence in 2009 -- to the team's performance. That is assuming that he does not suffer a season ending or disrupting injury. Also Krisnan Inu, who suffered a season ending injury early last season, is one of the most potent centres in Super League. If he plays all season, alongside Jodie Broughton, then Catalans will score a lot of tries down its right side.

Mister. Or Monsieur. Not Mr.

I don't give a stuff what you think or what you predict but I will keep stating that scoreline to any jumped up Wigan fan who thinks they are untouchable but I don't suppose you'll ever get that.

62 -0 there I said it again and it feels good.

You said that about Todd Carney. And Leon Pryce before him. And Scott Dureau.

By all accounts they should've gone down years ago if it they didn't cheat.

Widnes too good to go down, question mark over Salford.

Widnes have to be worried given their record without Brown

Salford just seem a bit rudderless, but had a squad good enough for top 8 last season so who knows

Leigh, I'm sure they think they will be awesome next year, but I think they'll find SL a different game to the middle 8

Leeds have recruited no one and lost the player that galvanised them...for all their ego you have to know they will be worried

Wakey - got some good signings if they show form but made 8 by fluke last season, always a bottom 4 contender

Catalan- basket case club, usually saved by home form

Cas - had a good season, but with chase Hardacre and gale it could melt down spectacularly

Giants - absolute horror show of a season, for a stack of reasons. Most have been addressed, but the first 5 games will make or break us

If I was a Hudds fan, I'd be very nervous. A bad start to the season and the pressure will soon start to mount...

As a Wakefield fan I'm nervous about being relegated, if I wasn't I wouldn't be a Wakefield fan. It's similar to a Leeds or Wigan fan wondering if they'll make the G.F. next season.

But if Wakefield are in the M.P.G. whoever they play will be more nervous.

depending who widnes replace brown with, carney? injury prone and will he get a permit? could be a long season for them, no wins when brown was absent last season must be worrying for vikings fans

salford, who have they signed? look certain for bottom 4 i reckon

huddersfield, wakefield, catalan and leigh to battle it out for 7th and 8th

as for the championship, Hull kr look the stand out team, but question marks must be against their mentality, rarely produced an 80 minute game for the last two season in SL and complacency could be their downfall if they think it will be a walk in the park

london, batley and toulouse my pick for the other teams to make the top 4, (remember toulouse beat leigh last season, so they wont be too far off, especially if they make more signings

Salford,Widnes,Leigh,Wakey,Huddersfield,Leeds Cas or Catalans will make up 50% of the MPG in 2017

So you're 25% right John

I don't think you'll hear many Leeds fans thinking about winning the comp next year. Most of us are scratching our heads about the non-existent recruitment taking place after one of our worst seasons ever. We've lost Hardaker and Segayaro from last year's squad and replaced them with two kids in other positions who are anyway likely to spend most of next year at Fev.

Not sure about this.
KR will be determined to bounce straight back and they look like a shoe in for the MPG and then we're down to the bounce of the ball, ref call etc.
Agree about Toulouse ant they look good for a top 4 spot.
They have plenty of backing and they will be competitive in the top half of the table and let's face it, if they weren't going to have a serious dig at getting into SL.
How about Catalan and Toulouse for the MPG (I know that it wont happen but, RL does like to create a talking point )

Salford, Leigh or Widnes v KR will be the MPG

Bird will be good but he can't carry the team on his own. It is an inferior squad to last year imo, and still coached by the wrong man. I only see them going backwards but spin it all you like fella don't bother me.

From a Salford fan perspective, we've kept the core of the side together and added in where we needed it. For the first time in years we are actually starting with a team that has stayed together instead of being cleared-out every season. I think this will be the problem Leigh face in 2017. Too many new faces take a while to settle. We also have room and are actively still looking to strengthen if the right players come along.

I think we're capable of finishing outside of the M8's but not far out imo. A lot will depend on how we do in the first five weeks or so as we have a very tough first five weeks with Wigan and Wire at home and Leeds, Hudds, and Wakey away. If we can squeeze 6 points out of them I think it'll be an indicator of progress out of the bottom half later in the season.

The fact that the OP picks out two sides as if a fact shows why everyone has so much contempt for him.