A weak pack or just a little light up front?

Leeds

I think we are stronger than last year. We have (on paper) a much stronger squad. Delany is solid if unspectacular, he is a better centre than Smith which should see us stronger in defence and better attacking wise making more of a threat out of Donald on that side. IMO Eastwood has the potential to go on to be one of the very best forwards in the game. He will add impact and something a little different to the Leeds side. I hope to see plenty of offloads and breaks from him aswell as a Graham-like ability to pass close to the line.

The best squad since 04 imo, with the ability to dominate it like we did then too. The biggest question imo is how we get around the huge challenge of keeping the squad right psychologically. Which shouldnt be underestimated

Saints
Soliola will add something new, very good player imo. Another year older another year slower for an ageing squad. Needs eastmond et al to step up to the plate which is a massive ask imo. Will still be there or thereabouts

Les Catalans.

A serious threat. Bit of a let down at times last year, didnt follow on from 08 as we would have wished. Sa and Dallas will contribute much more than a bit part Bird (however good he is) Another year of development for players like Baille. A good bet to win it IMO

Huddersfield

Great year for them last year. Brown knows what he is doing. Not a huge amount of movement and a fairly settled squad now. Gilmour is a great piece of business and they have great potential in players like Michael Lawrence

Wigan

All dependent on Maguire and what he can do. As much as Noble was criticised, he got wins. It may not always have been pretty but he got there in the end. Being a game away from the big one 3 years in a row isnt a terrible result. How much more can Maguire get out of a similar squad? a full seasons worth of Gleeson, along with opportunities which hopefully Tomkins and Ainscough will grab with both hands should be enough for them

Warrington.

Too soon for TS to mould them into winning the big one this year. But watchout for them in 2011. With a years worth of his training, and the players they have coming through. Not to mention the £££ Moran has shown he is willing to spend makes them a real threat

Bradford.

Massive dissapointment last year. Simply not good enough. They are in a strange situation where they seem to be giving Mcnamara time on the basis the kids will start to come through yet have thrown money at some ageing players. They have the class and experience to go better.

Hull KR

overachieved last year IMO. Ground out a lot of points which wont be available next year. Looking at their squad there isnt one area that would strike fear into the opposition they are just decent all round but dont have anything to go to the next level. A light pack and a mediocre three quarter line doesnt get you to grand finals. They also need a good hooker. Fisher can tackle but thats about it. If they can get close to where they were last year thats a massive achievement imo

Hull

Monster pack, decent set of backs, if Horne and Long click, they could surprise a lot of people. On paper a very good squad. Good front row, i like their use of impact and a speedy backline. Tansey is a great utility, not sure if he is a first choice fullback. Would say they are a little light on numbers and question if Agar is the man for the job.


Castleford

Still young, still learning. Mixed some atrocious performances last year with some which were very good. They have a decent spine but need improvement in the pack and a fairly poor three quarter line

Quins RL

They fell away last year drastically. BM certainly knows how he wants his players to play, they have a rigid structure which they can stick to and grind out a few wins. Another year of improvement from the talent coming in could give them a boost but the squad overall lacks a bit of quality

Wakefield

Could be anywhere. The squad lacks quality and with drew gone will rely almost solely on brough for creativity. A committed squad who will get wins and Kear can certainly inspire them. Putting a bit of faith in some youngsters for once, which is good to see, but they will make mistakes and it will cost them points. Could shoot up the league if some clubs have poor years again could struggle if they have good ones.

Salford.

Hopefully Mcrea is putting the foundations in place as he did for Hull and Saints because the first team doesnt look great. Have lost some good youngsters but also kept a few like ratchford. Hopefully a better year for them but they havent got a squad which is much different from last year

Celtic

All the issues have hampered them. They will struggle. Squad is currently short on quality though some are being brought in. Noble however knows how to win. They will get points. They should be aiming for 20 points next year with 13 a minimum

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

The three quarter line is probably the strongest area of the team with an England international centre, the 2nd top English try scorer and 2 steady 100%ers

Its steady, thats all, it isnt great and wont put fear into anyone

Cas strength comes from its 1,6,7,9,13 which are good. Its just the rest of the team wont scare anyone

You dont rate shenton?

or sargent?

Shenton is a decent player, so is Sargeant. But neither a three-quarter line nor a pack is made of one player.

Of course they arent but you excluded them from your list, hence why i asked

I would say shenton is more than decent, he's super leagues top try scoring centre, an england international, and his defence is as good as any centre in this league.

because neither of them play 1,6,7,9 or 13 so they couldnt be listed

I think Shenton is ok, he is certainly no world beater and certainly cannot carry a backline on his own. He is a good player but nothing more

If by world beater you mean one of the top 3 centres in the world, no he isnt.

He is one of the top 3 centres in sl though.

He cannot carry a backline on his own that is true (no player can) but with with one of the leagues top try scorers, and one of the best young winger/fullbacks in the country in that backline he doesnt have to.

In sl there are no back lines, that dont have some players that are no more than steady, saints have meli, leeds have delaney etc

i dont agree. I dont think he is. i think he would stuggle to be top 5

Delany is a far superior player to the likes of Evans. And in those backlines you have players like Donald and Hall, Along with Gidley, Soliola and Gardner

Kirk Dixon, Michael Wainwright and James Evans wouldnt get close to the first team squads of any of last seasons top 4

Who are these 5 better centres?

I didnt say evans was better than delaney, i said he was no more than solid, which is exactley what you said of him in your prediction. bloody hell smokey you even argue when i say the same thing as you! The point is there isnt a back line in the competition that doesnt have players who are no more than solid.

If you dont think a winger with one of the highest try scoring tallies in the league (and who can kick goals) wouldnt get into the squads of huddersfield or hull kr your deluded.

Senior, Gidley, Whatuira, Carmont, King.

I also think Baille is a very good player who is comparable, and Sa for next season too

He is still better than Evans. who isnt good enough for a team which wants to challenge
TBH, id take that on board. I was actually thinking of the last four teams in the play offs rather than the top four in the league

I wouldn't have Dixon in my team in front of David Hodgson or Leroy Cudjoe.

Both have made plenty more metres, heaps more clean breaks and tackle busts too. Check out the superleague stats section.

Unless one of them was injured he wouldn't get in. Even then with the likes of Brown, McGilvary etc in the squad he'd have his work cut out.

I'm hoping that the Buffaloes are in the top two in our competition.