Has anyone changed their predictions now that the friendlies are done and most clubs have their team sorted out?

Not to the extent that I can be ar$ed re-hashing it. I might have Hull (1st) a bit high and cas (5th) a bit low but hey, all the others are probably wrong too.

Hull (will win the league but will finally lose a cup game)
Cas (despite no Zak I still think we are a good side and a few players will wanna prove a point with how terrible they were during 1 game)
Wakefield (Tom Johnstone top try scorer and MOS contender)
Saints (good side but think we still lack consistency )
Leeds (might take Leeds a while to get up to speed with a new half)
Warrington (improve)
Huddersfield (will surprise a few)
Wigan (end of wane?)
Salford ( unknown quantity)
Hull KR (will smash a few at home)
Catalans (McNamara)
Widnes (sorry)

If I was to base it on the couple of friendlies I've seen I saw mostly what I expected from Hull and Rovers given the squads both teams named, but I think Catalans could struggle. They couldnt get any momentum going against a Hull reserve pack. Hull coasted through the game in 2nd gear. That said its only a friendly and the conditions were grim. So I will wait until a couple of proper games have been played until I revise anything.

Leeds
St Helens
Castleford
Hull FC
Wigan
Huddersfield
Catalans
Warrington
Wakefield
Hull KR
Widnes
Salford

After 23 rounds:
-------------------
Saints
Castleford
Leeds
Hull FC
Warrington
Wigan
Wakefield
Huddersefield
Catalan
Hull KR
Salford
Widnes

Top 4 after Super 8s
-----------------------
Saints
Leeds
Hull
Warrington

LLS: Saints
GF: Leeds
Challenge Cup winners: Saints

Relegated: Widnes

after 23 rounds

1: st helens
2: hull fc
3: tigers
4: rhinos
5: wolves
6: wigan
7: wakefield
8: huddersfield
9: catalans
10: salford
11: hull kr
12: widnes

top 4 sides after super 8's
1: saints
2: hull fc
3: rhinos
4: tigers

lls: saints
cc: tigers
gf: rhinos

no relegation for 2019 imo as it will be a 14 team competition

Far
To
Early
To
Make
Predictions
When
Nobody
Has
Played
Yet
Widnes.

It looks like another season with question marks hanging over it. Re sructure will we have a relegation and so on. On the field quite a few teams gave those same questions.
Well top half of table before a balls kicked and in no order would go like this.
Leeds have decent strength in depth but what will be their best team? They have lost all the old spine now but its hard to predict how they will go. Myler and Moon
dont seem in the mould of Sunfield or McGuire in guiding a team around.

Cas played great last year except when it mattered. The loss of Zak H will be a blow but they look to have enough quality to be in top half of the table will teams find them out? Well coached entertaining will it last and can they get over the finush line when it matters? I think they may find the SL tougher but I would not be suprised to see them lift the CC

Saints new coach seemed to help them later end of season I think it was more down to one thing though James Roby he played more minutets and Saints game was built around him add to that Barba and you cant imagine they wont be around in the games that define the season. The other big factor is Walmsley will he head off down to the NRL after this year and with a little more responsibility how will he respond.

Wigan last season after defeating Cronulla not many would have been suprised to see a clean sweap. What happened? Was it a case of win WCC at all costs or the shocking injury list or appathy. A mixture of all is what I will go for.
Is the loss of Gelling Mcloram massive I dont think so TL to 9 will make them more of threat. Sarge is like for luke with Gels. A fully fit SamT Escarre Flower and
Clubb whos had a shocking year off field says they will be back.

Hull the big Hull pack will be a little less with the loss of G Eliss but they have a front row that will always lay a decent platform. Watts was to me the biggest omission from the world cup likewise so was the amount of time Taylor got to play. At some point in a game these two will lay a platform to give you a chanceof a win are the backs good enough to take rhat consistently.

Warrington new coach new team you would imagine with playing roster and coach that Wire will go well but as we have seen nothing of this they to me along with Leeds are the two unknowns will this be there year ...... again?

Bottom six

Catalan again a bit unknown new coach with a full pre season a very good full back and Mclorum and Bird will make trips to France tough. Anyone thinking the Dragons have added nothing to SL now? Well at national level maybe not but we have a lot more SL standard players from France now than in the past and a good sprinkling at English based teams.

Widnes great young players coming through well coached decent stadium could make Widnes a bit of a suprise. If Betts can have a bit more luck with injuries and the development of some of his youngsters continues the plastic pitch will be even more uncomfortable for visiting teams.

Salford I do worry for Salford without the doctors cash and with rumours of players wanting moves and injury this season may not hit the heights of last they still have a team capable but with a poor homebase uncertain times ahead.

Wakey the over achievers last season the loss of Kear may be huge for a team that alwas seem more dependant on the failings of others than achievment themselves. The constant stadium issues always cast a shaddow over a lot of peoples sort of second team. If SL structure does change will all the pieces be in place in time if not how many if the better players will stay when the bigger clubs come knocking?

HKR good to have the Robins back I think it may be tough but with the uncertainty of structure this season this may have been the best one for a rovers return.

Most of the posts about Hull are about missing Ellis and the pack being weaker for it. A name that has barely had a mention is Mickey Paea. He was one of the better props in SL before he left and he looks in as good a shape as ever. So yes Ellis' leadership will be missed, but if anything we have even more forward firepower this year, and if Abdull gets a run at 13 as I hope he will we will also have an extra attacking dimension.

And Huddersfield?

Still bitter about being humiliated twice by Wakey - the failings of others ha get a grip you tool and get used to iticon_lol.gif