Do you honestly think now with every game meaning something that St helens will finish top ? If you do your deluded. Wigan and wire both coasted to get into the playoffs last year and be ready for when it actually mattered.

Without going into a grand final debate it's pretty obvious what would have occurred barring 'the incident'.

It's wigan and wire again that will romp away, they are by far the best two teams in the comp. feel free to quote me but saints won't be in either final next year and neither will they finish top and get the hubcap again.

Oh and just for the crack-

Wigan
Wire
Leeds
Saints
Catalans
Huddersfield
Widnes
Hull kr
Castleford
Hull fc
Salford
Wakefield

Think Huddersfield will struggle this year.

Top 5 in no order. Probably decided on who handles injuries the best.

Wigan
Warrington
Saints
Catalans
Leeds

Then

Cas
Salford
Huddersfield

Bottom 4:

Hull (might be ok if they can find a good coach by March when they're bottom)
KR
Wakey
Widnes

I remember this thread from last year, when I was predicting Salford wouldn't make the top 8, and some Salford fans, high on the whiffs from Koukash's wallet, took issue with that prediction. I've been trying to find the old thread so I could see how accurate the rest of last year's predictions were, but I can't seem to search for anything older than September this year !

So, for what it's worth, this year's prediction.

[uWinner[/u







Saints - Best pack, best halves and competent backs. If they stay fit, the only question mark is the new coaching team.

[uPlaces 2-4 (in no particular order)[/u







Wigan - Losing Green is a blow to them, and unless they turn up a remarkable youngster to partner Smith, they'll offer less than this year. Still too good for most.
Warrington - quality all over the park, but need to find a way to settle a halfback combination to allow the team to develop more structure
Leeds - Yes they're getting older, and they're most likely to be fourth of the big four, but the best threequarters in the competition and a decent pack will see them right.

[uPlaces 5-8 (in no particular order)[/u







Catalans - too strong at home, too weak away. Nothing will change for this mid-table side.
Castleford - no repeat of last year's heroics for Castleford, but still too much class for the bottom half
Huddersfield - Last season was a plateau for them. Can they get off it and carry on upwards ? Forwards probably slightly weaker than last year. It all hinges on Brough again.
Hull FC - What is going wrong at Hull ? Why can't they turn into proper contenders ? Maybe this is the season they will. I doubt it though - mid section for them.

[uPlaces 9-12 (in no particular order) [/u







Widnes - There's just not enough on the pitch to see them repeat last year's top 8 finish
Wakefield - Frightening times for Wakefield now their "cushion" of London and Bradford have gone. On the plus side, they're still too strong for any semi-pro outfit in play-offs
Salford - Sorry Salford fans. The whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. In particular, the Salford pack looks very weak compared to the top half sides. The backs might win them a few games.
Hull KR - Lost too much quality to finish above their Hull FC rivals this year. The Kings of inconsistency will continue to be, er, inconsistent.

Top two (no particular order):

St. Helens
Warrington

Third and fourth (no particular order):

Catalan Dragons
Wigan

Fifth and sixth (No patricular order):

Huddersfield
Leeds

Seventh - tenth (no particular order):

Castleford
Hull FC
Salford
Widnes

Stragglers (No particular order):

Hull Kingston Rovers
Wakefield Trinity

I would argue we have lost dead wood and replaced with quality, particularly in the backs.

Found it ! viewtopic.php?f=2&t=563453&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights.

Found it ! viewtopic.php?f=2&t=563453&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights.

Our backiline has massively improved from last season, we're a good hooker and 2 forwards short but still time to fill the gaps.

of those who posted a list on Roy's reposted 2013 thread, including Wakefield fans
60% had Wakefield finishing lower than they did
36% had us in 12th which was correct
4% had us higher (one place 11th)

That's pretty indicative of the last 14 years when just about every fans forum, Trade paper journalist and TV pundit has had us down for relegation, we're still here and have NEVER finished bottom

I am amazed at how many posters on here are unaware of the exceptional talents of Todd Carney and Albert Kelly.

In 2014 Catalans came 7th but in the playoffs defeated Leeds and Huddersfield away to make the final 4, without the services of Carney. Hull KR came 9th without Kelly. Both clubs are better off for their buys vs their losses for 2015. So expect Catalans to make a stronger challenge in 2015 (they have also acquired a very good centre in William Tonga) than in 2014, and expect Hull KR to at least make the 8 (assuming that they can find a decent new hooker).

I don't want to get into a Hull v Rovers slanging match but since it's my team and we are Derby rivals I think it's a good comparison.

Out of the signings you have made I would only be interested in, as a Hull fan, Kelly, and perhaps Dixon and Donaldson as squad players. I don't think any others would improve Hull's squad.

Correct me if I'm wrong but your first choice back line will be, I imagine;

Mantellato
Dixon
Goulding
Welham
Sio

That's compared to:

Shaul
Lineham
Sa
Michaels
Talanoa

Hull every time for me.

Wakefield were very good at planning ahead for 2015 and replaced Richard Agar with James Webster who finished the season with 7 wins from 10. Trinity also sent the players who required it for early surgery so as to ensure a fully fit squad and a full pre season. Recruitment started early with physical size and real depth in the pack being the priority, as a result the inevitable injury crisis, that hits all clubs at some point, won't destroy our season. The size of the pack gives our key player, Tim Smith, every opportunity to be at his best alongside Jarrod Sammut. Pita Godinet has shown himself to be an international class hooker alongside Paul McShane. We've finaly got Dean Collis 100% fit and have signed some quality in the backs with Riley and Craig Hall. They'll give us speed, size but more importantly experience as we blood two or three of our really exciting young backs from the youth system.

Perhaps the biggest step forward on the field will be the stability off it with the club recently announcing a £355,000 profit being in the starkest contrast to last year.