Another year, another failure in the international arena. Let's forget about England for a while (that's what the RFL are going to be doing afterall) and look domestically again.

Yes it's still a few months away, but teams are already back in preseason, kits are out, recruitment is mostly complete and the first friendlies are little more than a month away.

Surely we can't all be as bad at this as we were last year.

1. Hull FC - A bit of club bias here of course, but I really like the squad this year. Probably would have finished top last year if not for the cup distraction. Kelly should add some flair to go along with the brute force and the kicking game, Griffin and Connor are handy additions too. If we manage our resources a bit better this time I just think we have the edge over the rest.

2. Wigan - A couple of quality additions to go with Mickey Mac's return. They will probably be inconsistent, and fans will want Wane out sometime around July, but still the team to beat in a big game.

3. Warrington - Man for man they have the most skillful team in the league, but for me they still have that soft underbelly when teams really get stuck in to them. It will be very tight between the top three.

4. Leeds - False position last year, and they improved no end with Segeyaro (sp?) coming in. Fewer injuries and a better pre season will see them back at the right end.

5. Saints - Don't have the pack to be a proper force IMO, but they'll claim some scalps.

6. Cas - Great to watch, but the you score 6 tries we'll score 7 approach doesn't really work in the crunch games. Got to find a balance.

7. Salford - They should never have found themselves in the position they were last year, points deduction or not. Too much quality for that. I think they might finally give the long suffering fans a couple of things to smile about this year.

8. Leigh - Impressed with some of their recruitment, and they've got the winning habit. I can see them entering SL on the crest of a wave and being top 4 around Easter. They will slump but will already have enough banked to cling onto the 8's by their fingernails.

9. Catalans - I've given up predicting that the dragons will do anything. Useless coach, too much reliance on Aussies who don't really care, and much of their French talent out the door.

10. Huddersfield - They finished where they did last year for a reason, and I don't think they will make significant enough improvements to avoid the 8's again.

11. Widnes - Started like a house on fire last year and that was enough despite barely winning a game after Easter. There's some very good players in the squad, but quite alot of dross aswell.

12. Wakefield - Sorry wakey fans but someone has to be down here. Similar to Widnes, you got on one run of form and managed to ride it into the 8's last year. For much of the rest of the season you were poor. Wakefield won't be whipping boys, there isn't really a bad team in the league, but I do think they are the weakest of the bunch.

Elsewhere, I think the top 4 in the championship will be Rovers, London, Toulouse and Fev, but unless one of them recruits very well towards the end of the season I don't think we'll see anyone promoted. Toronto should stroll through Champ 1, potentially unbeaten.

As for the cup, I'd love to see Hull defend it, but I quite fancy Wigan this time.

League after Round 23

1. Warrington - probably the strongest club at present
2. Wigan - tenacious and have a winning attitude
3. Saint Helens - strong and know how to win games
4. Castleford - can power past most clubs but I suspect they might burn out a bit
5. Hull FC - lucky with injuries last year, probably a false position in 2016
6. Leeds - lots against them last year, but haven't strengthed much for 2017
7. Wakefield - a mixed season last year, lots of good signings and stability for 2017
8. Widnes - need to improve their consistency but a solid team
9. Catalans - who knows!
10. Leigh - perhaps too many squad changes and might not know how to lose
11. Salford - seemed a broken team in the middle 8s, will take a lot to turn it around
12. Huddersfield - seem to have lots of problems which only time will solve

Challenge Cup winner: Warrington

Super 8s

1.Warrington
2. Wigan
3. Leeds
4. Saint Helens
5. Hull FC
6. Castleford
7. Wakefield
8. Widnes

Middle 8s

1. Leigh
2. Catalans
3. Salford
4. Huddersfield
5. Tolouse
6. Hull KR
7. London
8. Batley

Huddersfield vs Tolouse in the MPG with a Huddersfield win

Grand finalists: Wigan vs Leeds

Saints don't have the Pack

Walmsley
Amor
Douglas
Walker
Thompson
Greenwood
Wilkn
LMS

"Huddersfield finished where they did for a reason"

Yeah and it's obvious you haven't a clue what they are
Giants will make the top 8 this season

Top8 in no order
Wigan
Saints
Wire
Giants
Hull
Leeds
Dragons
Cas

Bottom 4 in no order
Leigh
Widnes
Wakey
Salford

Yeah, Wakefield bottom again.


Cue the "I Got You Babe" track.

It is a bit of a cop out picking Wakefield to finish bottom, but I can't really make a case for anyone else.

As for the other two sensitive souls, Saints pack is average. Walmsley is very good, Greenwood is a prospect, the rest are just meh.

When I say Hudds finished where they did for a reason, I mean they didn't have bad luck with injuries, they didn't have a load of unfortunate events conspiring against them, they just weren't very good. On paper they are a top 8 team, but what's going to change from last year?

You can't make a case for anyone else at the bottom yet go on to list exactly the case why Huddersfield should probably be bottom again? Wakey were riddled with injuries towards the end and had lots of other problems throughout the season including the coach quitting part way into the season and the ground going back up for sale, yet the still managed to make the top 8 (just), and make the semi finals of the CC (having played an extra CC game to the top 8 clubs). I don't doubt that if they hadn't been in the CC or Salford hadn't been deducted points then they would have concentrated on the league games which they lost (seemingly in an attempt to preserve bodies). They also have Jowitt and Johnstone who have both been named as rookie and young player of the year respectively. They have made some decent signings and got rid of some wasted spots, with roughly 1/3 of the squad now comprised of academy products. I'd expect them to kick on this year, and show a bit more progress than last.

When I read this I had to check twice to see that it was Jean!! and it wasn't which is all the more worrying

Huddersfield were dire last year and have shown their intent to improve by signing injured championship players from a failing club. Tolouse have the potential to push into the top 4 and from there anything is possible

My fear for Wakefield is that they picked up the vast majority of their points during a red hot two months following Chester coming in. Had their form been a bit more consistent then I'd be more confident, but I can't see them having a run like that again. The same applies to Widnes.

Huddersfield on paper are a pretty good team, and with the coach having a bit more time to work with them they probably will improve, just not dramatically enough to go from bottom to the top 8.

They finished bottom in 2015 didn't they, a few predicted that including me and got Simalar comments.im not saying they will (As recruited well) but it's certainly not impossible. Think Hudds need 2/3 top signings, so based on current squads.

Warrington
Hull
Wigan
Cas
Saints
Leeds
Catalans
Widnes
Hudds
Wakey
Leigh
Salford

Does it matter anymore?

It will matter if Warrington win the Grand Final. Otherwise I'd prefer the game to just cease to exist and put us out of our misery.

That'd be because I forgot to change Wigan and Warrington around for the LLS!!