Padders thinks we have to sign most of the NRL to even be competitive this season.

In my opinion:

The top 5 will consist of the same 5 teams as last year: Huddersfield, Wire, Leeds, Wigan & Saints. In what order though i don't know.

The remaining 3 spots in the top 8 will be anyone from Hull, Salford, Hull KR, Catalans, Bradford & Widnes.

Bottom 2 will be anyone from London, Wakefield & Cas.

If our showings in the friendlies is anything to go by, I'm not confident of making the 8!

Sorry I worded it a bit basic let me rephrase...
We lack (one more) quality prop.
Question marks over Englands ability at top level and Asotasi fitness and his age for recovery.

Yes, in the forwards we basically need three things to happen. All big 'ifs'

1. Paul Wood to have an injury free season (when he gets over his current one)
2. Anthony England to have the same sort of impact coming up from the Championship as Chris Hill did
3. Roy Asotasi bringing over some of the form he had in the NRL when he was right up with Morley as a dominant prop

Get 3 or even 2 of those and we will be alright.
Get 0, which is a distinct possibility, and we will not win a trophy because our front row is too light.

However I disagree with your other suggestion that we have the best halfbacks and backs.
We are behind Leeds for one.

We'll win the league and grand final and the challenge cup this season..... After all it's always our year.

Our starting 17 will be a match for anyone, but I have some concerns over the depth. The influx of youth will freshen us up, bring plenty of enthusiasm and stamina but when the tough moments come and they start to look around for guidance & inspiration I hope Waterhouse, Westwood, Asotasi & Myler grasp the nettle.

One thing I would say is that with some fortune with injuries there should be plenty of tries in that backline .... provided they get the supply with Hodgson & Briers missing.

On the form 2011 Sally. I would say Bridge is the best 3/4 in SL and Atkins the next best and Myler was the stand out halfback.

Unfortunately they have all fell short of that form over the last two seasons.

So I guess were both right.

Yes I completely agree.

One of the reasons why I am apprehensive about this season is that it's not just a case of us losing four major senior players (Briers, Carvell, Hodgson, Morley) but on last seasons form there was evidence of a decline in a number of the other senior players:

Riley
Bridge
Atkins
Waterhouse
M Monaghan
(Morley and possibly Briers were in this category)

Against that we had a couple of others who I would say were improving:

Ratchford
Higham
Grix

And then others that were more or less maintaining their high levels:

Westwood
Wood
J Monaghan
Harrison
Myler
(Carvell and Hodgson were in this category)

The worry is what will happen to that top group of players this season, and thats why I'm worried about our backs where at the moment I'd only say Joel Monaghan was really top class. Compare that to a few years ago with guys like Hicks, King, Hodgson and co in there, we were shredding teams out wide.

Was it just a random dip in form from which they will recover? We have seen that in players before (eg Paul Wood). I'm most hopeful about Riley and Atkins re-emerging, but time will tell.

Atkins seems to be strapped up constantly, maybe he's carrying a niggle that's holding him back.

I for one am excited about the new season, a freshened up squad makes it more interesting. I hope the team can deliver, there is no reason why not. No team really jumps out for me this season. It's all to play for.

I see the re-building process continuing and us being the dominant force next year but there is no reason why we couldn't win a pot this year as well.

Perhaps, but the more I see of him the more I fear it's what's in between his ears that is holding him back.

He has all the athleticism in the world, but god he needs a dollop of Cullen-esque gumption.

I agree with pretty much all the brackets you had the players in there.

I'm most hopeful that some of the other players come good...Rhys Evans needs to stay injury free and deliver on all the promise he has shown as a youngster. This could also be a great year for Ben Currie, who should firmly establish himself in the starting 13.

It would be great to see the Atkins of 2 years ago for sure.

The 2 players that frustrated me the most last year were Waterhouse and Riley... im hoping they both have great seasons this year... Waterhouse especially needs to step up in light of the forwards we have lost.

if currie establishes himself as a regular starter whos place will he take? waterhouse? surely not grix he was immense last season.