Interesting point about quality of coaching. Usually you can look at the table and expect to see the top clubs being the ones with the best coaches. But currently in SL there seems to be little correlation between the perceived quality of the coach and where teams are expected to finish.

Eg here's a rough categorisation:

Coaches with a proven track record of doing a good job in SL:
Toronto (McDermott)
Hull KR (Smith)
Castleford (Powell)

Coaches who have won stuff but the jury is still out:
Hull (Radford)
Catalans (McNamara)
Warrington (Price)

Coaches who have achieved more than expected with limited resources:
Salford (Watson)
Wakefield Trinity (Chester)

Coaches who are unproven/unknown:
St Helens (Woolf)
Wigan (Lam)

Coaches who haven't done particularly well in SL:
Leeds (Agar)
Huddersfield (Woolford)

Doesn't really map over to expectations about where the teams will finish? Is quality of coaching really a decisive factor in the current SL?

Hull will be up there and their squad is arguably better than Warrington's. But completely agree that Radford isn't the man to take Hull to that next level. And yes, I'm aware they've won a few Challenge Cups last few years...

There are a lot of variables and with the exception of Saints, a couple of injuries could torpedo some of the so-called big clubs.

Wigan lose Hastings they are going to lose a lot of attacking impetus.
Leeds lose Gale or Hurrell, same applies.
Hull lose Kelly, Connor or Sneyd they struggle

There doesn't look a bang on going to struggle certainty either. Moat people seem to think HKR and Toronto but HKR have a very shrewd coach and intimidating home crowd and Toronto have a big advantage at home.

Although Ive tipped them for 11th I wouldn't be surprised to see Toronto finish top 7 and I think Salford's season may be a case of after the lord mayors show.

Wigan
Saints
Hull
Cas
Leeds
Warrington
Catalan
Salford
Wakefield
Toronto
HKR
Huddersfield

Stains
Wire
Hull
Wiggin
Castleford
Leeds
Salford
Wakefield
Catalans
Toronto
Hull KR
Huddersfield

Here here well said...the money I've won based on this fact...saying that the bookies have slashed there odds on Wigan and challenge cup runners up moaners so winnings won't be as huge.on years gone by the favs are usually at 5s this season they are 3s at best but it will be the 2 most likeable teams that lift the end of season trophy... Biggest cert going

Whilst Hull’s squad is strong, where is the evidence that it is stronger than Warrington’s, as previously mooted?

Man for man it’s only really in the centres that I’d consider swaps.

I don’t really have a problem with our squad overall, just the ability and style of the coach to realise that potential. I guess we’ll find out this year whether Price is the answer to our long-running problems.

As for Radford, why has his stock suddenly risen after some very mediocre league campaigns?

First 17s:

1. Jamie Shaul (The Geddes Boys)
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. Carlos Tuimavave (Prime Processors)
4. Josh Griffin (WCM)
5. Adam Swift (Revamp Builders)
6. Jake Connor (Humber Street Distillery)
7. Marc Sneyd (SS Testing)
8. Scott Taylor (TC Accounts)
9. Danny Houghton (HI Commercial)
10. Chris Satae (Bad Rhino)
11. Josh Jones (Kaygee Engineering)
12. Manu Ma’u (Prime Processors)
13. Ligi Sao (Conceptus)
14. Albert Kelly (The Empress)
15. Joe Cator (Elecplant)
16. Jordan Johnstone
17. Matty Dawson-Jones (Jane Brooks Law)

Versus:

1; Stefan Ratchford
2; Tom Lineham
3; Anthony Gelling
4; Toby King
5; Josh Charnley
6; Blake Austin
7; Gareth Widdop
8; Chris Hill
9; Daryl Clark
10; Mike Cooper
11; Ben Currie
12; Jack Hughes
13; Ben Murdoch-Masila
14; Jason Clark
15; Joe Philbin
16; Leilani Latu
17; Jake Mamo

It'll be interesting to see how they compare to Warrington this year. There are arguably several positions where they are better individually than Warrington, although Hull have proven that doesn't really mean much as they've continued to underperform in Super League. Their pack is going to be very physical, looking forward to seeing Ma'u in Super League, arguably the best signing by any club this year.

Wire
St Helens
Wigan
Hull
Leeds
Castleford
Catalans
Wakefield
Salford
Toronto
Huddersfield
Hull KR

1 or 2? The entire front row would get in hulls team. Our full back is much better. Obviously Connor and sneyd are better than 2 top class nrl half backs though, I'll give you that one.

ratch above shaul...charnley above swift/naulago...widdop and austin above sneyd and connor, hill above any hull prop... clarke above houghton.second row they are stronger but thats about it.

Some people have not been paying attention ...IT’S OUR YEAR!