I look at that squad and I honestly think it's the best since I first started watching the Wire in the era of Davies, Bateman et al. If Tony Smith can't turn us into champions I honestly doubt anyone can. We've got everything in place off the pitch, an excellent playing staff and a proven winner as a coach.

I really feel enthusiastic about the new season for the first time in years because although we may not neccessarily find ourselves top and in the Grand Final, injuries permitting I truly expect us to be up there challenging for those places. Leeds and Saints have got the experience and won't be easy to topple but getting right up in the mix is all we can ask for and this squad has my confidence.

This is pretty much the same squad that got Cullen and Lowes the sack and now its the greatest Warrington side in years.

do you not think that it looks like the best squad in years?

It was always a very good squad on paper but neither of those coaches came close to realising the potential of the players they had at their disposal. Monaghan is now looking like the star we expected him to be since moving to hooker and with subtle additions like the first natural scrum half we've had as first choice seven since Langer (Johns' brief stint excepted of course) I think that makes a big difference.

Are you implying that Smith has the same coaching ability as his predecessors?

Said to you when Smith first came in that if he couldn't get us to win anything with the players we have then no one will, just didn't expect it in the his first season.

I don't think anyone did mate! The big problem last season was that after the start we had we were always way off the pace in the league but after some improvement and the Hull KR cup win we were able to target the cup as a genuinely winnable trophy. Nothing wrong with that per se as it gave the club it's greatest day in my lifetime but it did mean for that long gap between the quarter and the semi we were just waiting for Wigan and the league was almost a drawn out inconvenience.

The top eight was definitely there for the taking but given a choice between winning the cup and finishing tenth or winning nothing and finishing eighth it was a no brainer and I think many of us - fans and players alike - took our eyes off the ball a bit in the league.

This year with Smith having a full pre season and a couple of his own players in the squad I'm not expecting a repeat of last year's woeful start and that will make all the difference. No England distraction for Smith will be a bonus too.

There's no reason why King and Riley won't start as first-choice left side centre and wing. Atkins has to earn his place as he hasn't yet played for Wire at all. There were those who seemed to think Bridge would be dropped ( and would even leave!) after the Atkins announcement, so at least you haven't gone that far. The obvious 'clue' seems to be that Riley and King have 'starting line-up' shirts, while Atkins doesn't.

that means nothing whatsoever.

Yeah was fine with that last season but its got to be a fight for both this season but the squad is there for the challenge not getting my hopes up of Grand Finals and going Wembley again as I never thought I would see Wire win at Wembley to be honest, would like to see us consistent in the league for once be around the top 4 for most of the season, main thing am excited about is Richie Myler like you said its been years since we had a proper No 7 just been reading he's training with Joey Johns at the moment which is great for the lad, really can't wait for the season now.

Personally i would like to see us start with King and Atkins as the 2 centres, i would play King at right centre and play Ryan Atkins in his natural position of left centre. Thats a lot of power and pace in the centres.

Matt King has played on the right side at rep level albeit on the wing but he looked sound enough, we played him on the right wing last year and if i remember right he played well.

With a centre line up of Atkins and King i would say that we would have potentially the best starting centre pairing in the league, Matt Gidley is a class at saints but they are weak at left centre.

This current team would beat that 93/94 side.
93/94 side had 3 very good players (Davies, Bateman, Mackay) who carried the rest although the rest were hard workers and a good team unit.

The 93/94 pack was well off the pace of the current team.

I would rather have Penny on the wing then Hicks.The problem i have with Hicks he dosnt take the man on the outside.He seems to cut back in which 9 out of 10 results in being tackled.Penny seems more likely to go round the man.I know Penny has his knockers biut i think a couple of good early games from him we could really see something special this season.

Saints look weak to me in some areas, but I reckon they'll be alright at left centre. If Gary Wheeler stays fit, he could be a revelation in that position this season. They also have Sia Soliola who while better at second row would be a decent left centre in Super League.

Back to our squad, and I agree with other posters who say its the strongest they've seen since they started watching Wire. Only Leeds can boast similar strength in depth IMO.