....In danger of sounding like the Wire but, I really think we can be the dark horses next season and bring something home. Looking at the squad for next season, along with the new coach and coaching staff which will see massive improvement IMO, (even without my bias), I see us as the biggest genuine threat to breaking up Leeds and Saints next year.

Im a bit disapointed in the fact we've only signed deacon (who imo isnt a fantastic signing but will do a job), but the more I think of the potential of some of the lads coming through, some of em are already pretty decent players, another year of development under their belt, with a proper coaching team, I really get the feeling we could be onto something.

If we can get another 10% in terms of development out of the developing players like both the Tomkins ,Ainscough, Mossop, Prescott, O'Carroll, Hansen etc, get riddell, pryce, and feka fit (which i dont think this new management will stand for anything else), I can really see us challenging. Add to that we should have some tactics from the head coach this season, and a coach who realises we cant afford to lose 7 of our first 10 and make it up at the end of the season



Can we be challengers this year? IMO we can.

No Wire IMO are the dark horses next year.

We will be lucky to finish in the top 4 and I will be happy with just that.

WARNING!!!! OVER OPTIMISM ALERT!!!! AWOOGA!!! AWOOGA!!!



You know that's not allowed round here

Yeah but wire are always the dark horses......its always the year of the 'wolfs' until April











PS. Ok i might be optimistic in saying we might win something but honestly looking at our squad is there really 4 teams better than us in SL......IMO NO.

Stains are on the decline and I think next year it will be 50:50 on who finishes above who in respect of wigan stains.

HKR over achieved last year and with their losses are weaker next season, Huddersfield likewise over achieved IMO and I would be expect to be above them. Even if they both do as well as last season, providing we start correctly and dont lose 7/10, if we only play as well as the remander of last season we will finish above them.

From the rest of the league the only changes i can see this season is Catalans, Wire, and Hull will finish higher. However even with their signings hull arent as strong as us IMO, and without bird as are the catalans.

Id be pretty certain the top 4 will be Leeds, Wigan, Wire, Stains. tbh i recont it could be in that order, but whatever order it is im fairly confident that will be the top 4 next year.

I'll be happy with a top 4 finish.

I've been optimistic about next year but I keep reminding myself that we've got the same squad as last year. If we can get another 10% out of them then that should get us somewhere near the top 4 but I'm not sure we'll be challenging Leeds just yet. Eastwood will be a great addition to their squad. Saints are a little unkown as to whether Eastmond and Pryce can play together. If they can, they'll be up there and will be a difficult team to beat. If Bradford click, they'll be strong. They've obviously improved their squad this year as have Warrington.

Basically what I'm saying is, yes we can probably improve but our season will depend on how much everyone else has too.

Things look to be shaping up nicely but I just hope we're not heading for a fall. I'm confident we'll be challengers to Leeds and Saints again pretty soon but it may just take one seasons worth of Maguire and Wane putting things in place before we start to see really good results.

Alright Chris!

I know, but I think this is their best chance this year for a long time, especially after winning the Mickey Mouse cup last year and Smith's 1st full season in charge.

Let them continue to be the dark horses because ever since they have been known as that their league season's have fell apart

Mickey Mouse cup, I think not. Best trophy going IMO.
I used to want us to win the Challenge Cup as we have a long history with it but now I want to win the GF so we can play an Aussie team in the WCC.

A consistent season playing good rugby with an eventual top 4 finish and I'll be chuffed.

Plus a successful introduction of a few youngsters would do nicely.

I predict another dullard season of SL with teams kicking on the 3rd and 4th tackle, defenses constantly on top with tries only being scored from kicks and off penalties and in between Leeds will run away with it leaving the rest in their trail.

Well, someone had to.

A season of playing to potential will do me, where ever that takes us. I happen to think it may well take us to a major final if we can do it.