That is my main concern. Hopefully we will see Mellor get some time in the halves to enable Tommy to go to hooker.

1. Warrington
2. St.Helens
3. Wigan
4. Leeds
5. Huddersfield
6. Catalans
7. Hull FC
8. Hull Kr
9. Bradford
10. Castleford
11. Wakefield
12. Salford
13. London
14. Widnes

Winners of either trophy Wire,Wigan,Saints.

Hopefully, butwhat about the big games? The Warrington, Saints games? Would you still play Mellor?

Im concerned about Micky Mac as a starting 9, he doesn't have the rugby brain IMO and that leadership you need from a 9 i.e Buderus and Monaghan. I dont feel as though he takes us around the pitch at all. He's good at coming off the bench and helping us win the forwards battle defensively but as an out and out 9 it worries me. We have never replaced Riddell.

I'd still play Mellor in the big games. Hopefully he will have the same sort of impact as Gaskell did last year for Saints. At the start of the season Gaskell wasn't playing well, was making mistakes and I wondered how he would fit in the Saints, but come the end of the season he had grown as a player and put in some quality performances.

I agree regarding Riddell, we never really did replace him and I reckon if we had a Buderus or Monaghan type player then we would be head and shoulders above the rest. What worries me is soon people will be calling for Logan Tomkins to be brought in, when IMO he offers just about us much as McIlorum.

Wire
Saints
Wigan
Leeds
Catalans
Huddersfield
Hull
Hull KR
Bradford
London
Castleford
Wakefield
Salford
Widnes

We are slightly weaker in squad terms, my main concerns are like some of the above mentioned. For example, can Richards regain his great form (thought he was good last year but nowhere near MOS season)? Can Carmont last a whole season? Will Lauaki be superb or abysmal? Will McIllorum be able to lead us around the park consitently, I feel Mellor needs to be given a bench spot, from what I saw from him at Widnes he looked a very clever player. We have got good depth in our squad with players like Flower, Dudson, Tuson, Roberts, Hughes and Russell all backing up. 2nd/3rd is where we should be aiming for.

Pretty much spot on.

We will have to see how Mellor goes early in the season if he gets his chance, if he doesn't impress I feel we may be in trouble. Who would go to 7 whilst Tommy was at 9? Finch at 7 and Lockers at 6 is the most likely outcome, and that partnership would severely lack pace. I would have liked the 9 situation to have been sorted but then again, who is available??

That is the most likely outcome, but as you say it lacks pace and its too much changing around for me.

If Roberts could regain his early form of 2010 I would get him in at FB, Sam back to the halves and get him involved more at the PTB, because he could play anywhere really, he's that good! Highly unlikely though and it's better having Sam at FB.

We should of gone for Sam Obst, think he was the only one available!

Wire
Saints
Wigan
Leeds
Hull
Catalans
Huddersfield
Bradford
Castleford
Hull KR
London
Salford
Wakefield
Widnes

Warrington
Saints
Wigan
Leeds
Catalans
Huddersfield
Hull
Hull KR
Bradford
London
Castleford
Widnes
Salford
Wakefield

We've got some developing to do and we need to make sure our transitional phase is like one of those that Saints have where they still manage to stay around the top and challenge for finals.

I could see us going trophyless for a year or two tbh but we should have one hell of a side in a couple of years.

i'm surprised that some wigan fans have picked either a first or 2nd place finish,
i would have thought thats it's clearly far easier to win the grand final from 5th than it is from 2nd
That will not happen again for a very long time

1- warrington
2- saints
3- rhinos
4- wigan
5- giants
6- catalan
7- hull kr
8- hull fc
9- castleford
10- bradford
11- salford
12- wakefield
13- broncos
14- widnes

1. Warrington
2. Leeds
3. St Helens
4. Wigan
5. Hull FC
6. Catalans
7. Huddersfield
8. Hull Kr
9. Salford
10. Castleford
11. Bradford
12. Wakefield
13. Widnes
14. London

Can't really see us finishing any higher than 4th to be honest, i hope i'm wrong but i think we will struggle this year to maintain the standards we have set over the past 2 years..

I would say you are weaker. Ratchford can't compare to King, you will miss King towering down one side. Plus the problem lies with Warrington's squad age. Briers, Morley, Carvell, Monaghan, Solomona, Hodgson are all within a season or two of retirement. An ageing squad is never a good sign, last year you ran out of steam I would be worried about the same happening this year. However I do still think you will still be there or there abouts because you have a very good side.

I don't think Ratchford is a replacement for King. King will be missed but we have a lot of great centres and wingers (Bridge, Evans, Atkins etc) Wire have improved with the Waterhouse for Anderson move and the Hill aquisition and Clarke departure is an obvious bonus.

The age thing is a nonstarter. You can't tell the future and so it isn't worth debating 'a season ro two''s time. This season is being discussed.

And finally, are you sure you arne't mistaking warrington for Wigan? LAst year Wigan well and truly ran out of steam. The saints playoff games being a personal highlight. Warrington underestimated a side and lost a must win game. Wigan stumbled through three of them.

1. St Helens
2. Wire
3. Wigan (not sure on the signings yet so dont want to be too optimistic but we shall see you never know in RL)
4. Catalans
5. Leeds
6. Huddersfield
7. Hull FC
8. Hull Kr
9. Bradford
10. Castleford
11. Widnes
12. Salford
13. London
14. Wakefield