Agreed. I could see us slipping up against one or two of Toulouse (away), Sheffield, Bradford (hope it's the league not the 1895 cup), or even a Cumbrian team away. But it'll be a combination of injuries, complacency, cup final hangover, and the opposition having a blinder.

The difference this year is going to be the route to Super League.
In previous years, when it was close at the tail end of the season, teams started bringing in bigger names for short term stints just to get them to the GF.
This year with the exception of us and Toulouse, it isn't going to happen whether they win it or not, so when injuries kick in, teams will simply do their best with what they have, which will make it easier for teams like us with a bigger squad or teams that are lucky with injuries.

Time will tell how it works out.

Sheffield look the most impressive opposition so far. Fev gave us a game but the lack of depth is really showing at the minute.

Must admit, Widnes starting 3/3 has surprised me but that's more because I thought they'd struggle this season rather than beating the opposition they have.

York look troubled at the moment and I'm not entirely sure why with the players they have available to them

Sheffield's team isn't that different to the one they have had over the last couple of years, I'm not convinced that they have improved that much but might be a top 3 team by default because so many others have regressed.

Depth is indeed an issue at Fev but we were without Springer, Tanner, Bussey, Day and Massey yesterday. If you took (say) Atoni, Bowden, Pitts, Vagana and Uele out of Wakefield's line-up it would certainly have some impact.

York seem to have had a lot of ex-SL signings that haven't worked out for some reason (as have other clubs to be fair), with Lineham now looking a "typical" York signing of a player whose best days are some way behind him.

Sheffield are good, and I did find it weird they weren't being taken as seriously as Bradford or Fev at the beginning of the season. They have a real good balance with experienced-but-not-over-the-hill players like Welham and Dawson-Jones, with a really well drilled pack - Titus Gwaze being their standout player IMO. But they also have loads of depth - they have 4 halves to choose from in Aston, Thackeray, Hansen and Farrell - so they'll be there or thereabouts at the end of the season. However, player for player they're nowhere near as strong as us. Really looking forward to going to their spot in a few weeks' time. If we play well, they'll stick with us for 50 mins then fall away.

Having been to a couple of games at the Olympic legacy park, I'm not sure how they could accommodate 1500 wakey fans

Good point. I’m not sure if they can use the bank opposite the stand. If not it’s just the main stand which only holds about 1,000, and the spaces behind the posts, which I reckon you could get 300 in if they have the staff. Should be their first sell out there

As far as I’m aware, no they can’t, and last time I was there I tried standing next to the perimeter fence on that side and was told I had to move round to the other side and either sit in the stand or stand next to the pitch behind either of the goals at pitch level

Better get the tickets early then

I hope not but I can really see Fev dropping off this year. The finance arm being removed with Campbell's problems, two losses on the board already, players rumoured to be leaving the club with a squad that's already lacking in depth.

Potentially troubling times for them, their fanbase is already dropping off.

They could accomodate that number in theory if they allow access to all areas, but the banks on the touchline opposite the stand and also behind the posts at the far end are quite steep and thus quite uncomfortable to stand on for any length of time (ok to sit on if dry) - people tend to congregate at the bottom of the slope or the top as a result.

When they played Batley in their latest home game they closed most of the areas off where the banks are (basically half the perimeter of the ground) but they surely won't be able to do that because there just won't be enough space.

I'm slightly surprised that more people haven't tried wandering up on the hill that directly overlooks the ground and getting a birds-eye view for free!

Which players have you heard are rumoured to be leaving the club?