For me Forwards are key .......

Our success back end of the season was largely attributed within the fan and media spaces to the brilliance of Tim Smith.. however the platform was absolutley set by our pack - who gave the halves the platform.

If we win the collision, tackle and "go forward" we have plenty of ability in the squad to score points. Looking at our props and back row options, strength we have an aggressive mobile and quick pack...

law of averages states - If we can reduce the points against column and keep the points for where it was last year - we'll definatley make the 8

Yes, Forwards set the platforms. The backs work the magic.

We are certainly a better side than this time last year, as we have gelled, got used to the new coach, and made good mid-season additions with Sykes and Smith. Poore should add a bit of the growl that the front row lacked and I would hope that the second half of the season better reflects the side than the first.

The downside is that the opposition might respect us more and so each game might be a little tougher.

Other teams wont think we are easy beat this time round and know who our playmaker is in Smith and will be out to stop him playing well but as always with class thats easier said than done.We certainly wont be missing goal kicks as we were in the first 8 games last time and we need some luck on the injury front.Yes other teams have recruted well but on the other hand we wont be having the problem of 18 new players getting to know how each plays.Some of those last games we could have lost and not made the 8 but the players showed grit and determination to make it job done.I see us making the 8 again probably in 8th spot again but consolidation this season is the main thing for me and wouldnt complain if we had a good cup run.

All comes down to how lucky we are with injuries for me. We should be challenging for that 8th spot again but we need to stay healthy to get it.

Schoey also seems to be inferring that Castleford will make the 8

Although he is covering all his bases this time out, I don't think Cas will be easy beats.

If Chase is indeed a settled player again and he and Shenton can stay fit, I think they have some strike in the backs. Forwards I'm not sure about but I think if we go into their game thinking we are the dominent team this time, I think we could come unstuck.

I seriously don't see them making the 8 as they don't have any strength in depth at all but I reckon they will have an impact on who does make it as they will take some unexpected scalps. Lets make sure it's not us.

Which is possible the biggest surprise in his selections for the 8. Bradford were tipped to finish bottom last year by Angela Powers and look what happened there.

I'd agree that the Bulls are a little weaker this year, especially in terms of depth. The 1st choice 17 isn't a bad one but I think the pack may struggle against the bigger sides. I think once again the likes of Wakefield, Bradford, Hull KR will be fighting for the 8th spot and luck with injuries will be crucial.

I think you are right that they won't be easybeats, and maybe this will be the year that the league is a little closer. Because I think Saints will be a better side, the top 4 could be the closest contest yet, provided Leeds can avoid a poor start, and with improvements at places like London, maybe the table as a whole will be healthier. It would be great to go into the last few games with six through to twelve still contesting for the three places below the top four and Hull.

I certainly don't think we are much ahead of anyone below us, but I just think we have enough to edge above them, although as everyone has said, injuries might play a part.

Castleford should considerably improve although that isn't to say they'll make the 8. If you look at the contributing factors which resulted in their lowly performance last season e.g. Injuries to key players, Rangi Chase saga, Deadwood and Millward's absence for obvious reasons then it would be hard not for them to improve.

In's - Shenton, Webster, Mason, Hauraki (sp), Tansey etc, they're vast improvements or should i say have the potential to be. The key as others have rightly pointed out is they've sacrificed depth for quality which can work both ways.

I think they'll take more wins but i still don't see there league position changing all that much.

Huddersfield and Bradford are sides i expect to struggle compared to last season as both have young unproven coaches in charge. Not many can make that step up from assistant to head coach especially when replacing experienced ane respected coaches.

London and Hull will be the big improvers in my opinion, i'm not sure if it'll show on the league ladder so much but performance wise i'd expect them to be far superior especially in London's case with Rea in charge.

As for us, i think it'll be much the same. I'd expect us to start better and be more consistent throughout but in terms of where we finish i think 8th would be a productive season.

OK - I'm prepared to get shot down here - but why are so many of you so negative about what we can achieve this year?

Is it purely a matter of 'expect the worst and hope for the best' - if so, I can understand that, but I do think we have every reason to believe that we can go better than last year.

1 We have Poore / Lynne / Sykes / Lee Smith - from the start - which makes us stronger than this time last yesr.
2 We are settled
3 Our backup juniors are a year older
4 We only have one 'old man' and I wouldn't swap him for anyone in SL
5 We have perhaps the best SH in SL this year - on a par with Brough IMO
6 We have one of the best packs in SL IMO

OK, so there are reasons to believe that other squads will be better than last year, but for once, I'm looking up the table and not down it.

With a little luck, this year could be really exciting!

As Bully Boxer said, i think the places from 7th down will depend alot on who can get the majority of there first choice 17 out on the park the most.

The top 4 of Sts, Wigan, Wire and Leeds could finish in any order
Next i see Hull & Catalans
After that i would go as far as to say any 2 from the remainder (barring maybe Salford) could get the luck with injuries, put a decent run together and have a good season.

From our point of view i would be really happy to get in the 8 but just outside wouldnt be an out and out failure from where we were 18 months ago.
A decent cup run wouldnt go a miss either!

We have the potential to trouble the top 8, but there are several factors in play; not least our relative luck with injuries last season and the fact that other clubs have improved their roster. Conversely, we ended the season with arguably the form half-back pairing of the comp and whilst we haven't had a shopping spree, we've added some significant quality and had an additional off-season for our new team to work together.

Overall, given the way we actually made the 8 last season, I'm not overly concerned about doing the same thing again; it would be nice, but to just fail to do so wouldn't necessarily be a failure; I'm more interested in seeing gradual, sustainable progress towards being a better all-round club, both on and off the field.