Even though they like to collect wooden spoons, I don't think Cas will be anywhere near 14th or 14th this season.
Powell is a decent coach and they will be 8/9/10 this time.

I'm not sure yet.

Powell is indeed a decent coach and made a difference last year, but that might be harder in the second year.
Their team has lots of depth but to me there less quality because of it.
There are a few players that could really come good for them, but equally they might not, and other clubs are in the same position, us included.

I have a lot of time for them and they could possibly do well but I can see them being under pressure as well.
A few of the Cas fans are seeing themselves clear of the dog fight and I personally think they are heading for disappointment.
The difference between 8th and 12th is not that great.

Not so sure about this strength in depth that people talk about with Cas. Dewsbury nilled then on saturday and they had plenty of first team squad members in the team. I rate Clark, Carney, Shenton & Webster (if fit), the rest are bang average players and no better than any other team bar maybe london. For me they should have pushed for a little more quality over quantity to have a real chance of the play offs. They'll be ok relegation wise though, if its true of 3 or 4 players are leaving Bradford then they may well be the ones that struggle.

the first team squad members were taken off due to the conditions,especially after Massey slipped and tweaked a groin five minutes in... but fair play to Dewsbury really.... 7 of the squad don't even have numbers for this year do it was very much a second team.

Have to concur with Pop-Tart (as usual!) we would be foolish to think we are safe before we've played a game - the gap between the bottom 6 isn't that big.

I think the differing views here are based on a conflict of interest, however I'd put it this way - I'd be more surprised if Cas finished 13th than if they finished 9th. Like WTID said, we've players who could be superb and could be a liability. Carney and uspensions, Seymour is an unknown etc...

But at that point, I trust that we have the ideal coach to get the best out of the current squad.

I'd rather have Powell with our current squad than Cummins or Betts, for certain.

My "prediction" would be that 18 points will be enough. I can't see the Broncos getting more than 6 wins (they're Aussie imports are bloody terrible) and I can't see Bradford Wakefield and Widnes ALL getting 10 wins.

This considered, I think Cas will be good enough to get 9 wins this year and stay up, and it'd be a massive under-achievement not to.

Like I said earier, I'd love both WF clubs to stay up, just to irk the RFL more than anything and see what reaction they have

I agree, and to be honest, of the group you talk about in that pool, it will be the team that keeps their nerve in a lot of cases.
There will be losses early on that put someone at the bottom. If everyone loses sight of what they are doing because they are worried about relegation, then the wheels could come off.

Case in point, we have some early opportunities for points but equally if we get tonked at Salford and the papers start laying in to us, and the usual suspects start calling for Agar to be sacked, we could be lacking confidence in the games we really need to be focussed for.

I'm looking forward to finding out

yeah totally. There's so many variables in this whole situation over the next 7 months, it's impossible to call. I'm quietly confident this year. We've undoubtedly prepared better than yourselves and Bradford, yet I think a lot will depend on injuries.

Look at Salford's squad - their first 17 are top 5 material but from 18-27 they've not got anything after that. 5/6 injuries at once could put them on a bad run and they'll no doubt get sucked in if that happens.

2 teams going down - nobody from 6th is safe IMO

Here's the points the 12th placed team has got since we expanded to 14 teams:

2013 – 20
2012 – 14
2011 – 14
2010 – 16
2009 – 20

I'd suggest 10 wins needs to be the target for you guys.

nice info Grimmy, I wasn't far wrong then



I do think we will be good enough to win 10/27 this season (we won 9 last year after a horrible first half)

Wakefield, I reckon might just sneak it as well - it's hard to say given you've only got your full squad together today, being an "unknown" might have it's advantages

Easy there Grimmy.
Your lot managed 6 wins last season.
Even though you have spent a fortune on a new squad, nothing is a given.
The old phrase about counting chickens comes to mind.

Just think 7 wins for Salford would be a progress

I hope both Castleford, & Wakefield, get off to a flying start to the season, a good win for Waky at Salford, would be a good confidence builder & the same for my club at Bradford, so hears to getting of to a flyer for both clubs, & the banter between the fans getting back to what's going on , on the field & not the other rubbish.