Cas also have a few first teamers in doubt for the game.

I agree with belly we have to be much better defensively but if we are, we can surely win our first game of the season as we did at Widnes 2 seasons ago. I predict a close affair but think we will just edge it by 6 to 8 points. They did us 3 times last season, time to notch a win against our nearest and dearest and I'm really looking forward to witnessing it. Come on Trinity!!

I hope the optimistic predictions on here are proved right!
It's very hard to judge our team at this stage because, yet again, we have a few new players in pivotal positions.
The pack does however look as good as we've had for years.
My worry is at half back, we know Tim can win a game but he has to work well with Miller.
I know Cas' have lost some good players but they have a coach who seems able to motivate 'ordinary' players.
Too close to call for me, could go either way.

Cas will be one season wonders trust me, teams at the end of last season Sussed them out, a narrow victory for the Jeremy Kyle regulars.

As a Cas fan, Mash Poatoes, I would be seriously interested in who these people are outside Cas who think we will finish in the top 4, because I have scoured everything and have not seen one. The very best I have seen are Schoey who has us finishing sixth and the Sporting Life seventh. The bookies obviously think it is going to be very tight for us getting a top EIGHT finish as they have us at evens to do so. Victor Chandler have marked up an over and evens for the number of games each SL team will win in the initial 23 game season and they have marked us up at 7.5, over and under both being 5/6. So they have estimated that we will win either 7 or 8 games, which would almost certainly put us in the bottom 4. In the group betting we are in Group C along with yourselves, Widnes and HKR. so they obviously believe we will come in the bottom 4.

I say this because I am one of the few fans that thinks we will do better than commonly thought and I honestly believe we will definitely make the 8, but even I am not so optimistic that I think we'll make the top 4. Looking at all our boards / forums, our own fans opinions is that we'll finish anything between 6th and 10th. Sure there will be some rose tinted, one eyed fans somewhere that think we'll make hay again, but lets be right we all have them. But I reiterate I have not seen even one neutral cum independant cum media pundit, or other teams personnel that has us coming anywhere near the top 4. So you must have access to opinions that I have not yet come across.

I haven't seen anyone tip us as a "shoe in" for top 4 nor do I know any fellow Cas fans who've said the same so I don't know where you've got that from! Anyone who genuinely thinks Cas will be in the top 4 is either mad; knows very little about rugby or has the most tinted of glasses known to man! I think it will be a very tight affair for 60+ minutes then one team (could be either as there's not much to choose between the two teams in my opinion) will pull two scores clear.

That's right we have Cook, Jewiit and Mariano definitely out and Junior Moors and Oliver Holmes doubtful. Even if Moors makes it, there will be a doubt surrounding his match fitness as he has only played about half an hour and that was on Boxing Day, when he obviously took it easy anyhow.

If the latter two are both fully fit and ready to go then I will fancy our chances but think it will be very tight. If both miss, then for me it will be an almighty struggle, as all five are forwards and that will leave a huge chunk missing in that department.

Which brings me to the pivotal point that luck with injuries is going to have a massive bearing on the coming season. It is fair to say that none of the usual suspects of Warrington, Leeds, Saints and Wigan will come in the bottom 4, but I seriously believe that any of the other eight are definite contenders for it, even Catalans. Le Cats have some real good quality this year but in terms of numbers they are small, and a spate of injuries particularly to any key personnel could make life very difficult for them. Depending on this they could easily come top 4 but possibly struggle otherwise. For me it's those that have most luck with injuries that will come out well amongst those teams. Same with the actual bottom slot, there are a number of teams that could finish there, depending on injuries and luck etc.

I also actually think Huddersfield may struggle somewhat and do not see them being anywhere near the top 4 this coming season. That's my head speaking as I have absolutely nothing against them whatsoever.

For me there's not much between the starting 17 players or so from both sides, should be close. Probably be a right arm wrestle till the last 30 minutes or so and whichever set of forwards have the upper hand at that point should be able to to give the backs the field position to pull away. I'll go 18-28 Wakey. First games of the season are so hard to call.

Funny thing is for a Wakey first game of the season, this is as settled squad as I've seen in ages. True, Smith and Miller have to gel and full back needs nailing down but apart from that the spine of the team is pretty settled. Like you mention Webster looks to have pinned his hopes on the pack been big and enough and good enough for Tim Smith to do his magic, which imo isn't a bad idea at all for a team like us.

What paper is this, the velvet stuff you wipe your bum with?

There is as far as we know nothing special about castlefords defence any more than ours. Defence is as state mind thing - far more so than attack - in which case all teams at the start of a season are unknown quantities.

As it happens I think cas will win fairly easy. However it's a marathon not a sprint and I think they will fade and we will grow.

Head says cas, heart says wakey but it will be close either way. If i was a gambling man i'd probably just go with home advantage.

First game up last season we lost out to a rebuilt Salford side, with our half backs only arriving 3 days before the season started.
Think Sunday could be another game that we have the opportunity of winning but will slip through our fingers.
Half backs are the key I believe come Sunday.

I'd like to see our team attack! we aint never going to win games with our tight defence.. so we need to outscore our opponents!

The pressure and expectation is very much on castleford after last year, and probably in front of a good crowd . Home game against us is a game that any team with high expectations will expect to win.

Also if either us or Cas get the upper hand this season and take the full 6 points on offer from our games they will be well on their way to top 8 IMO.

Will be a closer game than most think for me. If Cas are going to shine they have to get it to the wingers. I think we should finish some where between 6th and 10th.