1. Leeds - Still strong all over the park and have good youth coming through.

2. Wigan - Will be strong again and could easily win things as long as the new imports settle in well.

3. Warrington - Good, solid and strong squad.

4. Saints - Fantastic pack but will need both half backs to stay fit, playing at Widnes may cause a small disruption.

5. Hull KR - A good settled squad, if Dobson and Green gel, then who knows! Looking forward to seeing a mature Willie lol

6. Huddersfield - Loss of Brown will be key! still have a strong squad though.

7. Bradford - It feels like for the first time in a while, the club have a fresh lease of life.

8. Hull - Once again a real problem in the halves which seems to have been going on for years now. Berrigan can be key if he is given a full time centre spot but not sure Agar will see it like that. O'Meley has to stay fit as he lead the pack superbly last season.

9. Salford - Same as Bradford.

11. Castleford - The loss of Shenton and Westerman will hurt, I also think some still question Matterson.

12. Wakefield - Cant see Kear being able to get something out of this season with the current squad.

13. Quins - Club dont seem to be going anywhere apart from backwards.

14. Celtic - It going to be a long hard season!

Not without any halfbacks, they didn't.

Liked I've said previous, even with no real half back pairing, we still came very close to finishing in the top 4. I don't see why people think it's going to be any different this year. One old plodder forward and crocked winger out, and two young and promising equivalents in, surely means better then last season?

This is not only directed at you, I'm aiming this to a few here!

Agree about Ogre though, and I think Berro to centre could prove a real smart move if it materialises.

I see your point ok, its similar to people saying Rovers will finish lower down the league than last season, we have brought in far better players than we have let go.

Put Saints under Leeds,and Bradford above Salford,and I almost agree with you.

I believe a lot rides on how the Green/Dobson pairing will hold up. I know a lot of Hull fans on here were ecstatic when we signed Longy, but so far, for one reason or another, he hasn't really shown us what he can do at his full potential.

Difference being last season we got the rub of the green in a lot of the close games. Other teams have recruited better than we have. The fact remains we are relying on an injury prone Horne and an ageing Long to play the majority of the games.

Also our habit of starting well could be hit this year with a hard start to the season.

wigan-improved squad
wire-consistent
saints-steady top 3 team
hull-if our hb's stay reasonably fit
leeds-transitional period
bulls-major overhaul,but potter will improve them
giants-strong
salford-one or 2 decent signings-improve
__________
rovers-dobson gets injured,out for season-struggle
catalans
cas
wakey
crusaders
quins

TBF we struggled to get a partner for Dobson all season last year(Webster, Murrell) so at least having a recognised off half should be beneficial.

Huddersfield haven't lost brown

nice to see an aussie(or any foreigner) respecting and keeping to their contract!! good on him.

1. Wigan
2. Leeds
3. Warrington
4. St Helens
5. Huddersfield
6. Hull
7. Hull KR
8. Bradford

9. Salford
10. Castleford
11. Catalans
12. Crusaders
13. Wakefield
14. Harlequins

On the other hand, a positive fan would suggest that a team makes their own luck. You could also argue that we were unlucky to lose some very close games (Crusaders, Salford, Leeds) and had we won those games we would have indeed finished in the top 4.

Yes we are relying on Horney and Long, but I believe if we can string some games together and the continuity of the largely unchanged squad could prove more successful then the majority think.

exactly.this is where,hopefully,consistency will come in.