We are on paper better in the backs but weaker in the forwards and its gonna be a big season in terms of how the younger players step up - for me that will be the most important piece in the jigsaw - we will get injuries and its how they step up that will make or break us in a very tight competition this year

I dont get the whole wembley thing and tbh i didnt last year either even though i was very happy we won - to be recognised as the greatest team in the league you have to win the Grand Final - that has to be our aim - i dont think we are capable just yet as we dont have that winning mentality built into the team yet but i think we'll get close - last year was a very good chance with a great make up of players - this year i dont feel the same

If we are weaker in the forwards by losing Pritchard it should be pointed out that although he is a great character and undoubtedly boosted team morale he was our fourth best second rower last season.

We are definitely stronger in the backs with Kelly, Griffin and Connor in and Yeaman and Pryce out (Leon only played thirteen games in 2016).

The prospect of injuries is a worry, we are unlikely to be as blessed as last year when remarkably eighteen players made 25+ appearances from thirty-five games and thirteen missed just seven or fewer.

Agree that a lot of how the season goes depends on how the younger players step in. Can't see us being as lucky with injuries next season.
Connor will be in the first 13 by seasons end I reckon.

given a good run on the injury front i would expect us to be in the top 4 along with wigan, warrington and maybe cas, maybe saints. leeds should finish higher but i don't think they have improved their team at all - they will get better form wise though. the rest are much like last season. however i think we might make a slower start, perhaps a bit like wigan did last season.
it is also worth noting that a of other club's fans are fairly pessimistic about their teams chances - the aforementioned leeds, widnes, saints and huddersfield.

at the risk of ridicule later on in the year
1. wigan
2. warrington
3. us
4. saints
5. cas
6. leeds
7. catalan (i don't think they will be as bad as folk are making out)
8. salford
9. wakey
10. hudds
11. leigh
12. widnes

in reality the bottom 4 could be in any order

I can't see him starting unless we have a problem at 6. Fingers crossed we won't have.

Teams are going to be ready for us up front a but more this year I'd imagine .
If we can win the majority of the forward battles like we did last year our attack could be seriously devastating this time round.
Top 4 should be the aim , and a nice trouncing of leeds would be a nice

Ellis is the key - He's probably in his last season and we all know how much of a different side we are with him in - with him playing a majority of games we'll finish top four, without him were top eight. Once he goes (and possibly Mini) theres no one presently at the club goof enough to step up as i dont rate Hadley

Also think this could be they last year. If so think we need another top drawer 2nd rower. Hadley is no world beater but IMO big year for him.as I like his attitude and hard running. Also turgut could turn out to be a good player for us. Interesting times.

Looking at that catalan squad, I dont think they will be either, look very strong on paper, walsh and myler stay fit (which is unlikely) they could have a very good year. As far as us goes, no reason why we cant push for both trophies really, like a few others, worry about injuries to our forwards and having the players that can step in and make a difference, most have written Thompson off , but out off all fringe and bench players, really think he could, and is most likely to step it up this year. Possibly not having the characters around the place off pritchard and pryce could make a differance, think a lot of the team moral, togetherness came from them 2

Your first sentence makes no sense. How can teams not understand where anothers strength is, all you had to do was look at our pack as soon as the squads were settled and it's right, FC have a huge pack, that's where they are going to focus on breaching us. To say teams weren't ready and are going to be more ready for us this year is totally unfounded and illogical.
What happened was we had probably the best pack in SL, we had most of our big hitters for most of the season far more than other teams, that meant we were able to make headway through the forwards more often than not. it's not that teams weren't 'ready', it's just that we had more firepower more often.

What we offered last season was predictable, it's just that the opposition didn't have enough to overcome it.

Head says 4th heart says 1st.

My head thinks that we won't be as lucky with injuries and other teams will be better at dealing with our style of play.

My heart thinks that we'll smash 'em down the middle and we'll score for fun out wide. 20 tries each for Shaul, Fonua and Albert.

I hope teams concentrate on our pack as feel we have some really good power and strike in the outside backs this year. Although a bit loose at times in the last two friendlies, I think we have seen we are going to throw the ball about, last year if our pack couldn't get on top, we didn't have the back and halfs to unlock defences, I feel with that that with our backs this year.

tend to agree with your heart
We just need to keep our left edge more involved as out right side will see a lot more ball with Kelly there.

Hoping and think we will get top 4, where in the top 4 I don't know. We should have the squad to do it, just will depend on injuries and making sure people behave as they should. I personally don't care about the cup this year, the wembley win finally was the greatest thing ever. I want us to kick on in the league and really go for it.
(another cup win would be nice mind you )

Hopes:
I hope we back up last season with a strong year and a trophy.

Expectations:
I think on paper we have a top5 squad. Top8 should be a bare minimum (baring a catastrophe on the injury front). I think Wigan in particular & Warrington's squads are stronger than ours and I reckon they'll be top2 by a fair distance. I expect us to be fighting it out with Saints & Cas for a playoff spot, and a strong defence of the cup.

Predictions:
Wigan
Warrington
Saints
Hull
Cas
Leeds
Catalans
Wakefield
Salford
Leigh
Hudds
Widnes

Rovers, Toulouse, London & Feath top4 from the Championship.
Rovers vs Hudds as the £1m game. Hudds to stay up.