Given that at no point have I said that I believe Hull FC will finish in the top 2, your response would seem a tad silly as it would never be a bet that I personally place, but then I don't go down the gambling fools road anyway.

However anything is possible, as indeed happened in the 2006 campaign were we were also not forecast to finish in the top 2. Hull KR could well finish in the top 2. So forgive me for finding posts saying that it [iwon't [/ihappen as silly as your response. It only takes a few injuries, shock transfers, unpredicted results and anything can happen - but then we never see any of that go on in Rugby League, do we?

It pains me to say but Rovers will do well again this year, maybe not fourth but there or there abouts. An organised side that just look like they're coached well, probably because they are! I reckon one or two youngsters (especially in the forwards) will become regulars this season. Hull and Rovers, two totally contrasting teams that will both do well IMO.

1 Leeds
2 St Helens
3 Warrington
4 Bradford
5 Huddersfield
6 Rovers
7 Wigan
8 Catalans
9 Hull
10 Wakefield
11 Castleford
12 Harlequins
13 Crusaders
14 Salford

Leeds - Head and shoulders above the rest.

Saints - Still a very good side. Losing Long may even give them a sense of the unknown this season.
Warrington - Surely this year they will produce in the League. Argubly, the strongest squad in the league.
Wigan - Think they will grind out 4th this year. Deacon will guide them, and I think LeuLeuai has the potential to be a top class hooker.
Catalans - Some very good additions to an already impressive squad.
Bradford - Much better side this season. Great pack and good halves. Maybe lacking slightly in the backs.
Huddersfield - Could be higher dependent on other issues, but I cant see them finishing any lower than this.
Hull - Very good pack and halves, but similar to Bradford, question marks over the back division we stop a serious challenge.

Hull KR - A few injuries in the pack could hit Rovers hard. A solid unit that will be hard to beat,but not strong enough to mount a serious challenge.
Castleford - Alot of clubs have improved massively,and Cas seem to have stuck with a pretty similar squad. Like Rovers, hard to beat, but not in contention.
Wakefield - Great coach and a decent team on their day. Alot again will depend on Brough.
Harlequins - Inexperienced team will cause a few shocks, but inexperience will get the better of them in most matches.
Crusaders - I think, like Quins, Crusaders will cause some shocks. They have made some astute acquisitions, but have been to hastily thrown together. Will get stronger as the season goes on.

Salford - Unlike the majority of the other teams, I dont see any improvement at all.

If we played Newton on his own we would still be stronger than some of the teams we fielded in the later 1990's. I think you best get practising that apology.


Or if you meant SL era by your "ever" statement, our 11th place finish in 2007 will set the benchmark. Anything above a next to last finish should also draw that well-rehed apology.

Rovers and Hull will finish in the top 6, probably 5th and 6th.