I think an even bigger influence will be Sean Long who will not only bring his knowledge to the table but will also be a top motivator for all the team.

No I just don't like seeing good players that have run their blood to water for the club week in and week out being put down down

Anyone who doubts Sia's commitment to the club is simply wrong. There's no doubting he was a great player for us, and I'm sure you're right well hear about missing him (most probably after a loss or two), BUT we still have a glut of second rowers, and we have more coming through, which I think will mitigate the loss somewhat.

As an aside greenwood has bulked up! According to the SL site he's running at 105kg this year, which is more than Vea and LMS!

My god, I see I'm needed here. So many helium filled expectations here. Just because we were destined somehow to win the GF last season, doesn't mean we were good enough to and it doesn't mean we're going to be competitive this year.

Getting into the top 8 has to be the aim, winning the cup semi realistic but totally dependent on home draws and avoiding the big 3. We've got a potentially clueless coach (Not saying he is, but it's definitely possible that he'll be terrible), we could be wheeling Paul Wellens out every week, so playing with 16 players.

I can't see past Warrington for the pots to be honest. Wigan are rubbish, Leeds are rubbish, but Warrington's halves (Who demolished us twice last season) have an extra year of experience, they have the best prop in the comp in Hill, have added Simms and Daryl Clarke will be the icing IMO. They've been stung enough times now so won't be messing about with the league like last year so I'd expect them to finish top. Everyone has really short memories, you put us first because we won it last year. But we reached the GF almost by default with our play off fixtures and had Wigan explode due to Wane's idiotic approach to the game. Warrington were within a breath of reaching the final (Thoroughly deserved to beat the Goons in the semi final) and with Clarke will be so much more dangerous.

Soliola played most of his games down the right channel with Manu operating down the left, Sol only played a couple of games at "prop" when we lost both Amor and Walmsley with injuries.
In the play offs Soliola played like a man possessed and was very instrumental in our progress
to the grand final.

Back on topic, World Club Champions and a Challenge Cup Win ambitions. Warrington to finally get the Superleague Champions badge.

Haha. You're also conveniently failing to mention that we won the GF without Lomax, Wilkin and Walsh and have since added Burns and Vea. Our young forwards, similar to the Warrington half backs you refer to, have an extra year of experience also.

Cheer up pal!

Personally I don't see Warrington being in the running this year.
It maybe controversial to say so, but I thought last year they dropped way off the pace. At the end of the year they did catch up, but that seemed to be down to the likes of Saints, Cas and Wigan just not wanting to win the league.

I recall the weeks towards the end of the season being about who was doing their level best not to win the competition.

I think we will go into the season as favourites but I can see anyone from 5 or 6 teams doing very well.

I thought we'd win it last year, although I also lost hope when Walsh was injured.

I think the same prediction this year. Our pack is the best in the league. Our halves, if fit, are the best in the league. Our threequarters are better than most and able to hold their own against the better sides as long as the pack is on top.

So in my view, if the halves stay fit, and we don't lose any two of Roby, Amor and Walmsley to injury, then we'll win the double.

I'm not putting him down at all. There's a marked difference between saying he was overrated by Saints fans and doubting his commitment or saying he didn't 'run his blood to water'. He clearly did. There were occasions in his spell here where he was the only one taking us forward. He worked his off for Saints and I'm grateful. I just don't think he was as good a player as the majority did. I personally thought last year was his best because he had others helping him with the workload and because he played central so he wasn't able to be isolated defensively.

Liam Farrell, for instance, has murdered Saints through Wigan isolating Soliola. He still managed to make breaks because he's a good player but nowhere near as many as previous years. Why ? Because Soliola wasn't defending him.

I've nothing to say because the Sad One has said it all.

.

Obviously your right again.

I agree with SLS in that Soliola was primarily used down the middle, though he did defend a fair amount in the left second row channel. It annoyed the hell out of me that Manu was used in the right as he is much more effective down the left because of his left foot step and offload.

Providing they can click together and their halves find a balance, Warrington are the ones to beat for me.

I agree with you on the losing Roby would be hard to overcome but i don't think Amor or Walmsley are linchpins to our success.

.

Yep correct again

I think I love you

I'm happy to see even his own fellow fans hate this SLS guy, seems to have popped up in recent months trying to troll everyone he can in terrible fashion.

I personally can't see past us or you guys for the honours this year.

Its obvious I am completely wrong and need to book an apointment with specsavers, I will also have to ignore the fact that Sia was in the top 3 for tries scored, tackles made, metres made and offloading to his team mates.

Yes, I think Saints and Wire will be slugging it out this year, although I'm not going to write off Wigan yet. I'm sure they'll still be horrible to play against once they get some bodies back in the pack.

Warrington have an intimidating looking pack, and with Clarke on board they're going to be a nightmare to defend against around the ruck once they get a roll on. I'm still not convinced by their half-back situation, though - that could be the one thing that holds them back.

Then there's Catalans, who are a bit of an unknown quantity. On paper they should be right up there, but you never know how the travelling will effect them. If they finished in the top two and got a home draw in the play offs, I wouldn't want to be the team going over there.

Leeds look a little light up front to mount a genuine challenge, and I suspect Hudds will do what they do most seasons.

Again, I'll point out that nowhere have I said Soliola isn't a good player - he is. I've said that in my view he was overrated by most Saints fans. I'm not sure what's so difficult for people to get their heads around.

Your stats are nice, however biased. He will have more metres because he made more carries of all our forwards except Roby. His actual average gain is the lowest of our frontline go forward men. His tackles are good, he's a hard worker no doubt. Equally, I could point out that he missed more tackles than any other Saints player as well. Saints barely play an offloading game anyhow so I'm not putting anything into that stat.

Like I've said over and again, he's a good player. He's just not the legendary type player that most of you lot like to make out.

SLS talks sense and I find that person pretty objective.

Targets for this season?

I think the only target should be to win everything and win every game. What's the point of playing for the three trophies if that isn't your target?

I would love us to defend our crown. That would be special.

Exactly my thoughts