Saints look a lot stronger than I thought they would, but I think it will be a couple of years that they and Leeds will have a lull while they redevelop younger players and restructure. I think Wigan and Warrington will be the dominating teams for a couple of years.

Wigan have strengthened this year. Leeds are weaker and unless McDermot proves to be this seasons Michael Maguire, which I doubt, will struggle for a top 4 place. Saints, as long as they get Price and Eastmond playing every week will do well but not seriously challenge. Warrington are capable as long as they don't get to Wembley. I think if Hull weren't held back by Agar, then it could really be their year to do something.

Overall and I'm not being biased, Wigan have the squad, coaching staff and back room set almost to perfection.
Not saying we aren't going to get beat at some stage but I'm having a bet that we will win everything.

Go home your milks boiling over.

Wigan weren't as dominant as Saints were in 2006 and Saints haven't won the title since.

Waaaay too early to talk about Wigan walking it in 2011.

I think Hoffman will better than Feka but I really don't see Lima being any better than Lima (sic).

Wigan were the best side over 27 games last year and will probably be so again this time. Who wins the C Cup and SL will come down to a few moments of magic, however, so it's not easy to be so certain. Pies deffo the team to beat though, Wire, Saints, Leeds next and Giants the dark horses.

HA i meant Phil Bailey,,,, was just testing you

I can remember last season when everyone wa saying the same sort of things about Leeds. We had added to the squad with Eastwood and Delaney, we had we thought was the deepest squad we have ever had, and look how it turned out. Until at least the first 5 fixtures are out of the way it is very difficult to tell how teams will play. Wigan have the WCC to worry about this year and defending their crown. Is it likely they will defend their crown? Yes I would say it is. But there are alot ofther factors as we found out last season and appearing to be in the strongest position is not always the case.

It's open to the 'top 4' again, as far as I can see, and a lot will depend on injuries, as ever.

Wigan's organisation and enthusiasm was fantastic last year. If they can maintain that they'll be difficult to beat, especially as they've strengthened on paper. It'll be interesting to see how new interpretations at the play the ball affect them, though.

Warrington have IMO had the best squad on paper for the last couple of years - if they gel then they're in with every chance.

I don't much fancy Leeds at the moment, but they've still got too much class to write off, and a change of coaching setup might provide the fillip they need.

Saints have their best and most balanced squad since 2006. We'll have more front row options this year, and if Wheeler, Eastmond and Shenton stay fit, we've at last got some pace again. Wigan are favourites, but it's wide open.

Give over it was a pre season friendly...The mistakes we made were off the chart..

We're favourites, I think we'll finish 1st. Then the Grand Final/Play-Offs is hard to predict.
Saints, Wire, Wigan and Huddersfield will all be there or there abouts.

Good post.

I think it will be Wigan and Warrington as the teams to beat this season. I can't see Leeds and Saints being as strong as in recent years, no-one can stay at the top indefinately, they will be there or there abouts, but the big prizes will be coming to us or the Wire.

Dark horses........Bradford......now they have a coach.

Can't wait for it to start.

i dont want wigan to win it,but they were good last season and have strengthened their squad.think warrington will run em close though.cant see saints or leeds being quiet good enough though & reckon theyll be scrapping for 3/4 along with huddersfield (and maybe hull and rovers if they have the luck to suffer few injuries in key positions)

My theory last year was that Wigan bough their play-off form into the super league regular rounds. Under Brian Nobel, Wigan faired pretty well in the play offs and it was only the regular rounds where you had low standards. It’s no fluke that Wigan won the grand final last year or the league where Wigan took everyone by surprise.

This year your defending champions and I don’t think you’ll have it as easy or be able to retain top spot.

As a rhinos fan i think Wigan will defend it again yes!

Personally i think the league will finish with Wigan top and Warrington second. I think there will be a fight between Rhinos, Saints and Bulls for the next 3 places, with bulls finishing just out of the top four!!

Hate to say it coz i cant stand bulls but they look good this year, if their team gels!

I think Wigan have a good chance to defend it and i think if warrington are anything like last year they will do well! Saints i think will slump, and i think us rhinos havent made enough changes to be in the top 2 of the final 4.

Now last season Wigan and Hudds were known for holding down to the very limit of what is acceptable, me personally, i didn't care that they did this, end of the day no rules were actually broken but i'm told the refs are clamping down this year.

So the Pies may have to change their tactics slightly which might make them slightly less effective than last year.
Saying that have other teams improved ?

Wigan have improved their pack, which i personally thought they were a little weak last year.

Saints have a new coach, a questionable pre season, lost a couple of key players and don't seem to have gelled yet. Not got a great record for keeping players fit

Leeds have new coaching staff which personally if i was a Leeds fan i would be massively underwhelmed with, ageing players and having a key player unfit for quite some time (see rugby gods).
Leeds for me will compete this season, drop off slightly next and slightly more the year after.

Wire well they have Mathers out Hodgson in (a kicker, hoorah) and Monaghan for Hicks (hopefully that's an improvement although Hicks has been fantastic for Wire) we'll see.

Hudds pushing top 3 for me, looked strong last season then wobbled when Brown looked to be leaving to then comeback and finish strong again.

I think you meant 'acceptable' but never mind. Hudds started this tactic and then the Pies perfected it last year. I don't like it, as it slows the game down, but it was within the rules ( or within the 2010 interpretation of the rules ), so congrats to Wigan on mastering it. If refs are going to clamp down on it, then I just hope that (a) they are consistent and (b) they do so throughout the season. We don't want another debacle like a couple of years ago when the season started with a clampdown on 'obstruction' but within half-a-dozen games they'd backtracked.

Funniest post of 2011 so far.

No chance.

wigan should be the strongest pre season favourites to win a SL title in probably the last 5 years

the best coach in SL by a long margin

a team which is full of confidence having won it last year

and picking some excellent imports from the melbourne storm

barring injuries a certainty to finish first during the league season

when it comes to finals no team is invinceable, upsets happen but on paper wigan deserve strong favouritism

this, the team that cheated and got you relegated!!

Jeez you must really hate Leeds & Wire

I really like the look of Saints' squad. They've really improved where they're weak.
Wigan definately favourites but for the last few years it was 'who's going to stop the rhinos' and they were quite poor, due to injuries, last year. I think Wigan might well finish first but im going for Saints to take the prize tbh

Agreed. Something we couldn't achieve during our dominant 80's / 90's period.

I agree that Pies look strongest overall. I also agree that Maguire is a fine coach. However, Nathan Brown and Tony Smith could claim top spot: Brown because he does not quite have the playing staff or resouces of Saints, Pies, Leeds or Wire but still gets great performances from the Giants, Smith on his overall trophy-winning record with Leeds and Wire.

To all you doubters out there, The warriors are back this year bigger and better than ever before this is the start of a new golden era for us just bring it!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wigan will win the league, only Wire will come close. The champions could come from Wigan, Wire, Hudds, Saints or Leeds.

Wigan could win every single game from now until October but not end up champions. No one has any idea what could happen in a one off game.

This time last year though i was convinced Leeds would walk the league but Saints would beat them in the GF. Saints are wrote off every year but still get within 80 mins of being champions. Would be surprised with another Wigan v Saints final.