Not this year Henry. I find the trial games boring and lacking conviction. I will wait until next year when the Super League season proper begins.

Well Smokey you've peddled this twaddle for the past ten years - as they say if you chuck enough darts at a dartboard you will eventually get a bullseye (though probably not this time).

London do have a lot of potential in their squad, but im pretty sure (On paper) that our (Wakefield) squad is alot stronger.... Although, I reckon London will finish around 10th

I wouldn't say Wakefield are "a lot" stronger at all.
I'd take Dorn over Mathers
Robertson over Fox
Sarginson & Collis are about equal
Howell over Smith
Dixon has pace but Cockayne has aggression - equal

Sykes over Witt
Gower over Smith

Kaufusi over Poore
Aiton over Randall
Raleigh over Bryant
Lauitiiti over Bailey
Rodney over Kirmond
Washbrook over Clubb

Wilkes over Wheeldon
Amor over Krasniqi
Cook & Mariano equal
Lee & Wood equal

So that's 6 to London and 7 to Wakefield, with 4 equal. I think the 2 clubs won't be too far apart in the league.

Can't get over Poore making Bailey cry like a baby can you





By what logic Kaufusi over Poore

Rodney over Kirmond is spectacularly out, unless you have based it on a reputation gained years ago.

You really need to calm down and start acting like a grown up. "Making Bailey cry"? Are you 8 years old? Your star signing was so moronic as to get himself sent off in a friendly and you come on here gloating about that fact? Go away you stupid little boy.

If you want to discuss the relative strengths of the 2 teams then please post something less childish and pathetic.

As for Kaufusi, he played pretty well last year from what I saw, how much have you seen Poore play? From what I've seen of both I'd still take Kaufusi. As for Rodney and Kirmond, again from what I've seen of both if take Rodney though it was a close decision.
Even disregarding those 2 arguments, what makes Wakefield fans so confident as to think their squad is "A lot stronger" than London's?
I don't think London have a particularly good squad. But then neither do Wakefield, and I think both will struggle to, and probably not, make the playoffs.

Antonio Kaufusi is an NRL winning, SoO winning Australian international who has played in 2 NRL grand finals and a World Club Challenge.

By what logic have you decided that Justin Poore is a better player?

Or can we file under VASTY’S BIASED NONSENSE like how Ben Jeffries was a hugely better player than ‘fatty Mcguire’?

Rodney was a GF winner the year before last

Correct!

Also a member of that Manly 2011 grand final winning team was current London winger Michael Robertson.

The same current London winger Michael Robertson was a member of and top try scorer (3 tries) in Manly's 2008 Grand Final demolition of Melbourne Storm. In the same Manly 2008 GF winning team was current London prop Mark Bryant.

Rodney also was in a grand final winning team in 2003 (Penrith), the same team which had Australian international Craig Gower as scrum half and captain.

Tongan born Antonio Kaufusi played for Melbourne Storm in their 2006 and 2008 Grand Final defeats.

Thus London Broncos is now full of NRL Grand Final experience (Gower, Robertson, Rodney, Kaufusi, Bryant).

Any competent judge of rugby league would have to conclude that the contest for the title of best scrum half in Super League is between Scott Dureau and Craig Gower.

If Tim Smith picks up where he left off last season, I think he'd be a viable competitor in that particular contest; the issue for all three I suppose is the quality of the players around them - Scott Dureau probably wins out in that regard.

I am looking forward to seeing Tim Smith up against Dureau and Gower in 2013.

I agree that Catalans Dragons is a stronger team than London Broncos, though how much better we will have to wait and see with the advent of Tony Rea as London coach, and Laurent Frayyssinous and David Waite as the coach and deputy coach at Catalans.

Also we have to see how Ferriol's retirement will affect Catalans.

I think that the clash of the two teams, London and Catalans, on the neutral ground at Manchester on the Magique Weekend will be very interesting.

Comparing Tim Swith with Craig Gower?





Barry is right for once, Smith isn't anywhere near Gower's class.

I think the value of the loling emoticon is significantly undervalued in critical argument.

Why does a players past have anything to do with it, Kirmond was one of the stand out second rowers last season and for him not to even get a knights look in is a joke.
If London make the playoffs it will be from the bottom half of the table, i'm pretty confident about that.

Hmm, Gower is obviously quality but think Smith is nearer than you seem to think, managed to push our lot round the park superbly last season and some of his long range passing was unreal.

i always thought the Broncos squad from 2012 looked great on paper and should be above us (Wakey) for example, based on past reputations etc.

"Him" is about right, although i don't agree with every comparison. However he is a neutral and i am not. I may sway towards (or indeed against) Wakefield players because i see them every week and only see the Broncos players occasionally or on highlights.

As for the thread, just about every club should be "top 8 material" at the start of the season - its hardly a stark revelation.

Bar Salford or Cas, i think every other team will probably be expecting to be top 8 this year.

I think even Widnes will be geared to taking that step and questions will be asked if they dont.

It wouldn’t be a huge shock to me to see a more established team like Hudds or Les Catalans struggle to make it this year.

i think Cas will have top 8 aspirations, only Salford look like no-hopers at the moment for obvious reasons.

Oh don't you love it when the Leeds handbag brigade are in full flow. So much give and so little take.

.

Did I say that, don't recall it but if I did then good.

As for Antonio Kaufusi, he has one SOO in 2007 - Poore played in 3 in 2009. Win to Poore.

Kaufusi 2 losing GF - Poore none. Win of sorts to Kaufusi

Kaufusi 1 international

So Antonio Kaufusi pips it by one international as I believe 3 SOO beats 2 GF's as people like you are always telling us it's the pinnacle.
Even in your bitter biased little world there isn't much between them - now jog on and enjoy more Ryan Bailey.

Its just a pity he cant handle a cheap shot merchant in a sunday afternoon knock around.

Is this the Gower of now or 10 years ago.

You see Dave this is where you get confused. The Gower of today is a shadow of the player he was, and where the Smith v Gower comparison may have been laughable some years back it isn't anymore. To anyone who isn't a total blinkered wally it is now very valid.

Still whilst ever London and English fans in particular continue to swoon over truly past it Aussies then our game will continue to stagnate.

He did, what don't you get?

If London hit their straps , and stay injury free, I see no reason why they cant trouble the top 13.

People seem to forget that Craig Gower, who played 238 games for Penrith, 5 for NSW, and 18 for Australia -- during the eras of the legendary Immortal Andrew Johns and the very talented Brett Kimmorely --had had 4 years rest while playing rugby union for Bayonne and Italy. His body is more like that of a 30 year old than a 34 year old.

Expect Gower to run rings around whichever halves Wigan and St Helens manage to dig up. And watch Dixon and Robertson bag multiple tries off Gower's kicking game.