Michaels is quick. I'm not aware of him ever playing second row, he may have done once or twice I suppose. Whether he will be a success or not I have no idea, but he can't be accused of not being mobile. Also I think you underestimate Lineham's pace. He'd beat Dixon over 100 metres no problem. Admittedly Dixon is quicker off the mark though which often counts for more, but when Lineham is in space it's good night.

Sa needs to recapture his pre union form, but he's a big threat close to the line. Talanoa does a lot of things really well, but you are correct he does need to work on some other stuff. Don't forget he hadn't played the game for almost 2 years before he came to us, and arrived after the friendlies had started. He should be better for having an off season.

We've also got Lancaster as back up on the wing who is a real prospect and the quickest of the lot.

We are all biased towards our our teams and players. Fwiw I agree that your back line is much improved. But I actually really like our backs this year. If we are going to struggle it will be because of our front row, especially hooker.

I disagree.

8.Adrian Morley

9.Tommy Lee

10.Lama Tasi

11.Harrison Hansen

12.Weller Hauraki

13.Gareth Hock

16.Scott Taylor

17.Jordan Walne

20.Adam Walne

21.Tony Puletua

22.Jason Walton

23.Andrew Dixon

24.Liam Hood

26. Carl Forster

27.Luke Menzies

29. Brad England

31. Matt Groat

Got to agree.

Salford's got a good mix of experience and youth in its pack. Plus it's got size and pace too. Good young hungry back-up adds depth. Probably lacks a 'name' at hooker but with Hood, Fages, and even Chase slotting in there you never know.

Absolutely no way is that a weak pack.

Wet sponges? Not this year, I think you need something much stronger sir.

You're clearly insane





Of course we'll never know but IMO, if Tom Briscoe didn't drop that ridiculous pass in the play offs Leeds would have done the double last season.

We'll finish in the top 3 in 2015 alongside Wigan and either Saints or Wire.

My top 8.

Saints
Wigan
Leeds
Wire
Catalans
Salford
Hudds
Castleford or Hull

Challenge Cup - Catalans or Salford hopefully
GF - Leeds or Wire definitely

The Butcher & NMDevil seem to be missing the point made by Roy H.

It doesn't matter what names you have in individual shirts, the club and its team seems incapable of realising its potential.

The outcome is LESS than the sum of its parts.

Quote ="Roy Haggerty"Found it ! viewtopic.php? ... 3&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights. '" Can we have another Saints vs Salford squad run through again?

Quote ="Roy Haggerty"Found it ! viewtopic.php? ... 3&start=30 If anyone wants to see how well or badly they did with predictions last year, here it is. Can't say I'd have won any money ! However, I did have Salford bang to rights. '" Can we have another Saints vs Salford squad run through again?

Wigan
Leeds
Wire
Saints
Catalans
Hudds
Salford
Hull
Castleford
Hull kr
Wakefield
Widnes

The bits underlined I agree could happen in any given year but we had two teams in SL in a similar position this year as well, such is sport sometimes unfortunately. The last paragraph is an overstatement though as it would mean that the bottom two were already relegated at the time of the split (if 6 of the bottom eight as you suggest were safe from relegation). The top 2 in the 3rd eight may sometimes be safe from the drop at the start of the second phase but in that case they would be focussed on finishing high up to get more cash and possibly a trophy.

As far as the bit in bold goes even in that scenario they would have something to play for (a SL place) they would just achieve that goal prior to the last day of the season. With points being reset though a top 3 place can't be confirmed until at least 4 of the seven games have been played. Even a team walking that middle eight would have no more than 3 games to play where they already knew they were in SL.

Warriors
Wire
Saints
Dragons
Giants
Tigers
FC
Rhinos (only just - a team that is now beyond its sell by date with a CE who won't splash the cash)
Rovers
Reds
Wildcats
Vikings

Always fun to see the giants get put in 6/7/8 spot

Think we've been top 6 for a few years now and top 4 the last three
Last season we were hampered by injuries (of course no one credits that we lost our first choice 7 for half the season, our first choice hooker for 9 months, and our strike centres carrying injuries all season)

Next year we've improved the pack and most of our players will have had a full rest (again the giants contributed more teams to international duty in the world cup than any other)

I'm happy to be written off but expect to see us in the fight for LLS

He actually said "I don't think there's a better winger in the competition who's better at finding you a ruck win when he's returning the ball". He never claimed Talalnoa is possibly the best winger overall.

He went well for us last year, even winning our PotY (nothing to brag about given our season, admittedly).

1 Wigan - Best team last year and would have won GF without the stupidity of one individual. Have lost Green but have strengthened the pack significantly. Have a feeling Tautai will have a stormer of a year.

2/3 - Saints/Wire - Wire have made some good signings and could finish top. I just think there back row is a little lacking although Sims strengthens the FR considerably. Saints have made a decent signing in Burns but have lost Soliola which will weaken their Backrow. Also a lot will fall upon how Walsh returns from injury.

4 Leeds - They need some fresh blood but despite this their experience should bag them a top 4 spot.

5 Catalan - If Carney has the correct mindset he will be the best halfback in the comp. The main weak spot is front row and the fact they still struggle massively away from home.

6 Huddersfield - I see them having an average season, Huby is a good signing but they needed much more to try and push on.

7 Salford - They have a much better squad but still have some weakness. The pack has some deent forwards but non that really stand out who could demand a spot in say Wigan's pack barring Taylor and Hock (Who wouldn't get a game for other reasons) Hansen is decent, never rated Hurauki he has far too many errors in him and the likes of Morley and Puletua are well past their best. Good halfs but poor hookers. Mix bag in the backs with Locke who could be a real star but then the likes of Griffin or MCB at centre who aren't up to scratch atleast not yet.

8 Hull - Made some reasonable signings Minichello should add abit of extra steel in the pack alongside Ellis. Pryce and Sneyd I'm not convinced over, Pryce was a top player at times for saints but he's on the downward nowadays, I also think they've been mugged with Sneyd I just don't get the hype. Despite this they should be better than the rest.

9 Hull KR - Have the makings of a team much higher up the league with some real good signings in the backs including Sio and Kelly but they need another halfback atleast. I think a lot could rest on Dixon, if he gets off to a flyer and learns how to catch then they could turn into the dark horses and push into the 8.

10 Widnes - Barely strengthened at all. But the continuity should keep them above the rest.

Cas - Did great last year but unfortunately have lost some of their better players. More importantly though I think a lot of teams had figured Cas out.

Wakefield - Someone has to finish bottom and just don't have enough quality IMO.

Read this comment a few times from Wigan and it baffles me...

On what grounds were Wigan the "best team" last year? They weren't league leaders for the majority of the year, lost to Cas in the quarters, and we can argue whether Wigan would have won without the stupid moment or not all year and get no where...

Catalan ain't gunna be world beaters because they are really poor away from home. I expect them to improve slightly. But don't expect them to be in finals. I think Warrington have made the best signing. People expect Cas to drop like a lead balloon but Powell is a top coach and knows what he's doing.
Personally I think kr will struggle.


Wire
Saints
Wigan
Hudds
Leeds
Cas
Catalan
Salford
Fc
Wakefield
Widnes
Kr

Wigan didn't try you see. They could afford to coast the season because that's what you do in rugby league. Fair play to them finishing top of the imaginary league table of 'best team' though.

Wigan weren't the best team last year, it's a defence mechanism for the inbred, delusional pricks to tell themselves to take the pain away,

Simple truth - had St Helens not suffered with so many key injuries last year, they'd have finished about 8 points clear at the top and probably put 50 points up on Wigan in the Grand Final after Flower did his stuff.

Can anybody imagine what a Saints side with Lomax, Wilkin and Walsh would have done to that Wigan team ?!?!?! These delusional s can't even grasp that St Helens have Luke Walsh at scrum half whilst they try and pass off that. Matty Smith is anymore than a system player, a cog in a wheel.

Overrated fools are Wigan and the best part is that their inbred supporters fall for it.

What's with all the name calling keyboard warrior?

Yes let's just think, what would that super team have done with the likes of Walsh, Lomax and Wilkin?

Maybe lost just like they did on Good Friday?

It's well known Wigan and Warrington like Leeds in the past have prioritised resting players throughout the year whilst maintaining a top 4 position to be better prepared at the back end of the year. I could quite easily say Wigan would have walked the league leaders if they had put everything into it, the likes of Green, O'Loughlin, Bowen and McLlorum not missed a good number of games each and the distraction and added fatigue of the WCC.

What is dillussional is Saints fans thinking their pack is some sort of formidable beast. It's a decent pack but it's been dominated by Wigan pretty much very time they've come up against each other over the last few years which even led to Nathan Brown pretty much calling them abit soft when up against Wigan. The only time they could say they have dominated Wigan's pack is in the GF when they had an extra forward all game.

Look, this delusional er can't even read. I stated 'after Flower did his stuff' or did you just ignore that part ?

After Brown had, quite rightly, called Saints' forwards out after their 'efforts' on Good Friday, Saints beat Wigan on both occasions. A fit Saints squad at Old Trafford after Flower had performed his act so symbolic of the scumbag club he represents, would have rattled up half a century easily.

Wigan are overrated beyond belief. Get over it. If you honestly believe Wigan and Warrington mucked around all year with the desired aim of winning all, then you're a sensational representation of the Wigan education system - delinquency reigns supreme in Greater Manchester still.

1. Warrington
2. Wigan
3. St Helens
4. Huddersfield
5. Castleford
6. Catalan
7. Leeds
8. Hull FC
9. Hull KR
10. Salford
11. Wakefield
12. Widnes

People mentioning Cas losing their best players - only Clark and maybe Huby (depending on how Boyle comes back from injury and Crossley adapts to SL) will be missed. Sneyd was a massive choker and lost his form big time around August and never found it again. Roberts & Gale is a far better partnership on paper than Finn & Sneyd.

Catalan will be the same as always, great at home but iffy away. Salford will continue to be a band of mercenaries who don't play as a team and Widnes just look weak compared to everyone else.

cas have lost Ellis too

So ... To summarise, Wigan would have dominated but didn't want to, and Saints injuries are inconsequential but played a big part as to why Wigan didn't win the LLS.

Saints don't have a good pack, because they only dominated Wigan in the Grand final, so long as you ignore the match at the DW, so clearly it was their halfbacks that won them the grand final?

Got it...

Yes and replaced him with Luke Gale who is arguably a better player - started showing that when Bulls changed coach last season.

Ben Roberts replaces Sneyd and showed his class in Four Nations.

Agree with Tigerade. We've lost Clark and that's a blow but it's certainly not detrimental. Adapt and change our style of play to suit. If you can defend your own line well then you've every chance of winning. Same with Huby.

I think a lot of people are not looking at squad depth. A lot of sides have good 1-17 but after that very little quality to come in. Sides will be going hammer and tong at each other to try and get in that top eight so I can see teams losing a few players to injury in first part of the season, and possibly risking a few players to avoid dropping down table and risk missing out. Could lead to a few long term injuries.

I think there will be a shock this season in terms of the table - possibly at the bottom rather than the top - I'm looking at Leeds with their ageing squad as the side falling down the table.

However, to meet somewhere in the middle I'll go:

St Helens
Warrington
Wigan
Huddersfield
Catalan
Salford
Leeds
Castleford
Wakefield
Hull
Hull KR
Widnes

Think Warrington have every chance of finishing top and main rivals for Saints. Wigan have quality but don't think they're as strong to finish top. Huddersfield will be in the mix but consistency will be an issue.

Catalan have the potential to be in there but not sure if they - again - can sustain it to be a top four side. Could finish anywhere between 4 and 9 for me. Salford - think they've got a decent set of individuals, whether they can work as a team a different matter. Think they'll make 8 but not sure if it's scraping in or in the mix.

Leeds - much remains on how many of their golden oldies they can keep on the pitch fit. Don't think they've the depth to keep the pace in top 4. Ourselves I'm confident the players we've signed are just as good, if not better.

Roberts is better than Sneyd; Sneyd was poor defensively.

Gale is better than Ellis; Ellis improved last season but never consistent enough. Gale better support game/kicking game and Powell may get best out of him and get back his potential.

In terms of Moore for Clark, they're two different players but apparently Moore has been training house down so will be interesting to see how he goes. He's been good in the past so there must be something in him.

Cook for Gilmour -> No brainer. Cook hard working guy and experienced pack member replacing Gilmour always injured.
Solomona for Owen -> Not seen much of Solomona but decent try scoring record and touted as a future quality full-back. Will be good competition for backline and again Owen suspect in defence.
Crossley for Fleming -> Fleming had chances and got potential but never broke any pots. Crossley jury still out but guess we'll see how he goes.
Moors for Hauraki -> Moors has every potential to be a star with his size - 6'4'' and 17+ stone apparently. Get him in shape and our backrow could be awesome.
McMeeken for Huby -> Huby solid player, great offload. Not a straight swap as Jewitt will replace Huby in pack with Boyle coming back from injury. McMeeken offers depth in the pack and apparently few clubs were after him.

Think our depth is reasonably good once again and think we have good quality across the park.

Of the other sides - Wakey will be miles better than last season. Have more than enough potential to finish in top 8. Hull -> much relies on halves again. Don't think they'll be consistent enough.

KR - lost a few key players and much depends on how players adapt/keeping people fit. Think they may struggle.

Widnes - didn't rate them last season, don't think recruitment has been strong and second half of season saw them fall off the pace. Might shock a few but be surprised if they finish top eight.

Really tough to predict and no standout weak teams, I don't understand the Wakey fans up in arms about being predicted bottom, take away the two relegated teams last year then they would have been bottom, same as it isn't impossible for us to finish bottom.

Wakey has strengthen (there recruitment looks good) but the same can be said about other teams (on paper anyway.)