precisely!!!!!

Like most I think Wigan,Warrington,Leeds and Saints will be the top four (unless one of these have a horrendous injury run), in what order is anyone's guess. I think it will be injuries/form and depth of squad at key times of the season which will make the difference in who finishes top.

I have a feeling the change of coaching staff at Leeds and the loss of McGuire and possibly Hall for the start of the season may effect them early on. Saints look stong on paper - depends on how they respond to the new coach - and integrate the new players. Warrington and Wigan both look strong and have settled coaching so I would personally think these two will be the top two - assuming Warrington can overcome their Saints hoodoo.

Could be very tight this year.

We will finish top and be GF winners again.

I don't think you'll finish as low as he said but I see a tough fight between yourselves, Bradford and Salford for that 8th place spot, reckon that last play off spot will still be up for grabs at round 26.

I realise this is off topic but I didn't want to start another thread for a fairly simple question so:

Who will be your 1st choice kicker while Richards is out with injury?

Apologies if this has been covered elsewhere.

Not sure if that Deacon Lad has ever kicked before?

Can't remember it myself

I think he might have slotted over a couple in his Bradfut days

Karl Pryce has kicked 100% in pre-season

True, but sadly* he's no longer with us...

(*I may have spelt that wrongly...)

Ahh, it'll be Lima then most likely

Tell you what some utter garbage in this thread

Mathers good







Cas have got a good squad







Warrington are the main danger this season but there pack is very weak one or two injurys they are screwed

Saints perry and lms good signings shenton is cack though the main factor for these is cunningham going they are like headless chickens without him

Leeds are pure cack full stop got a average coach be midtable

Wigan
Hudd
Wire
Saints

I will say i think salford will be in the playoffs this season along with bradford back there

that sounds comically far off. Sorry.



Well he was very very good for Leeds and was very good for Warrington. He had the odd slip up but who doesn't. Just because he didn't settle at Wigan doesn't make him a bad player.




We don't know how good or bad Castleford are till the season is under way but Chase, Orr, Foz and ... Mathers are all good squad players. They could easily surprise this year. I don't think any one is claiming they will win the double.


That has been proven not true by many people, in terms of depth. Warrington are comparable with even the best in the league for depth. 4 recognised intl centres int he first 17. all able to play wing. 3 intl hookers. 2 intl fullbacks (one for acadamy) loads of replacements up front. It would take some very specific injuries. But you are right they are Wigan's main rival (apart from Saints imo)


By all accounts the opposite is true. Roby is developing nicely and Pryce is the new leader and is apparently really good. So KC might not be missed as much as you say. Also i think shenton will be better than you expect this seaosn. you are right about LMS. Haven't seen Perry can't comment.


difficult to tell really. Pure cack is a far fetched overstatement though. You can not deny the quality of Burrow, Mcguire, Peacock and Sinfield. I think they will be fifth this season but then again they could do better or worse. (they have suffered injuries to key players)











you honestly think that?
I commend you on being 'out there' no one else is thinking that i suppose. Probably a good reason for that though. How far do you think the gap between first and second will be?



Salford and Bradford
above Leeds, yeah?

So where are Hull or Hull KR?

you dismiss his points as hearsay and try and prove your own with the same

well that's not true.

I was only offering a counter-point. One which I though was fair and reasoned. I didn't call anyone cack. Just used facts to back up my opinion.

so we are on the same page can you clarify the hearsay on both parties (specifically what i dismiss)

Richie Mathers is garbage.

in your opinion.

I think he played an integral part in Warrington's Challenge cup success.

[iIntegral[/i? Really? When I think of [iintegral[/i players in your challenge cup success I think Monaghan, Briers, Morley, King, Westwood. Game changers who are consistantly better than their opposite numbers. Guys who opposition coaches worry about midweek before a game. You would put Mathers in that bracket?

Answers in bold i will say this i dont think anyone comes close to the depth of our squad and that may be very crucial in the back end of the season

Mathers was outstanding in Wire's challenge cup victory of 2010. He makes way too many errors to play for one of the top sides imo but everything he did that day was top notch. His try saver over the line in the first half on Ryan Bailey really swung the momentum of the game towards Warrington and he backed it up with another pearler later in the game.

And that's the problem with him really.

Top class players are consistently good, and Mathers hasn't managed to do that since he cam back from Australia.

Felt it was a bit too harsh but it did seem well off to me



I think it is well documented that he had a torrid time at Wigan. But it think Wire fans such as myself see him for the servant to the club he was. He gave us a couple of years of good service and was more than worth the money we paid for him (:winkicon_smile.gif There is no doubt we have improved the fullback role this year but I certainly felt he did Wire proud in his term in the prim and blue.



If we ignore Mathers, who I think (and you admit) can perform well in the smaller team that is Castleford, The other three are great squad players (IMO) i think Isa will be a bit of a revelation. So that is two good natural rugby players (Chase and Isa) that are gonna lead that team. I don't think they will get far up the ladder this year. Maybe not even as close as last year but might have some really close matches.



That is true. But it Think if you got rid of the best two players in any position in any team there would be a gap.


That is true but many speak of KC being in the game a season or two too long. and off his performance in the GF i would agree. He will be missed no doubt but i don't think they will be completely lost without him.


Hard to tell, but i would agree i think hudds or hull will beat them to the 4th spot.



I thought you had put hudds ahead of wire?
But yeah i think it could go either way and i am sure Saints will stake a claim for the title.


I think Bradford have some strengh in depth and they may well do some magic this year. Can't gauge Salford i am sure signings such as Patten and Feka will really help though



I expect Hull to really turn last season around. It will be dominant performances all year but won't crack the big 3. between them and hudders for me.

The hudd 2nd you 3rd was a typo but i could have put wire/hudd for both think it will be close