To coincide with the predictions for 2016 thread (but leaving that solely for predictions and not clutter it up). What are the views on all (or some) of our rivals chances this year?



WIGAN - again will present the biggest challenge. Whilst Bowen did well at times he obviously wasn't Sam Tomkins and that could be the difference between getting them over the line but will Tomkins be the same guy that left after his knee issues. Will be interesting to see if he and Williams work well together or Tomkins' reintroduction as the star of the show impacts on Williams. They lack in a big metre making prop and in centres IMO but they have a style that still works at the DW. Their chances of success though will rely on improving when away from home though as that really let them down in 2015.



SAINTS - big question is with regards to Cunningham. The feeling on the Saints board was that he was taking them backwards regarding style and quality of attack. Luke Walsh needs to dramatically improve his defence as he was so costly to them in that regards. Much is made of the Saints pack but for me it's heavily reliant on Walmsley and Roby and if they lose either of them for a while then they'll struggle especially Roby who it has to be wondered how long can they expect him to do his massive workloads week in week out. Will be interesting to see how they go against us as they really struggled with our style and I think it was only our fatigue that saw them win one and just lose the playoff against us at the end of the season. Not as much quality as Leeds and Wigan BUT are always in the mix so will be close as per usual.



HUDDS - much like Roby at Saints, how long can Brough perform weekly for them? Not enough match winners after that and except McGillivery is their enough quality to win titles, personally not IMO. Some hope from Hudds fans that the Ferres saga will galvanise the team but I think it could leave a hangover. They did seem to be getting closer in defeats in the knockout games under Anderson but took a massive backwards step last year in saving their worst for their two competition exits which might hint at Anderson having taken them as far as he can. Still they do go under the radar a lot and have a lean defence so will be close to making the top 4 but I think they'll just miss out this time.



CASTLEFORD - not fancied last year to repeat 2014 because of squad changes but found their groove as the year went on. Less change going into this year I think will stand them in good stead and Gale is going from strength to strength and sounds determined to prove a point after not getting any game time for England. Managed to beat the big boys more than Hudds did and I think that could see them leapfrog them this year and make the 4. If one of the 'Big 4' don't win the CC then I think Cas are the next 'newest' name the trophy.



WARRINGTON - have a great front row and plenty of backrow options but the backs left a lot to be desired in 2015. Lineham is a quality addition but what the Wolves need is for the HB's and FB to gel and shine and I'm still not convinced Tony Smith knows which position he wants to play a few of his backs. Much will depend on Sandow, can't really judge him on his few appearances at the back end as their chances had pretty much gone by then. If he's a hit then it could be top 4, if he's one of those NRL disappointments then a similar season awaits them.



CATALANS - made good signings but lost a few too to equal it out. As always they'll be tough to beat at home so it's the question of the away form. They finished 10 points off the top 4 in 2015 after winning only 2 away games all year. Can they really improve to around 6/7 away wins to get themselves into the top 4? I don't think so. Potential for away ties and neutral venues means I can't see them lifting the CC either.



HULL - much like a few other teams the question is about the coach. Personally can't see him making the leap to get them pushing for the top 4. At best a slight jump up to 6th but probably much of the same with a fight between their neighbours for the final 8th spot until they show some ambition with their coaching appointment.



HKR - Peacock coming on board is a big plus and whilst picking up some Leeds guys off us I don't think they've recruited enough quality to really push on yet. Beating their neighbours into the 8 and avoid the middle 8's is the best scenario. If they end up in the bottom 4 again then it could be another team looking at the possibility of a new coach to take them to the next level.



WIDNES - quite a few people have them finishing bottom but think they'll be able to avoid that (whilst not really threatening the top

if Kevin Brown stays fit. They have a decent home record and have a habit of taking a couple of big scalps every year there which gives them an advantage over the other bottom sides.



WAKEFIELD - we'll see a much improved effort this year but can't see them having the quality to make a serious claim to avoid the bottom 4. When in the bottom should negotiate it easier this time and hope to avoid the Million pound game.



SALFORD - whilst the likes of Chase and Hock have their obvious issues they brought quality to Salford. Not much to be inspired by on the signing front to suggest they can make the 8 and whilst he says he'll stay out of things you feel the next Koukash episode is never far away. In the bottom 4 and a realistic chance they'll be the SL team in the Million pound game and if Leigh can avoid choking this year then can see Salford going down.

Nice summary, pretty much how i see it.



I have gone for Wigan to top the league this year as i see them making the DW a fortress again and fully expect them to improve away this time out which should give them the edge. It's going to be interesting this year, we all know how it works now and sides know where they need to be, and that being off the pace come the super 8s means you won't get a crack at the play offs so i expect some real top games in the regular rounds this year. I have gone for the usual top four sides to be there at the end of the season but it really wouldn't surprise me at all should a couple of other sides gatecrash the party, there isn't a whole lot between the top 7 or 8 squads as far as playing talent goes imo.

Barring the odd, isolated result, I can't see Salford, Widnes, HKR or Wakey causing any earthquakes.



Hull will improve, I think, although won't have enough attack-wise to trouble the top 4. Catalans won't either; I suppose it's possible that their away form might improve though equally their home form could deteriorate. Not at all convinced by the ethos at that club.



I reckon Huddersfield will be a diminished force. Many inexperienced coaches seem to operate to a fairly conservative attacking structure while focussing on defence (see KC, Radford) for their 1st year or two. Anderson is no longer a rookie yet seems reluctant or unable to progress from this (he may not be helped by Brough having such a good kicking game, in so far as they create pressure while forgetting to score the points). Throw the aging process and a few more mental scars into the mix and I only see mid-table for them.



Cas will continue to surprise a few and to be a good watch. Conditioning and squad depth may catch them out by the time trophies are decided but they'll continue to earn admiration.



This is where it gets tricky. I think both Saints and Wire will be better than they were last year and I certainly don't see Wigan being worse. I could see TS inspiring the type of rugby from his side that could win a CC but that won't be sustainable to the season's end. Wigan seem a good bet for the LLS as they can surely only be more consistent than they were in 2015, whereas I'm not sure that we can owing to comings and goings. Saints will, I reckon, make at least one final though I'm not convinced they'll quite have what it takes.

I think Hull will be the biggest dark horse this year. I don't think they will win anything, but I think they will be the biggest improver, and will probably over take Castleford as the challenger to the top teams. Like everyone else I am not convinced by Radford, but do feel their squad is much stronger than given credit for.



I suppose the other question is whether Huddersfield will replace Ferres. He was a top player for them, and quite an asset to take out. If they replace him, then they will still challenge, if they don't then they may falter.



Catalans without the injuries last year, would have had a much bigger say on the placings and trophy's. Can they have more luck with injuries? that will determine their season.

As stated already Wigan can't have worst a[iway[/i form this coming season I'm sure...and will do enough to be top IMO at the end of the regular rounds. However, in the Super 8's I believe the new Leeds team will have gelled sufficiently to snatch the LLS from Wigan (if maybe not in such a glorious manner as in 2015).



Catalans can't have such an injury season again you would think...and in the way they despatched Leeds last season with such attacking (Carney led) aplomb it make me think they will do enough to finish as high as I have forecasted (their away form will stop them finishing higher).



I think Huddersfield have missed their boat with regards to winning anything - can't see them as being anything more than mid table this time around and Hull will leapfrog them in being a top table challenger IMO.



As always though; injuries will have the most impact on anybody's forecasting. You never know....Salford could even finish as high as 7th.

Not seeing the big deal over Hull's signings, if I'm honest.



Pritchard's attitude is going to be all important, is he over here coasting his way into retirement for a nice pension like Asotasi, or has he actually come to play?



Sika Manu is another who looked good in Melbourne's system, but less so once he left it. Slipped out of the NZ international reckoning in the process.



Scott Taylor? How many people on here who had him down as a player that Leeds should have been targeting a couple of years ago are disappointed that we didn't? Last two seasons have given ordinary a bad name. See also Danny Washbrook, a poor man's Westerman.



They'll be bouncing around the 7th-8th spot again I reckon, certainly don't see them challenging the top 4.

That might well be the case, like I said. But the difference is that they will probably pick up more points than they did last year, and against the better teams, which makes the competition closer. This is an improvement on previous.

Regarding injuries I think it inevitable that most teams will suffer at various stages so squad depth is an important factor. Whereas several years ago you'd get 2/3 teams who had bad luck with injuries it seems nowadays that only 2/3 teams escape an injury hit period.



As I've said in previous years the cup is the big X factor and even more so now with the Super 8's. As we've seen in the last 2 years it can cost you several league points which could be the difference between missing out on the LLS, or home field advantage or even the top 4 altogether, and I can't see the cup finalists avoiding that hangover with the toughness of the Super 8 games.

I'd pretty much go with that except I don't see the board love-in for Wigan. For mine they have over-achieved for the last few years. Their pack is average & will largely depend on how long O'Loughlin can keep his body going. They will be top 4 as Wane knows how to get the best out of them but would be surprised, & gutted, if they made top. I see Hudds struggling to keep up, with Anderson possibly a casualty, & Cas over-performing again, their 3/4s are much stronger this year.

Love-in for wigan? I'd rather bathe in kebab fat. But they were only a fag paper's thickness away from their own trophy double last time and it's very rare for any team to over-achieve over a period of years. You may be underestimating them, even if I hope you're not.

I see a LOT of the opposition clubs with coaches in the last chance saloon.



It's been a dull off-season for them with very few talking points regarding signings - they've just had to suck it up as Leeds piled up the plaudits. Sensible squad expansion to adapt to the new reality of the league structure would have been a good plan, but nobody else seems to have evolved in this way.



I predict a mass extinction for dinosaur SL coaches.

I'm fairly confident that Leeds have done all they can to cover the loses in personnel from last season so looking forward to at least one final appearance this time around.



I think it will be Wigan pushing us once again, their home form is annoyingly good and cant see that changing too much. 1 maybe 2 losses at home maximum. Interested to see how Saints go, but as has been mentioned if they lose Walmsley and/or Roby then that may severely derail their season!



For me Warrington look too light in the front row. A huge reliance on Hill to do big minutes and not much else after that. I'm not sure Westwood's body is up to stints at prop if that is what Smith does as a few seem to think he will.



Roll on February.........