Yes, the odds heavily favour the four SL teams, but don't discount Leigh. We are a totally different team to last season. Gone is the flamboyant passing game (our only plan last season) to be replaced by a much more solid, forward based game. There is a lot of SL experience in our pack - whilst you may argue that Moimoi, Higham, Hansen, Hock, Patterson, Maitua & Tickle have 'too much experience', put them in with younger big forwards like Weston, Hopkins, Acton, Spencer & Dixon, and you have a formidable line up. I'd wager that none of the other seven teams will fully subdue that pack.



Also, at half back we have Ridyard and Drinkwater combining superbly, with Burns and young Ben Reynolds backing them up. This time around, we probably have 25 fully fit players to choose from, compared with an injury-ravaged squad last season. Also, we have a less naive coaching set up, who seem to have learned a lot from last season's debacle.



So yes, I fully realise that you SL guys are big favourites for the first four places, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us upset at least one of you!

I hope you do (just not us!) If we have a format which results in the same 12 teams in SL year in, year out with a gulf in class it threatens the viability of the lower tiers and will impact on investment in Championship sides.



I'd draw the line at saying the same about Bradford, but fortunately this year that's not a decision I have to make

I think they could trouble them if they were in the MPG. They have beaten SL sides in the cup last year and put in a decent showing vs Warrington and gave HKR a big scare the first week of the qualifiers last year so potential to give them a close game and possible win if the SL side vs them gets a bit nervous on the day. Important thing for them is to not look past the other Championship teams and blow their chance of even reaching the MPG...looking at their results earlier in the year they had some very close scores against Fev and Batley (losing to the latter) so they can't afford to look past them towards their games vs the SL sides.



They're one of only 3 sides who played in the Middle 8's last year (Salford and HKR the others) so have got that experience.



Think Huddersfield are the X factor in the competition. Only just got a new coach and whilst they did push Warrington close yesterday, don't really know how well they'll perform yet under him over a longer period of time. Whilst we know on paper the have a squad clearly strong enough we know from previous years that Hudds don't perform very well in playoffs and crunch games and have flopped badly at the end of year before.



Having also asked to be away first week and still gelling under their new coach, they could be away to Leigh first week which Leigh will be up for even before you factor in the Brierley returning sideshow.



Whilst our away form was very poor most of the year we have now won 3 on the trot on our travels including vs the League Leaders. Hudds have only won 1 away all year by a single point vs Salford, not ideal when they have more away games than home.

I don't troll anybody's board it just bugs me how you lot think you are so much better and won't lose a game. Like us last season you will look very silly if you loose a game.

Lets just wait and see then. i'm sure that will be a lot of laughing and pointing if we do get beaten by a championship club and if it's Leigh, then you guys will be here on mass to rub it in which would be fair enough.

couldn't care less if we do lose a game as long as we finish top 3

Yep, that is all that matters. Then put this god awful season to bed and forget it ever happened

then make sure it doesn't happen again next year

Leeds spent most of 2005 at the top of Super League but we didn't finish there, where as you boys started at the bottom and guess what? Stayed and finished bottom!



HTH

Apparently the Leigh coach let slip on the radio after the game yesterday that they have Salford at home the first week.

If I was a KR fan I would be very worried. I couldn't call a million pound game between them and Leigh if I am honest. In truth tho nobody knows what will happen.

They were the better team Friday gone IMO. A lot might depend on which of their injured players return and when. And while Leigh have recruited heavily there has to be a question of how quickly their new players can slot in. It's not only HKR who'll be facing few easy games; the same applies to Leigh for once.