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| Quote Roy Haggerty="Roy Haggerty"I remember this thread from last year, when I was predicting Salford wouldn't make the top 8, and some Salford fans, high on the whiffs from Koukash's wallet, took issue with that prediction. I've been trying to find the old thread so I could see how accurate the rest of last year's predictions were, but I can't seem to search for anything older than September this year !
So, for what it's worth, this year's prediction.
[uWinner[/u
Saints - Best pack, best halves and competent backs. If they stay fit, the only question mark is the new coaching team.
[uPlaces 2-4 (in no particular order)[/u
Wigan - Losing Green is a blow to them, and unless they turn up a remarkable youngster to partner Smith, they'll offer less than this year. Still too good for most.
Warrington - quality all over the park, but need to find a way to settle a halfback combination to allow the team to develop more structure
Leeds - Yes they're getting older, and they're most likely to be fourth of the big four, but the best threequarters in the competition and a decent pack will see them right.
[uPlaces 5-8 (in no particular order)[/u
Catalans - too strong at home, too weak away. Nothing will change for this mid-table side.
Castleford - no repeat of last year's heroics for Castleford, but still too much class for the bottom half
Huddersfield - Last season was a plateau for them. Can they get off it and carry on upwards ? Forwards probably slightly weaker than last year. It all hinges on Brough again.
Hull FC - What is going wrong at Hull ? Why can't they turn into proper contenders ? Maybe this is the season they will. I doubt it though - mid section for them.
[uPlaces 9-12 (in no particular order) [/u
Widnes - There's just not enough on the pitch to see them repeat last year's top 8 finish
Wakefield - Frightening times for Wakefield now their "cushion" of London and Bradford have gone. On the plus side, they're still too strong for any semi-pro outfit in play-offs
=#FF0000Salford - Sorry Salford fans. The whole is not equal to the sum of its parts. In particular, the Salford pack looks very weak compared to the top half sides. The backs might win them a few games.
Hull KR - Lost too much quality to finish above their Hull FC rivals this year. The Kings of inconsistency will continue to be, er, inconsistent.'"
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 |
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| Quote northmanchesterdevil="northmanchesterdevil"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. |
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| Quote proper-shaped-balls="proper-shaped-balls"The surprise team this season will be Leeds who won't finish in the top eight. No danger of relegation, they will easily be the best team in the middle eight.
Same as last season (loiner 81) wet sponges if I'm wrong.
'"
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. |
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My top 8.
Saints
Wigan
Leeds
Wire
Catalans
Salford
Hudds
Castleford or Hull
Challenge Cup - Catalans or Salford hopefully
GF - Leeds or Wire definitely
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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.
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Wigan
Leeds
Wire
Saints
Catalans
Hudds
Salford
Hull
Castleford
Hull kr
Wakefield
Widnes
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| Quote SmokeyTA="SmokeyTA"[u1 or 2 in the top 8 will have nothing to play for as they will be too far away from the top 4
[/u1 or 2 will be far too good for the middle 8 so will cruise through it, qualifying very quickly and having nothing to play for.
[u1 or 2 will be not good enough for the middle 8 so will lose games and almost immediately have nothing to play for.[/u
5 or 6 in the bottom 12 (who don't qualify and become the bottom 8 ) will have carried their points over and will be miles away from relegation and as such have nothing to play for. so 10-12 of the 24 will have nothing to play for very early in the season, and of the other 12, 2 will be playing teams from a lower league and so would likely see a lower attendance anyway.'"
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. |
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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
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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
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| Quote Rupert Pupkin="Rupert Pupkin"
As for your backs, I don't see where the threat comes from apart from Shaul, not great pace and if Yeaman starts, even less pace. Not seen much of Michaels but I believe he can play S/R to like Sa, not much mobility between them. Plus Talanoa, I just don't rate, seems to be out of position a fair bit from what I have seen, I don't see how Radford rates him as possibly the best winger in the comp.
'"
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). |
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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.
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