So much will depend on injuries - or lack of them. The team amongst the recognised top 6 that suffers the least will probably challenge Wigan the most.



Several teams ( Saints, Wire, Huddersfield and Leeds) have a team of 13/17 that may well match Wigan. Where Wigan currently have a big advantage is that we could have half a dozen or even more injuries and still not significantly weaken the team - hence all the discussion about who to leave out at MM, despite already having a few key players out injured ( Richards, Finch - maybe a couple of others, Gleeson, Fielden, Hansen).



If Eastmond or Pryce is injured Saints will struggle as they did in the GF. If the other teams lose more than a a few players, as they inevitably will in the course of a season, they will also struggle.



Fingers crossed, but Wigan seem to have an even stronger squad than last year - Lima, Hoffmann and Finch instead of Feka, Bailey and Ainscough/Phelps. Plus, our youngsters are a year older/better - Faz, Tuson, Goulding, Charnley, Micky Mac. Losing Riddell is the unknown factor and hopefully we will find the right solution with a combination of MM, Tommy, Deacon or Logan.

....and since when was Hodgson a good enough kicker to put 90% over? He kicked 72% last year. Interestingly Westwood kicked 80% so I really don't think it would have made that much difference.

Warrington - This is the best shot they have ever had at winning the league IMO, quality from 1-17 and good depth. I reckon they will finish 2nd then choke in the play offs as usual.



Saints - They're bound to be up there, they will miss Cunningham but they are a young squad so I expect them to improve overall. A lot depends on whether they can keep hold of Eastmond and keep him fit. 3rd but no final.



Huddersfield - Are a really solid squad and having players representing England will be good for them. 4th and no final



Leeds - Will probably suffer injury wise due to the age of their squad but if McDermott's smart he'll have them all fit and raring to go come the play offs. 5th then a great play off run to make the final.

Indeed. Just winning the GF takes an oustanding effort.



How's your team doing on that score......

If Saints can avoid the injury mire they got themselves in last season they will be very tough to beat. Their strongest XIII looks very good on paper

Well you wont win owt with kids...

Hudds the team to watch this season showed some outstanding rugby last season and i think they stand a good chance of reaching the gf this year alongside us warriors

Do like the look of our squad this year. Three great signing in Perry Shenton and LMS. Throw Soliola into the mix also and we now have a pack as apose to just Graham and Puletua. Correct the key will be the fitness of Pryce and Eastmond. Foster, Dixon, Ashurst and Lomax will all of benefited from the game time they were forced to experience last year through our injury crisis. Agreed Wigan are the team to beat but Saints should never be written off.

Hi all ,Looking forward to the game on saturday . . Wigan have quite a few injuries to contend with and saints are almost full strength.

Look at the likely lineups ,and if anything saints look slight favourites on paper.







1 Wellens Tomkins

2. Gardner Goulding'



3. Shenton Gleeson?

4. Wheeler Carmont

5. Meli Roberts

6. Pryce Deacon

7. Eastmond Lieuleui

8. Scarsbrook Lima

9. Roby Mcillorum

10. Graham Coley

11. Soliola Tomkins

12. Flannery Hoffman

13. Wilkin O loughlin

14. Moore Prescott

15. Clough mossop

16. Puletua Tuson

17. Dixon Farrell



Now out of the 2 teams i see saints having the better players in 12 of the 17 positions ,but the games not won on paper ,thats why saints have to play well and have the right gameplan.Hopefully with the play of the ball being speeded up as well this year,you wont have the same advantage with the 3 men lying on in the tackle as you had last year..BRING IT ON!!!

Woo-hoo!



Roby and his one man Rugby scooting!

12 out of 17?!



I'd rather have Sam, Goulding, Gleeson, Carmont, Lima, Hoffman, Lockers and Joel without even looking at the bench.

Saints in my eyes. I don't think they were given enough credit for what they achieved last season. I think yourselves, Wire and Saints have all strengthened where as Leeds have stood still. If we(Wire) are to challenge we need a bit more consistency from our halfbacks.