Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:26 pm  

tigertot wrote:

It would be very similar to the Wigan board at this stage last year, where there was so much disillusionment with the forthcoming season & numerous posters not getting season tickets or only attending certain games. Not so many this year.

If moaning was an Olympic event we'd do pretty well - perhaps along with your annual "McDermott out" brigade!

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Mon Jan 13, 2014 3:53 pm  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

If moaning was an Olympic event we'd do pretty well - perhaps along with your annual "McDermott out" brigade!

He's a Cas fan.

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Mon Jan 13, 2014 5:21 pm  

McDermott out.

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Mon Jan 13, 2014 8:24 pm  

First time entrant

1 Wigan
2 Leeds
3 St Helens
4 Warrington
5 Huddersfield
6 Catalan
7 Salford
8 Hull KR
9 Hull FC
10 Wakefield
11 Bradford
12 Castleford
13 London
14 Widnes

CC Leeds
GF St Helens

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Tue Jan 14, 2014 3:26 am  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

Why do you think so many Leeds fans think that Wire will be strong this season then?

because he is one person expressing his opinion

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Tue Jan 14, 2014 6:43 am  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

Interesting how on here most have Wire in the top 2 yet over on their boards they are nowhere near so optimnistic and most have them around 4th/5th. Whilst rightly people are questioning how Wigan will do without Tomkins, have they forgotten how integral Briers has been to Wire?

That's why I put Warrington down for 4th. I remember them coming to Headingley last year without Briers or Morley and whilst they could still boast a talented team it look leaderless.

Briers and Morley missed a big chunk of the first half of the season and in their absence Wire went W7 L5 in SL and were floating around 4th/5th place. After they were both back Wire went W11 L1 and finished in 2nd place. That one loss came against Widnes at home and guess which two players Tony Smith rested for that match?

All in all a Wire lost 6 matches during the regular season in 2013. Briers and Morley together missed 5 of those. The other defeat Morley was missing and Briers was making his first start for 3 months.

They have the talent, but do they have any leaders left?

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:00 am  

Aboveusonlypie wrote:

Also everyone, almost without exception, are predicting a big season for Saints based on Walsh and Masoe (who is currently injured). Is Walsh that good?

Is not just that though is it?

Amor in, hopefully Roby and lomax playing more rugby (with the latter settled in his best partition of fullback), walmsley with another off season at Saints, the emergence of swift as a genuine try-scoring winger, Beaumont to give some size in reserve at prop.

Plenty to be optimistic about and is not all just Walsh and Masoe.

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:29 am  

FearTheVee wrote:

Is not just that though is it?

Amor in, hopefully Roby and lomax playing more rugby (with the latter settled in his best partition of fullback), walmsley with another off season at Saints, the emergence of swift as a genuine try-scoring winger, Beaumont to give some size in reserve at prop.

Plenty to be optimistic about and is not all just Walsh and Masoe.

You don't have to explain. Only a Wigan fan could not see further than their own @r5e.

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:31 am  

lionarmour87 wrote:

because he is one person expressing his opinion

Your smartass comment doesn't answer the question does it? Every poster is "one person expressing his opinion". Are people not allowed to engage in debate?

On the thread roughly 15 posters had Wire in the top 2. I just wondered why about 40% of the poll felt that Warrington would be as strong this season as last given that they have lost Morley, Briers, Hodgson and Carvell and have Asotasi and some untried (though talented) youngsters in their places.

Re: predictions for 2014 final sl finishing positions : Tue Jan 14, 2014 8:38 am  

Gotcha wrote:

You don't have to explain. Only a Wigan fan could not see further than their own @r5e.

Nice.

Given that Saints were so poor last season it is a huge leap of faith to see them winning anything this season. It surprised me that so many posters see Saints as a bigger threat than Wigan as well. Personally I welcome a better Saints team. Added spice to the derby and all that...