So by the end of the third year of this franchising : Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:24 pm  

So by the end of the third year of this franchising

Where can you see your team and other teams be?

The Top eight by then will be IMO -

Leeds Rhinos - The team at the moment is going through a purple patch that the likes of Wigan and St Helens have been through the previous two decades. I just think with the youngsters Leeds have with big game experience by then will prove pretty much unstoppable in both the Super League and Challenge Cup with Wigan as our closest contenders.

Wigan Warriors - Wigan have finally got some real quality coming through the ranks and this is going to always be matched by world class superstars. It wouldn’t surprise me if this Wigan team beats Leeds in every department by 2012 but because its Leeds I’m bias.

Warrington Wolves - Putting Wire third by the end of 2012 is a bit of a gamble because if anything to go by the wolves are pretty much eternally useless. But I trust Tony Smith to turn things around and if he does the Wolves will be an awesome side. Not awesome enough to match Leeds and Wigan on a weekly basis I feel by then however!

St Helens - A team that at the back of my mind I would of put further down the table but up front that’s disrespect as Leeds have been beaten by the saints in the table for the last four years. I feel that saints will be at a little baron period as Sean Long & KC are probably gone by then either literally or they class has gone. I can’t see anyone replacing them two at the saints club and I feel this will leave them fourth by the end of 2012. Even bringing Jamie Lyon back can’t save the S falling from the top.

Castleford Tigers - Some Cas fans will probably put this better than me. Castleford have always been a top five side apart from when they had that year when their first got relegated. Now with a bit of stability Cas are finally making progress once again in SL and I think it’ll climax with them finishing 5th in 2012 or higher depending who there sign over the next few years. I don’t think Castleford will ever archive winning a SL Grand Final within the next ten years however!

Hull FC - Some good youngsters however I do feel that this team always seems to never sign any decent international superstars or their have all under performed in the last few years. it’s a competition between this Hull side and Warrington to win the Super League Grand Final other than the big four. But really I can’t see Hull doing much!

Catalan Dragons - I don’t think we’ll see a season like 2008 for Catalan Dragons for a long time however I do feel that they will reach the play offs every season. France is still a massive work in progress. Hopefully more young French blokes will pick up the game in years to come so we can see a great French side in Super League again!

Celtic Crusaders - I think this team will pull off some impressive wins in the next three years and will reach the play offs come 2012. I do feel however that the lack of local talent will hold these guys back on the passionate side of things. Once we get welsh players playing for this welsh side then I can see them competing for the top four. For now however they’ll just be a bit part team.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:42 pm  

Leeds - burnt out and skint - too many years of 'buying talent' and the increased costs to stop Headingley crumbling have finally taken their toll. Rumours of Peter Hood taking over ownership.


More likely tbh.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:46 pm  

Will there only be 7 teams in Sl by 2012? Or couldn't you be bothered to finish your post off Damo?

For what its worth, I think Huddersfield and Hull KR will both make a regular claim to playoff places.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:54 pm  

For me, at least 1 team won't be in existance.

Its a coin toss between whoever finishes bottom 2 this year.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:57 pm  

I think in the next 3 years a different team will win Superleague, maybe Huddersfield or Castleford. It's a bold prediction but I think thats the way it's going

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 2:58 pm  

Snowy wrote:

For me, at least 1 team won't be in existance.

Its a coin toss between whoever finishes bottom 2 this year.

wigan or warrington? cant see it.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 3:10 pm  

Sheldon wrote:

wigan or warrington? cant see it.

Bradford. Hence my Peter Hood comment.

Re: So by the end of the third year of this franchising : Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:52 pm  

Damo-Leeds wrote:

So by the end of the third year of this franchising

Where can you see your team and other teams be?

The Top eight by then will be IMO -

Leeds Rhinos - The team at the moment is going through a purple patch that the likes of Wigan and St Helens have been through the previous two decades. I just think with the youngsters Leeds have with big game experience by then will prove pretty much unstoppable in both the Super League and Challenge Cup with Wigan as our closest contenders.

Wigan Warriors - Wigan have finally got some real quality coming through the ranks and this is going to always be matched by world class superstars. It wouldn’t surprise me if this Wigan team beats Leeds in every department by 2012 but because its Leeds I’m bias.

Warrington Wolves - Putting Wire third by the end of 2012 is a bit of a gamble because if anything to go by the wolves are pretty much eternally useless. But I trust Tony Smith to turn things around and if he does the Wolves will be an awesome side. Not awesome enough to match Leeds and Wigan on a weekly basis I feel by then however!

St Helens - A team that at the back of my mind I would of put further down the table but up front that’s disrespect as Leeds have been beaten by the saints in the table for the last four years. I feel that saints will be at a little baron period as Sean Long & KC are probably gone by then either literally or they class has gone. I can’t see anyone replacing them two at the saints club and I feel this will leave them fourth by the end of 2012. Even bringing Jamie Lyon back can’t save the S falling from the top.

Castleford Tigers - Some Cas fans will probably put this better than me. Castleford have always been a top five side apart from when they had that year when their first got relegated. Now with a bit of stability Cas are finally making progress once again in SL and I think it’ll climax with them finishing 5th in 2012 or higher depending who there sign over the next few years. I don’t think Castleford will ever archive winning a SL Grand Final within the next ten years however!

Hull FC - Some good youngsters however I do feel that this team always seems to never sign any decent international superstars or their have all under performed in the last few years. it’s a competition between this Hull side and Warrington to win the Super League Grand Final other than the big four. But really I can’t see Hull doing much!

Catalan Dragons - I don’t think we’ll see a season like 2008 for Catalan Dragons for a long time however I do feel that they will reach the play offs every season. France is still a massive work in progress. Hopefully more young French blokes will pick up the game in years to come so we can see a great French side in Super League again!

Celtic Crusaders - I think this team will pull off some impressive wins in the next three years and will reach the play offs come 2012. I do feel however that the lack of local talent will hold these guys back on the passionate side of things. Once we get welsh players playing for this welsh side then I can see them competing for the top four. For now however they’ll just be a bit part team.

proof that you talk complete cr@p has now been confirmed

hull fc dont sign any decent overseas players!!? the likes of kearney, swain, j smith, berrigan, and hopefully crocker puts a myth to your moronic rambling

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:23 pm  

Brew wrote: Will there only be 7 teams in Sl by 2012? Or couldn't you be bothered to finish your post off Damo? Laziness and I was doing an MC - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsGbn6LI8a8 Also may I add this is a contribution on a forum and not an article on Chris Irvine’s blog! I’ll add the other now whilst you asked Hull KR - A team that is on the up as proven by the win over saints the other week. But really I can’t see them much more than contending for the play offs which should be a realistic target for this club. The youngsters that have come through this club so far are the youngsters of other clubs which makes it hard. Huddersfield - One of my favourite teams to watch on top form but if so far this season is anything to go by I think these will also just make the play offs year on year. Harlequins - I really can’t see this team doing much apart from the odd win over Leeds. Will be one of the worse teams in the next three years IMO! Salford - Only there location has put them in the super league. They’ll finish bottom every year just like old times. Wakefield - Brad Drew and Danny (forgot his second name) are as good as paring as anyone in SL. This Wakefield team will have good years and bad years. Hopefully without injuries will finnish in the top 6. Bradford - Shame how this team has fallen. It’ll be a long time before this Bradford club will be competing for honours again. They’ll finnish either just in the play offs or just out.

Brew wrote: Will there only be 7 teams in Sl by 2012? Or couldn't you be bothered to finish your post off Damo? Laziness and I was doing an MC - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsGbn6LI8a8 Also may I add this is a contribution on a forum and not an article on Chris Irvine’s blog! I’ll add the other now whilst you asked Hull KR - A team that is on the up as proven by the win over saints the other week. But really I can’t see them much more than contending for the play offs which should be a realistic target for this club. The youngsters that have come through this club so far are the youngsters of other clubs which makes it hard. Huddersfield - One of my favourite teams to watch on top form but if so far this season is anything to go by I think these will also just make the play offs year on year. Harlequins - I really can’t see this team doing much apart from the odd win over Leeds. Will be one of the worse teams in the next three years IMO! Salford - Only there location has put them in the super league. They’ll finish bottom every year just like old times. Wakefield - Brad Drew and Danny (forgot his second name) are as good as paring as anyone in SL. This Wakefield team will have good years and bad years. Hopefully without injuries will finnish in the top 6. Bradford - Shame how this team has fallen. It’ll be a long time before this Bradford club will be competing for honours again. They’ll finnish either just in the play offs or just out.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:45 pm  

Cas I think may struggle to keep hold of their better players when the bigger clubs come knocking. Can they use the full cap?

Huddersfield may be the same.

Rovers will feel the crunch a bit when the quota comes down, and may take some time to catch up (but not that much).

Wire don't produce many of their own players, they're all bought in.

Wigan need a change of recruitment policy and to keep their juniors if they wanna stay a consistent side. They've got a good crop coming through now, but we've said this all before haven't we!

Hull need to actually get the best out of their juniors. We get them in, they start off well, and then end up crap/average.

Celtic are gonna be like Quins in terms of bringing players through, I feel. may take a while. I def wouldn't say 3 years.