League table predictions : Fri Feb 10, 2023 3:04 pm  

St Helens
Wigan
Huddersfield
Hull KR
Hull
Salford
Leeds
Warrington
Catalans
Leigh
Castleford
Wakefield

Looks an exciting year and a difficult one to predict. Have some confidence in the top 2 but Saints' WCC involvement may disrupt them a little and there's always the possibility of a second season dip under Peet at Wigan. I'd also be surprised if I get the bottom 3 wrong. 3rd to 9th is very tough though - Huddersfield will surely be up there with their squad depth. Hull, Warrington and Catalans could all rebound but I think Hull are the likeliest to do well under Tony Smith with their focus on pace/youth. KR have the strongest squad in their recent history and I can't see Salford not making the 6 with their backline (unless injuries disrupt). Leeds can't be written off but their squad feels underwhelming to me.

Re: League table predictions : Fri Feb 10, 2023 3:36 pm  

I'll have a go at the Table at some point but we won't win the LLS this year. As you say, the WCC will be a big factor, even more so with the travelling.

Wigan had a terrible season in 2017 after beating Cronulla, they didn't even make the play offs. I'm not saying we won't finish top 4, we definitely will but I think this trip and game will have an impact for sure.

Re: League table predictions : Fri Feb 10, 2023 6:42 pm  

MadDogg wrote:

St Helens
Wigan
Huddersfield
Hull KR
Hull
Salford
Leeds
Warrington
Catalans
Leigh
Castleford
Wakefield

Looks an exciting year and a difficult one to predict. Have some confidence in the top 2 but Saints' WCC involvement may disrupt them a little and there's always the possibility of a second season dip under Peet at Wigan. I'd also be surprised if I get the bottom 3 wrong. 3rd to 9th is very tough though - Huddersfield will surely be up there with their squad depth. Hull, Warrington and Catalans could all rebound but I think Hull are the likeliest to do well under Tony Smith with their focus on pace/youth. KR have the strongest squad in their recent history and I can't see Salford not making the 6 with their backline (unless injuries disrupt). Leeds can't be written off but their squad feels underwhelming to me.

Not far off. With a proper pack, Dufty for a full year and a better HB partner for Williams. I think wire will be top 6.

Can see the Hull clubs squabbling over 10th place.

Leeds are an interesting one, did brilliant under Smith last year but squad doesn’t look amazing and already injuries.

Saints rightly still favourites for the big trophies.

Wakefields and Cas’ squad look abysmal. Everyone of Cas’ starters seem to be 32 and over!

Re: League table predictions : Sat Feb 11, 2023 6:29 pm  

1. Wigan
2. Leeds
3. St. Helens
4. Salford
5. Huddersfield
6. Catalans
7. Warrington
8. Hull FC
9. Hull KR
10. Castleford
11. Wakefield
12. Leigh

Wakey scrape it again by beating us at Belle Vue for a change. It's very easy to forget just how impressive Salford have been over the last few seasons. It's no fluke and they look to have improved again. Just wish the fans would turn out for them. Leigh will be a damp squib. The Hull teams... meh, Catalas customary drop off about September, Warrington run of the mill squad. Hudds steady, Saints drop off, Leeds continued improvement with a completely unbiased view that we steamroller the league

Re: League table predictions : Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:20 pm  

It’s an interesting one.

I think this year we will be mixing it at the top with Saints who are still favourites obviously.

I expect big improvements from Wire but I’m not sure the squad is that much better than last years.

Leeds I think will do well to make top 5 and I think Hull will be more consistent.

Leigh have on paper a good spine apart from at 6 but I don’t really rate the rest of their squad. The Hardaker factor is going to be interesting when he buggers up again, which he will.

Hudds have a lot of depth but not sure they have top quality.

Cas I think will struggle, pack is weak and Westerman he’s done his best this weekend to derail their build up to Round 1.

Wakey have a reasonable 17 but not much depth so need to be very lucky with injuries.

I’m thinking us, saints, wire and Hull mixing it at the top, Leigh, Trinity and Cas at the bottom and anything can happen in the middle.

Re: League table predictions : Sun Feb 12, 2023 9:55 pm  

If we start well I think we can challenge for top spot. I’m feeling a bit down on our chances at HKR funnily enough but it won’t make or break us. We’re going to score a good amount of points most weeks, with a full side out and if we can get it right at the other end, we won’t lose too many games. It’s injuries that could really hurt us and I’d say the same with Saints (plus the WCC trip).

If it isn’t Wigan or Saints I think I’d only have much faith in Huddersfield being able to break those 2. They have depth like I’ve not seen a team have for a good while and while I don’t have much faith that they can win a Grand Final, I do think they will be pretty consistent. After those 3, I just can’t think of another side capable of the consistency to finish top but I expect improvements from Wire and Hull FC, Leeds could take steps forward and Catalans, HKR or Salford might shake things up a little. It should be a pretty good season all round for me. There doesn’t look to be a nailed on cert for relegation, so that’s positive.

Re: League table predictions : Sun Feb 12, 2023 10:09 pm  

jonh wrote:

It’s an interesting one.

I think this year we will be mixing it at the top with Saints who are still favourites obviously.

I expect big improvements from Wire but I’m not sure the squad is that much better than last years.

Leeds I think will do well to make top 5 and I think Hull will be more consistent.

Leigh have on paper a good spine apart from at 6 but I don’t really rate the rest of their squad. The Hardaker factor is going to be interesting when he buggers up again, which he will.

Hudds have a lot of depth but not sure they have top quality.

Cas I think will struggle, pack is weak and Westerman he’s done his best this weekend to derail their build up to Round 1.

Wakey have a reasonable 17 but not much depth so need to be very lucky with injuries.

I’m thinking us, saints, wire and Hull mixing it at the top, Leigh, Trinity and Cas at the bottom and anything can happen in the middle.

There will never be a Wigoon fan predicting Leigh to do well but, I'm cool with that, and hope we prove those wrong.

Re: League table predictions : Mon Feb 13, 2023 7:47 am  

Cokey wrote:

There will never be a Wigoon fan predicting Leigh to do well but, I'm cool with that, and hope we prove those wrong.

Where do you think you will finish cokey? If you had a good squad i think people would predict you higher regardless of where you are from. People aren't predicting you to finish bottom because you are a rival, it's only Leigh fans who think we are rivals. To Wigan, Leigh is just like an annoying cousin who tries to muscle in with the brothers and sisters but really is of no relevance.

Re: League table predictions : Mon Feb 13, 2023 8:26 pm  

Pie_Eyter wrote:

Where do you think you will finish cokey? If you had a good squad i think people would predict you higher regardless of where you are from. People aren't predicting you to finish bottom because you are a rival, it's only Leigh fans who think we are rivals. To Wigan, Leigh is just like an annoying cousin who tries to muscle in with the brothers and sisters but really is of no relevance.

Leigh don't necessarily need a better squad to aim higher up the table this season, they just need one to be good enough to avoid the drop. By doing this they can then strengthen for 2024, they will then be likely to be much stronger than next seasons newly promoted team (Fev for instance). The more seasons they stay in the league the more chance they have of strengthening and aiming higher than other low/mid table teams.

Re: League table predictions : Mon Feb 13, 2023 8:38 pm  

The Leigh team looks pretty good on paper. I’ve not studied how the depth looks, so that could be an issue but I think they’ll be fine if they get some luck with injuries. There are enough attacking threats to post points. I’m sure we’ll get one hell of a game there early in the season.