Re: Season ahead : Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:08 pm  

Off to kip but I will do my predictions. SL. Warrington. Saints . Leeds . Cas. Hudds.FC.Wigan.KR.Wakey.Cats.Widnes.Salford. Cup Warry. MPG Leigh v Salford. Think Toronto will get well beat by Leigh in Championship. Saying all this my betting has been poor recently. For us its just nice to be back.gnite all

Re: Season ahead : Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:39 pm  

craig hkr wrote:

You've spun that expertly. You can see why some (me being one) suspect you could be Mrs B. But you at least justify your views when challenged. I don't think we will be in MPG but any outcome is possible.Think at the business end of things we may be closer to each other than many expect?

Possibly. Prediction threads are only a bit of fun after all.

Most bookies have Rovers & Widnes as bottom 2 and it’s difficult to disagree looking at the current squads. I don’t think I’ve said anything too contoversial. There’ll be no relegation in the end anyway, so no need to worry.

Re: Season ahead : Fri Jan 12, 2018 7:02 am  

I do not care this year who wins what but I do care that we do not finish in the bottom 4 in case they go wive the same again

Re: Season ahead : Fri Jan 12, 2018 8:12 am  

Warrington, Saints and Cas to fight it out for the GF. Leeds once their half backs are settled will do well, (could challenge the dullers for the CC)
Wigan and Wakey are difficult to predicted and could be down to avoiding injuries with little quality in depth.
Huddersfield, Rovers and Widnes will be contesting the bottom 4 (bookies don't very often get it wrong) along with Catalan, Macbanana won't see out the season and by the time they've replaced him it will be to late.
Toronto have spent the money, but Leigh have spent wiser so should finish top in the championship, but would like to see Toulouse do well.

[Mild Rover]

Re: Season ahead : Fri Jan 12, 2018 9:59 pm  

The gap in quality between our first 13 and second 13 could well be the narrowest in SL, which is both a strength and a weakness.

I worry about our size and power in the pack - or relative lack thereof. And again being a team that has to play well for 80 minutes to win, owing to a lack of strike. A lot rests on Masoe's shoulders.

On the plus side, I don't think there's flakiness there was towards the end of our last spell in SL and we can be pretty confident that Sheens won't make a mess of it. Also the league seems to be getting more even, so slight improvements in performance could make a big difference on the ladder.

With a couple more good signings, my best case is 6th. But anything better than bottom 2 would be a fair effort. There could easily only be 2 or 3 wins between 6th and 10th.

I really want to say 8th, but until we see a couple more signings, I think 9th or 10th is most likely. Maybe I just haven't got over 2015 and 2016, but I fear we'll be rolled down the middle by 3 or 4 of the most physically dominant teams, which might be as many as 9 fixtures and trying to win 10 of the remaining 14 would be a huge ask.

Re: Season ahead : Fri Jan 12, 2018 10:54 pm  

craig hkr wrote:

Thems the rules. They can call us from a pig to a dog and grace us with their opinion on all things Rovers but the slightest besmirchment on them results in a barrage of indignancy.If a similar standard of troll ventured onto their board it would be deleted pdq. TBF now we are back in same league the banter was going to get bit more fruity.

No it wouldn't. You asked for predictions. There was no abuse, you either agree or don't. My personal opinion is Hull will come 3rd to 5th. Looking at Rovers team and squad, I cannot see currently you making the 8.

Re: Season ahead : Sat Jan 13, 2018 12:27 am  

will there be an MPG game if we are going to 14 teams?
Can see it just being the top 6 in the 8's.

Expect Warrington to be better. And think Cas & Wakefield will cause a few problems and be in with a shout of top 4. Along with most of the usual suspects. Think Wigan could be the next big club fighting to not be in the middle 8'
S. Think it will be tight between 6th to 12th, and we need to capitalise on home form. And the early season when we'll be a slightly more unknown quantity. But still feel we'll probably be in the middle 8's. With Catalan or Huddersfield, Salford & Widnes.

I think Saints will win the GF. Leeds Challenge cup.

Re: Season ahead : Wed Jan 17, 2018 5:11 pm  

BiltonRobin wrote:

Warrington, Saints and Cas to fight it out for the GF. Leeds once their half backs are settled will do well, (could challenge the dullers for the CC)
Wigan and Wakey are difficult to predicted and could be down to avoiding injuries with little quality in depth.
Huddersfield, Rovers and Widnes will be contesting the bottom 4 (bookies don't very often get it wrong) along with Catalan, Macbanana won't see out the season and by the time they've replaced him it will be to late.
Toronto have spent the money, but Leigh have spent wiser so should finish top in the championship, but would like to see Toulouse do well.

Wakefield have bags of quality in depth, whatever issues we may have that's not one.

Re: Season ahead : Thu Jan 18, 2018 5:45 pm  

I think our FC friends are being a bit optimistic challenge cup winners 3 years on the trot - i dont think so. For Me Warrington, Saints, Leeds, Cas top four. Saints GF winners and Warrington CC winners. ROVERS 7th or 8th. Our young guys we signed a couple of years ago, now have more experience and i've no worries at all with TS at the helm. RRTR..... Oh and Hull to finish 5th.

Re: Season ahead : Tue Jan 23, 2018 10:55 am  

fun time frankie wrote:

Nobody expects us to do anything judging by the predictions on the VT but I think we'll surprise a few to me we have a very balanced squad could do with a couple of additions but I'm quite happy when you think back to the season we went down our half back pairing one went awol the other never made it onto the pitch and we had to go with Blair and Marsh the majority of the time whereas now we have McGuire experience and Atkin who I like the look of with a few decent players who could drop into that role if needed

I think you have a pretty deep squad. In most cases you can bring in replacements without any real drop in quality which is obviously a good thing. The downside is that this is more down to your starting 13 is lacking quality than your reserves being great imo. The backline is ok I think. Nothing startling there, but we know what Carney can do. We know Quinlan is dangerous if a little suspect in defence, and I rate the likes of Heffernan, Minns and Shaw although they still have it all to prove at the top level. McGuire is still class, but there has to be concerns over a guy his age who has played for that long. You will have to manage him well and wrap him in cotton wool when you can. Don't really know anything about the other half you signed. The problems start in the pack. Lunt is quality. Mose can be a weapon but also a liabily. The rest are just meh. They would be squad players at most other clubs. This can be overcome if Sheens can instill a great team spirit and get that pack working better than to sum of its parts, but on paper you look like you will struggle for go forward.

I would be surprised if you make the top 8, but I dont think you are the worst team in SL either. Widnes look weaker, and based on the other day Catalans have issues too. I think if you can finish 9th or 10th and get that home advantage in the 8's then thats not a bad year. I don't think you will down whatever happens with the structure.

As for the rest. I think we have as good a squad as anyone but I worry what effect the Australia trip will have. I can see us having to play catch up after a bad first 5 or 6 weeks, but I think we will make the 4. Dont think cup will be such a priority this time, but if we get a couple of kind draws and find ourselves in a semi agaim then we are as likely as anyone. I think Saints will finish top. Lots seem to be writing Wigan off but they will be there or there abouts. Wakefield will do ok without ever looking like proper challengers. I am interested in Huddersfield. Think they could surprise a few.