We're
in the midst of Super League's preseason so its time to preview what's
to come in the next 10 months for the teams in the northern hemisphere's
premier competition of the greatest game.
This post features our headline predictions for the upcoming season, but you can look at our previews for each team by following these links (or picking from the sidebar):
Bradford - Castleford - Catalan - Huddersfield - Hull FC - Hull KR - Leeds - London - Salford - St Helens - Wakefield - Warrington - Widnes - Wigan
We also want to hear what you think so leave a comment with your predictions, and your thoughts on ours, or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
Listen to us discuss our predictions now!
This post features our headline predictions for the upcoming season, but you can look at our previews for each team by following these links (or picking from the sidebar):
Bradford - Castleford - Catalan - Huddersfield - Hull FC - Hull KR - Leeds - London - Salford - St Helens - Wakefield - Warrington - Widnes - Wigan
We also want to hear what you think so leave a comment with your predictions, and your thoughts on ours, or connect with us on Twitter and Facebook.
Grand Final Winners:
Mark - Warrington - My thinking is one of these years just has to be their year. They are *gritted teeth* well coached, have plenty of experience, but also got younger and faster in the off season. In Matty Russell, Richie Myler and Stefan Ratchford they have a fast, talented and young axis that should contribute lots of scoring. This behind the likes of Hill, Asotasi and Westwood who should do damage up front and Joel Monaghan should still be effective out wide. I just think they have a complete package and a very strong motivation to push it all for Old Trafford glory, with the mental strength to do so against the likely pressure of failing again.
Tom - Huddersfield - The wheels came off last year but looking at this group I find it hard to look beyond the Giants for the overall crown this year. Barring all but the most serous of injury crises or some kind of coaching implosion, it's the Giants all day for me. There may be better groups of forwards, halves and backs knocking about as units within other sides (mainly I'm thinking of Leeds' outside backs, but more on them later), but as a team the Giants are my pick for Grand Final glory come October. Their forwards get their jobs done with power and real aggression. Eorl Crabtree in particular causes so many problems for his opponents and sets a great platform for his halves to perform from. Danny Brough is the reigning Man of Steel and will be up there again this year, moving this powerful group round the park with all the aplomb he demonstrated last term. The squad is relatively settled in terms of comings and goings, but the addition of Jodie Broughton is a strong one which serves to improve the Giants further. Incidentally, Broughton is my pick for top try-scorer this year, yes, ahead of Charnley. Put simply, if any team does better than the Giants, they'll be champions.
Mark - Warrington - My thinking is one of these years just has to be their year. They are *gritted teeth* well coached, have plenty of experience, but also got younger and faster in the off season. In Matty Russell, Richie Myler and Stefan Ratchford they have a fast, talented and young axis that should contribute lots of scoring. This behind the likes of Hill, Asotasi and Westwood who should do damage up front and Joel Monaghan should still be effective out wide. I just think they have a complete package and a very strong motivation to push it all for Old Trafford glory, with the mental strength to do so against the likely pressure of failing again.
Tom - Huddersfield - The wheels came off last year but looking at this group I find it hard to look beyond the Giants for the overall crown this year. Barring all but the most serous of injury crises or some kind of coaching implosion, it's the Giants all day for me. There may be better groups of forwards, halves and backs knocking about as units within other sides (mainly I'm thinking of Leeds' outside backs, but more on them later), but as a team the Giants are my pick for Grand Final glory come October. Their forwards get their jobs done with power and real aggression. Eorl Crabtree in particular causes so many problems for his opponents and sets a great platform for his halves to perform from. Danny Brough is the reigning Man of Steel and will be up there again this year, moving this powerful group round the park with all the aplomb he demonstrated last term. The squad is relatively settled in terms of comings and goings, but the addition of Jodie Broughton is a strong one which serves to improve the Giants further. Incidentally, Broughton is my pick for top try-scorer this year, yes, ahead of Charnley. Put simply, if any team does better than the Giants, they'll be champions.
Cup Winners:
Mark - Leeds - Same logic as the GF in a way, they've been to Wembley three times in the last four years and lost every time. In their distinguished careers, none of their veteran stalwarts have won a cup final (other than Peacock with Bradford) and you feel they will want it on their honours list before they retire. They have some great outside backs and a great goal kicker, with big game experience. Too many times they've been starting to get going by Wembley and not quite be there. They just have to time their run to be around cup games, not for September, and they'll crack it. I fancy Salford could make a run in the cup to be the beaten finalists - they have quality but not depth, so the one off nature of cup games could suit them.
Tom - Leeds - It hurts to say this as a Bull's fan, but I fancy Leeds for the Challenge Cup this year. On their day they can beat anyone and that suits them for knockout football. I think there are weaknesses in the forwards, and Sinfield/McGuirre won't go on forever (will they?!?!) but that back line is one of the most gifted I've seen. Ryan Hall was quiet last year but still bagged 15 try's. Kallum Watkins is a phenomenal athlete, probably the best player outside the NRL, whilst Tom Briscoe is another world class finisher. This all adds up to cup glory and a strong challenge come playoff time. I fancy one of the Hull sides to join the Rhinos at Wembley, although sadly for one half of the city, the end result will be the same as last year.
Mark - Leeds - Same logic as the GF in a way, they've been to Wembley three times in the last four years and lost every time. In their distinguished careers, none of their veteran stalwarts have won a cup final (other than Peacock with Bradford) and you feel they will want it on their honours list before they retire. They have some great outside backs and a great goal kicker, with big game experience. Too many times they've been starting to get going by Wembley and not quite be there. They just have to time their run to be around cup games, not for September, and they'll crack it. I fancy Salford could make a run in the cup to be the beaten finalists - they have quality but not depth, so the one off nature of cup games could suit them.
Tom - Leeds - It hurts to say this as a Bull's fan, but I fancy Leeds for the Challenge Cup this year. On their day they can beat anyone and that suits them for knockout football. I think there are weaknesses in the forwards, and Sinfield/McGuirre won't go on forever (will they?!?!) but that back line is one of the most gifted I've seen. Ryan Hall was quiet last year but still bagged 15 try's. Kallum Watkins is a phenomenal athlete, probably the best player outside the NRL, whilst Tom Briscoe is another world class finisher. This all adds up to cup glory and a strong challenge come playoff time. I fancy one of the Hull sides to join the Rhinos at Wembley, although sadly for one half of the city, the end result will be the same as last year.
Man of Steel:
Mark - Stefan Ratchford - If I'm thinking Wire will take the LLS then it would make sense to take one of their players as MoS. Ratchford has to step up in place of Briers, and the media loved Briers, so he's bound to get plenty of attention. He has the ability and mentality to deal with the pressure and if he stays fit he will be the main man at the HJ.
Tom - Chris Hill - Not my first choice (Ratchford gets my vote too but I like a bit of intra-podcast rivalry), but Hill for me was our best performer after Sam Burgess at the World Cup. I like everything about this lads game and I think he's due a big year in an even bigger Warrington pack. He'll learn quickly from big money import Roy Asotasi and earn big raps all year helping set the platform for Ratchford and Myler. Halves are only as good as the forwards in front of them, and this kid is one of the best in the world.
Mark - Stefan Ratchford - If I'm thinking Wire will take the LLS then it would make sense to take one of their players as MoS. Ratchford has to step up in place of Briers, and the media loved Briers, so he's bound to get plenty of attention. He has the ability and mentality to deal with the pressure and if he stays fit he will be the main man at the HJ.
Tom - Chris Hill - Not my first choice (Ratchford gets my vote too but I like a bit of intra-podcast rivalry), but Hill for me was our best performer after Sam Burgess at the World Cup. I like everything about this lads game and I think he's due a big year in an even bigger Warrington pack. He'll learn quickly from big money import Roy Asotasi and earn big raps all year helping set the platform for Ratchford and Myler. Halves are only as good as the forwards in front of them, and this kid is one of the best in the world.
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