2022 Super League Team-by-Team Preview

 

Our 2022 Preview & Predictions Show is out for you to listen to now! Hear our big predictions / lousy guesses and find out what you the SLP listeners think will happen too.

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In this post, we'll list all the Super League squads along with the ins and outs for you for all the 12 teams. I'll also give you my thoughts on each side ahead of the new season, so you can come back at the end of the year to see how wrong I've got everything!

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Gains:

George Lawler (Hull KR), Callum McLelland (Leeds), Alex Sutcliffe (Leeds), Mahe Fonua (Hull FC), Jake Mamo (Warrington), Joe Westerman (Wakefield), Kenny Edwards (Huddersfield), Bureta Faraimo (Hull FC)

Losses:

Oli Holmes (Warrington), Peter Mata'utia (Warrington), Lewis Bienek (London Broncos), Michael Shenton (retired), Grant Millington (retired), Jesse Sene-Lefao (Featherstone), Alex Foster (Newcastle)

Mark’s view:

The biggest change at Cas is the change of coach. Will that bring a change in style to a more physical power game from the Powell flowing finesse structure of recent years. With Lee Radford bringing in his big physical outside backs from Hull FC in to Cas, you have to think it's a change in direction. That's a worry for this year as it means most of the squad and even some of the new signings aren't from that style. So I worry about maybe some disjointed performances early doors. It's great they still have Paul McShane, the obvious choice for new captain, although they've lost some real leadership on the playing staff with the players that retired and the pair that followed Powell to Wire. Mavericks and wildcards like Mamo, Edwards and Westerman are a different type to the players that have left, but could offer entertainment even if it's not the classy Cas style the jungle has become accustomed to. The final thing for me on this Cas side is the halves. Lots of talent in there with the starters and the depth behind them. Lots of talent, but also there is some inconsistency, of both performance and availability. How Trueman bounces back from a challenging year could be the difference between playoff contention or an unremarkable lower half season.

Mark’s prediction: 

9th

Gains:

Mitchell Pearce (Knights), Dylan Napa (Bulldogs), Tyrone May (Panthers)

Losses:

Joel Tomkins (retired), James Maloney (Lezignan), Jason Batieri (Lezignan), Lambert Belmas (Lezignan)

Mark’s view:

One aging NRL winning half moves on and another moves in. I have to expect Les Dracs will be there or thereabouts again this year. That young French squad depth that I had misplaced concern about in 2021 is now a year more experienced and game proven. There is a generally settled nature to the squad, the leadership group and the off-field staff, so the performance level of 2021 shouldn't fall off really. And their recruitment, whilst there is a whiff of character concerns in their pasts - isn't there with most Catalans NRL signings - what they've done is brought in three former NRL winners. Pearce replaces Maloney and the other two feel like upgrades more than replacements.

Mark’s prediction: 

3rd

Gains:

Theo Fages (St Helens), Tui Lolohea (Salford), Chris Hill (Warrington), Nathan Mason (Leigh), Danny Levi (Knights), Innes Senior (Wakefield, loan return), Seb Ikahihifo (Salford, loan return), Oli Roberts (Salford, loan return)

Losses:

Lee Gaskell (Wakefield), James Cunningham (Toulouse), Joe Wardle (Leigh), Aidan Sezer (Leeds), Kenny Edwards (Castleford), Nathaniel Peteru (released), Sam Wood (Hull KR), Darnell McIntosh (Hull FC), Nathan Peats (Albi), Ronan Michael (York, loan)

Mark’s view:

There's been quite a big player turnover following what was really a disappointing first season under Ian Watson last year. What has happened though is Watson has brought in some key lieutenants that can deliver on the project, instead of act against it. Theo Fages was, for me, the best Super League half available in the off-season, and Tui Lolohea was at his best under Watson at Salford. Chris Hill brings huge experience, and 2021 was a season where he did seem to stall the apparent decline in his performance and abilities, so Huddersfield will hope there's something left in the tank. When I look down the list of losses, the only one that stands out as not really being adequately replaced is McIntosh. The Giants have named full back Golding in a starting wing squad number, and the Senior twins will need to show much more than I feel they have so far to fill in what McIntosh offered at his best. Outside back is the area of the squad I have concerns over for this side. Maybe points scoring might remain an issue, but I expect them to be closer to what many (me included) expected last year.

Mark’s prediction: 

6th

Gains:

Darnell McIntosh (Huddersfield), Joe Lovodua (Rabbitohs), Kane Evans (Warriors), Luke Gale (Leeds)

Losses:

Mahe Fonua (Castleford), Bureta Faraimo (Castleford), Masi Matongo (York), Marc Sneyd (Salford)

Mark’s view:

This is not your Lee Radford Hull FC. Gone are the big wingers and the mid-field metronome that were so crucial to those Challenge Cup successes of half a decade ago. What is there now is a skilful and pacy looking three-quarter line in, from available info, the shortest side in the league. There is decent depth across the board, other than half back, where really only young Ben McNamara offers depth, and that proved to be an issue at times last year, and with two starting halves at the older end that could be a lingering concern. The other lingering concern is whether these playmakers can all get on with each other and the rest of their team. There is a feeling from the outside looking in that the 1, 6 & 7 all have a streak of petulance in them, and if the chips are down how will that play out. Maybe this perception is nonsense, Luke Gale has been named captain after all, so he must be making a positive impression inside the camp. I just feel now Hull FC need to show me something for me to believe they're anything other than midtable with a week 1 playoff departure their absolute peak. Hopefully for black and white fans, they'll show it this year.

Mark’s prediction: 

7th

Gains:

Lachlan Coote (St Helens), Sam Wood (Huddersfield), Frankie Halton (Featherstone), Greg Richards (London Broncos), Phoenix Laulu-Tongaga'e (Keighley, loan return), Tom Garrett (Dewsbury)

Losses:

Greg Minikin (Warrington), George Lawler (Castleford), Adam Quinlan (released), Owen Harrison (Dewsbury), Anesu Mudoti (Keighley), Joe Keyes (Halifax), Muizz Mustapha (Leeds, loan return), Tom Whur (Rochdale, loan)

Mark’s view:

2021 went almost as well as it could have done for the Robins. They surpassed expectations and entertained everyone along the way. And then they went and signed one of the best players on the league in Lachlan Coote, to replace the talented yet injury ridden Quinlan. So they'll be hoping for more of the same out of their experienced and skilful back line. That said, they’ve taken a punt on a few Championship players and their pack isn't particularly star-studded. Outside back depth is a little light too. Sure, they'll be enjoyable to watch again in 2022, and Tony Smith might still have some ideas to surprise a few teams, but I just can't see them making the waves they did last year sorry Robins fans.

Mark’s prediction: 

8th

Gains:

David Fusitu'a (Warriors), Aidan Sezer (Huddersfield), Blake Austin (Warrington), James Bentley (St Helens), Muizz Mustapha (Hull KR, loan return)

Losses:

Konrad Hurrell (St Helens), Robert Lui (retired), King Vuniyayawa (Salford), Callum McLelland (Castleford), Alex Sutcliffe (Castleford), Luke Briscoe (Featherstone), Luke Gale (Hull FC), Corey Hall (Wakefield)

Mark’s view:

Leeds seem to be the team that many observers expect to progress this year - they're a lot of people's pick for dark horses in the trophy shake up, and in fact the SLP voters have them up for the cup. It's easy to see why with a big splash on a new half pairing, one that played 55 games in combination in the NRL, with an overall winning record. Fusitu'a is also being heralded as an impressive signing, although he's only scored 6 tries in 31 games for club and country in the last three years so some of the excitement should be tempered - but then, Ryan Hall came back from the NRL with an even worse record and did ok last year! The top 20 players in their squad are arguably a match for anyone else, and there is plenty of talent and a smattering of experience in the young players that make up the rest of the squad. They should be competitive this year. But I'd be surprised if they lifted silverware personally. One other thing to note, on the listed available numbers at least, they are the lightest squad in the league. Whether that will be a factor will be found out through the year.

Mark’s prediction: 

5th

Gains:

Shane Wright (Cowboys), Brodie Croft (Broncos), Ryan Brierley (Leigh), King Vuniyaywa (Leeds), Amir Bourouh (Wigan), Sitaleki Akuala (Warrington), Deon Cross (Widnes), Marc Sneyd (Hull FC), Tim Lafai (Eels), Alex Gerrard (Leigh)

Losses:

Pauli Pauli (York), Kevin Brown (retired), Dec Patton (Bradford), Tui Lolohea (Huddersfield), Lee Mossop (retired), Seb Ikahihifo (Huddersfield, loan return), Ed Chamberlain (Leigh), Oli Roberts (Huddersfield, loan return), Krisnan Inu (Lezignan), Ata Hingano (Leigh)

Mark’s view:

It's a big turnover at Salford, including another change at head coach, although this time it is an internal promotion that has some ties to the successful Watson era, but it's again someone with no experience of a head coach role in Super League. Add in to that a new half back pairing and a necessary change in team leadership with captain Mossop and experienced Brown retiring. The only stable positions from a year ago are the wingers and the hooker, but otherwise from a mix of injury and squad changes, they will feel like a new side. The pack is a concern for me, although the late addition of Alex Gerrard adds a bit of depth. I'm not quite sure that is enough. And with the off field uncertainties about where this team can play in future years, it's a precarious time - this side needs to gel faster than I expect it to, I can't see better than bottom three for them unfortunately.

Mark’s prediction: 

11th

Gains:

Konrad Hurrell (Leeds), Joey Lussick (Eels), Curtis Sironen (Sea Eagles), James Bell (Leigh), Will Hopoate (Bulldogs), Daniel Hill (Widnes)

Losses:

James Bentley (Leeds), Theo Fages (Huddersfield), Lachlan Coote (St Helens), Nico Rizelli (released), Aaron Smith (Leigh, loan), Josh Eaves (Newcastle), Joel Thompson (retired), Tom Nisbet (Leigh, loan), Kevin Naiqama (Roosters)

Mark’s view:

When you look at the list of losses, St Helens will be changing some key parts to their team this year - Coote and Naiqama have had three seasons where all they've known is Grand Final glory, with Bentley and Thompson playing their parts in that too. And Fages has been a big part of their success in his six seasons at Saints. Yet despite this turnover, they're still favourites this year. That's because they've seemingly planned well for this transition. Jack Welsby, twice the SLP Young Player of the Year, once the Super League Young Player of the Year, has been seemingly building towards the full-time fullback spot, and Lewis Dodd was brought along to be prepared for the starting halfback role during a successful 2021 for him. Hopoate, Sironen and Bell come in as sound replacements for Naiqama, Bentley and Thompson. And for some reason Konny Hurrell is there too. Then the surprise signing, Joey Lussick, great at Salford, underused at Parramatta, and now here to spell James Roby towards his eventual retirement. It could be a brilliant bit of business. So are there any concerns? Well, a couple of injuries in the spine and depth will start to be tested, and there's still the concern Kristian Wolff's style will make everyone fall to sleep. But, with Big Al in his testimonial year, if he stays fit, he's such a weapon that had no real equal in the competition, I think they win the Grand Final again. From 2nd again.

Mark’s prediction: 

2nd

Gains:

James Cunningham (Huddersfield), Gadwin Springer (Featherstone), Matty Russell (Leigh), Chris Hankinson (Wigan)

Losses:

Remi Casty (retired), Jy Hitchcox (Leigh), Bastian Ader (Limoux), Johnathon Ford (released)

Mark’s view:

I was really excited about the proposition of Toulouse joining Super League, and I was pleased that they largely kept their very successful Championship side together under their impressive head coach Sylvain Houles. And I still expect them to be skilful, entertaining and fun to watch. But, there is a cloud over them on the eve of the season, with captain Johno Ford leaving just a couple of weeks before the new season, question marks over their other star man Mark Kheirallah and on the Covid vaccination status of their other members of their squad, in the face of strict rules on professional sportspeople in France. They already come in to the season with the oldest and smallest squad. It's a worry. Particularly for a newly promoted side that do things a little different, and need a good start to the season, to get themselves in a strong position before ther other teams get chance to work them out a little. A concern is they need to bring a couple of men in, but it's too late to make well considered replacements or additions, so they might have to bring in a few poor fits for them to have squad depth. I wish I could say I think they'll be safe, but I think 11th now would be a big success.

Mark’s prediction: 

12th

Gains:

Lee Gaskell (Huddersfield), Liam Hood (Leigh), Tom Lineham (Warrington), Sadiq Adebiyi (London Broncos), Jai Whitbread (Leigh), Corey Hall (Leeds), Thomas Minns (Featherstone/Newcastle), John Davetanivalu (union)

Losses:

Joe Westerman (Castleford), Josh Wood (Barrow), Kyle Wood (Halifax), Innes Senior (Huddersfield, loan return), Alex Walker (released), Ollie Greensmith (Dewsbury), Chris Green (Leigh), Joe Arundel (Halifax), Ryan Hampshire (released), Connor Bailey (Newcastle)

Mark’s view:

10 out and 8 in at Wakefield suggests a big turnover for Willie Poching's first full season in charge. But really, it's only eth hooker and loose forward spots that see a real change. But both see a downgrade for me. It's Hood and kids at hooker, after Kyle Wood had been such an influence in this side in previous years, helping make the halves better in my view. The same can be said for ball playing loose forward Westerman, who was very good in the first half of 2021 particularly. They don't have another player like him. How far Wakefield can go will mostly depend on how fit their three-quarter line can stay, as they have tyr-scoring ability in that first choice group of Johnstone, Tupou, Lyne & Lineham for sure. If they can play most of the games, they should be safe, and pick up the odd top half of the table scalp, although I don't expect them to be challenging the top half.

Mark’s prediction: 

10th

Gains:

Peter Mata'utia (Castleford), Greg Minikin (Hull KR), Oli Holmes (Castleford), James Harrison (Featherstone), Billy Magoulias (Sharks), Joe Bullock (Wigan)

Losses:

Jake Mamo (Castleford), Tom Lineham (Wakefield), Sitaleki Akaoula (Salford), Blake Austin (Leeds), Chris Hill (Huddersfield), Samy Kibula (Bradford), Nathan Roebuck (Keighley)

Mark’s view:

The main question for Wire is how well will they adapt to a more flowing attack of Powell, compared to the much more conservative (with a small c) pattern of play favoured by the departed Steve Price. I think they do have the right players for Powell's style, but it might still take time. Other than bringing in a few Powell literate players, I'm not sure there's any real significance in the transfers. Other than to note obviously Chris Hill was such a mainstay for so long that there will be some leadership to replace there, but Wire had been transitioning away from Hill's influence and presence for a couple of years anyway. To an extent, spine depth is a concern, with so much of the salary cap put on the starting 6, 7 & 9. But testimonial man Stef Ratchford has the versatility to cover that off. With the experience and ability of their first choice 17, this side has the quality to come good, and potentially entertain a bit under Powell. I expect a slow first month but a strong season overall.

Mark’s prediction: 

1st

Gains:

Abbas Miski (London Broncos), Kaide Ellis (Dragons), Patrick Mago (Rabbitohs), Cade Cust (Sea Eagles), Iain Thornley (Leigh), Ramon Silva (London Broncos)

Losses:

Jackson Hastings (Wests Tigers), Joe Bullock (Warrington), Oliver Gildart (Wests Tigers), Amir Bourouh (Salford), Tony Clubb (retired), Mitch Clark (Newcastle), Dom Manfredi (retired), Chris Hankinson (Toulouse)

Mark’s view:

You might have heard me say it already, I imagine I'll say it a few more times too, I fear/think 2022 will be year 2 of a 3 year trophy free spell at Wigan. A fairly young and physically squad has added an element of size from down under with Mago and Ellis, who should strengthen what was an underpowered pack in 2021. Wigan now have good options and strong depth in the pack. Losing main man Jackson Hastings is somewhat of a blow, although Hastings was so dominant that at times it hindered the team in 2021, despite his own brilliance. I'm optimistic that Cade Cust will be a capable replacement. And Wigan have options in the spine too. However, for Wigan to be more than also-rans they need Bevan French to come back, get match fit, and play plenty of games. French and Field are rapid, and Marshall is nippy on the wing, but otherwise Wigan's speed isn't scary. French though scares opponents. With him, they have a threatening backline, without him they have good but not exhilarating backs.

Mark’s prediction: 

4th

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Episode 293 - Lamport Lane & The Abattoir Five

Mark and Tim, plus a very special guest appearance, bring you our first weekly round up of 2021. We'll look back over the off-season news and law changes, plus we want to know which Rugby League players could be Breaking at the 2024 Olympics. We recap Round 1 of the Challenge Cup, missing the traditional community clubs but featuring lots of special tries. We throw in a bit of NRL Brit Watch and un peu de discussion sur le rugby à treize. Then we get our crystal balls out to make our wild guesses for round 1 of Super League.

Episode Sponsor

This episode is sponsored by Rob's Toy Shop.
Find a wide range of toys, gifts, rugby league birthday cards and more at Rob’s Toy Shop on eBay. Visit stores.ebay.co.uk/robstoyshop and on any orders over £5 you can earn 5% cashback, and also 1% of your order value will go into the SLP coffers, by putting 'SLPDiscount' at checkout.

Episode running order:

News, from 12:45

Results, from 97:45
Predictions, from 111:45

Quiz & recommendations, from 124:15

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2020 Testimonial Year Players

We tried something new on SLP for 2020. We hope you've enjoyed our mini-series celebrating the careers of the six Super League legends celebrating their testimonial years in this upcoming season.

One-by-one, we give you the rundown on their careers and we have the odd fan view thrown in too for good measure. And, we were lucky enough to get interviews with four of the super six.

If you've missed any of these special SLP Shorts then you can find them all here:

• Huddersfield Giants winger Jermaine McGillvary, including our exclusive interview with Jermaine - listen HERE
• Wigan Warriors second row forward Liam Farrell, including our talk with Liam - listen HERE
• St Helens forward Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook, including our chat with Louie - listen HERE
• Castleford Tigers captain Michael Shenton, featuring a special guest appearance from Cas fan Fatboy Rob - listen HERE
• Warrington Wolves prop Mike Cooper, including our interview with Mike - listen HERE
• Wakefield Trinity half back Danny Brough, our last player special - listen HERE

Thank you again to everyone that gave up some of their time to help make these shows for your listening pleasure. We hope you've enjoyed them. Please share them with your friends!

Thursday Nights - by Mark

I've written about Thursday night games before - you can read that from 2016 here - but they're still around and still a hot-button topic for lots of fans.

Regular followers of SLP will know that I'm a fan of Thursday night games, personally. In summary of my atypical view, I like having the game to watch on TV that night and if my team play if frees up the whole weekend to do things with my non-sports-fan wife. I also don't think it's that hard to get to most of the games if you really want to and the attendances, whilst lower than Friday games, aren't "killing the sport".

This is not to say I don't understand that they don't work best for all fans. People who take their young children to the game, or have a long working commute, or live well outside the game's heartlands all have genuine struggle attending their side's Thursday games.

Indeed, when we polled rugby league fans this year, over 5% had the one change they would make to the sport related to Thursday night games, either getting rid or restricting the travel distances - read the results of our fan survey here.

In the follow-up polls that we're still running, two-thirds of voters so far would approve of restricting the distance sides have to travel to 50 miles (from away team's ground to home team's ground). No voter has Thursday as their best day to attend games. (no-one has a best day that isn't Friday, Saturday or Sunday.) Over a third of voters have it as their worst day to attend games - although, lets be honest people, it isn't actually worse for these voters than Tuesdays or Wednesdays, other than you actually get games on Thursdays. Add your weight to these numbers by voting here.

Anyway, that wasn't really what this post is about. This post is more about giving some facts on who has played most on Thursday nights, since they became a regular part of our Super League scheduling in Round 27 of the 2013 season.

The facts
The table below shows who has played the most Thursday nights games, each sides average Thursday home attendance and average overall home attendances, since Round 27 2013 to time of writing (during 2019 playoffs).

During the six-year run of regular Thursday night action, Castleford Tigers have had the most weeknight matches to contend with, 41 in total. This was brought on by a frankly ridiculous 2019 season of 11 Thursday games, 8 of which were away, including the final three games of their season. One of them was Maundy Thursday, so not quite the same with a bank holiday Friday the day after, but still!

Depending on the season and the structure, it's varied between 28 and 30 Thursday games per season from 2014 to 2019. Obviously, some of these were playoff games. Back in the 14-team days of 2014, sides should have averaged 4 games each on a Thursday. In 2019, it would have been 4.67 each if the 12-sides played the same amount of times. If games were spread out evenly, you would expect the 10 Super League ever-presents over the last six years to have each played roughly 30 Thursday games. You can see that hasn't fully happened. To redress the balance, Salford and Wakefield fans should be sent out on the road for a few more midweek trips over the next two years!

Castleford and Wigan have played roughly 2 of every 9 games on a Thursday night over the last six years. Castleford and St Helens fans have had to do the most travelling, whilst Wigan fans have had their home games most impacted. 

Castleford's 11 in 2019 is the most in one season for any side. Four times before, sides had 8 in a season. Although, only once has a team had more than 4 of their home games in a season on a Thursday night - Huddersfield had 5 in 2018. Not all of these were moved for TV..

10 of the 176 Thursday games weren't televised. These were either Maundy Thursday games or fixtures moved due to stadium access issues. Huddersfield have three of the non-televised games, with London having two and a number of others having one each. 

The thoughts

Outside of Wigan games, Thursday nights don't seem to be hitting crowd figures as hard as some make out. Although, there's clearly a perception that needs addressing if we're still to be used by our broadcasters to fill that otherwise vacant Thursday night team sport spot. 

The first thing needs to be a more even distribution of games. Catalans, understandably, don't host any Thursday night games - if fans find it hard to travel the 123 miles from Hull KR to St Helens (the longest road trip Super League will see in 2020), then getting on a flight makes it even harder. Plus, their home broadcast deal is, and should be, different. If Toronto come up, same applies there. But the rest need to be handed out more evenly. For example, no side needs to play more than three home games or more than three away games on Thursdays - and we make the overseas sides play at least three away to help shape that balance. 

The average UK travel distance in 2020 using the reasonable proxy of ground-to-ground travel will be about 56 miles, or 70 minutes in good conditions. Now, we know that 5:30pm to 7:30pm isn't always good conditions to travel across the north. 

So, as well as a more even spread of games for each side, no side's supporters should be expected to negotiate the travel conditions of both Manchester and Leeds areas on the same trip. That, for me, means no-one east of Leeds or west of Salford travel past Huddersfield on a Thursday night. I'd maybe let Leeds play Salford, as that trip is under 50 miles, so even with traffic at both ends it's not unreasonable to get between the two after work for a 7:45pm kick-off.

We know from the Super League leadership that Thursday night games are here to stay at least for the medium term. Sky Sports, our broadcast partner and main source of finance, like the slot. I've always said us fans should make the most of that TV exposure. Hopefully with these two tweaks we'll see a way to make more people like Thursday night games as much as I do!

Thanks as always for reading. Please share and comment with your own, constructive, thoughts. 

Mark

SLP

Appreciating Success - The Value of Castleford's League Leaders Title

A big very well done to Castleford Tigers!

They've won the League Leaders title and done so with four games to spare. They've obviously been the best side in Super League this year. Very good in defence, peerless in attack.

The debate/banter amongst commentators and fans now turns to the value of what they've achieved and the level of celebration it deserves.

In my book, they aren't the Super League champions. They side will be crowned at Old Trafford in October. However, that should never take anything away from what the League Leaders title means or is worth.

There are three major trophies available in Rugby League - the Challenge Cup, the League Leaders Shield and the Super League Trophy (with the bonus of the World Club Championship opportunity to the winners).

All three are special. Winning any of the three should be considered a success. All three require slightly different things to achieve:

• The Cup requires you to raise your game repeatedly for one off winner takes all pressurised occasions, culminating on a massive stage at Wembley to a national audience. 
• The LLS requires you to be the most consistently good side throughout a season, home and away, against every side. 
• The Grand Final requires an element of consistency combined with the ability to time being on top of your game weekly for a quick succession of games against the other very best teams in the league.

We should not underestimate what it takes the great athletes of our game to do any of these things. We also should not value what it takes to do any of them over what it takes to do the others. They are all special challenges that, when achieved, should all be celebrated. Equally so in my eyes!

I know they aren't all quite treated equally right now and everyone has their preference or viewpoint. I'm asking anyone reading this to put that behind them, move on from it, start celebrating all the successes equally. I think we'll all feel better about things!

Having a proper presentation and giving medals for the League Leaders winners, and giving it more equality in terms of prize money, are all things that help give the most maligned trophy more kudos. The last step will be to move its award back to the end of the regular season. That should give the winner more time to celebrate it in its own right, without it coming too close to the cup or grand final.

If we as fans start flocking to Wembley for the climax of the cup, whoever the sides on the field are, that addresses any loss of magic there.

The Grand Final sees the champions crowned, no change needed there.

So, fans of Rugby League, I'm calling on you to recognise all the successes equally. Are you with me..?

Mark
SLP

2014 Preview - Castleford Tigers

A little bit of a season of two halves in 2013 with the mid season coaching change, but now Daryl Powell has a full year with the team to work on the little bit of promise shown. A 12th place finish though showed little progress overall on the field and it seems pretty quiet with progress off the field too, both of which might be key to a strong future and avoiding returning to being the yo-yo club of pre-licensing.
 

The on field impact of the loss of Rangi Chase is the big question. Chase has ran the show almost single handedly for years and last year had a hand in a over a third of his teams tries when he played, and carried the ball more than anyone else in Super League. Just where will the creativity come from now? On the other hand, could it help? Castleford can start playing a more structured, organised attack without him.

Of the seven departures, Chase is the big name. Four half backs options have been signed as possibilities to replace him with Brett Seymour, Liam Finn and Luke Dorn coming in for probably their last chances in Super League and Marc Sneyd on loan from Salford. Much could be decided on how quickly they can settle on the right combination and how often that combination can play together.
 

Jordan Thompson, Jacob Emmitt and Jonathan Walker have been solid contributors as well, although the replacements are their equal in Ashley Gibson, Andy Lynch, Scott Wheeldon and Frankie Mariano.
 

They do have some strike weapons with powerful Justin Carney backing up from a ... try debut season. If he keeps out of trouble he is a match for any opponent. As are their two young hookers. Its hard to believe Daryl Clark is only 20 years of age as he has been much talked about in his three years as a pro. He possesses great speed and try scoring instinct - a try every three games is good going for a hooker - as well as a huge defensive engine - he led the Tigers in tackles in 2013, making over 30 tackles in a game 12 times. He is spelled with equally talented and some may feel more of an all rounder Adam Milner who had his best year to date in 2013 and will wear the number 9 jersey in 2014.

The Tigers are always good for a few upsets and should be well coached in 2014. They still have bad boy Carney and exciting Clark who can threaten any team. Consistency will be an issue with little strength in depth in most areas.

League Leaders Odds: 200/1
Grand Final Odds: 250/1
Cup Odds: 66/1
(source: Oddschecker.com)
 

Mark's predictions:
League place - 11th
Key man - Wellar Hauraki
One to watch - Ben Reynolds

Tom's predictions:
League place - 13th
Key man - Wellar Hauraki
One to watch - Adam Milner