2006 table predictions

[Evil Homer]

All righty then.I don't think we've had one of these yet,and if we have it's been a good while.

Can people post reasoning for their choices please?

Mine:

1.St Helens(stronger squad than last season,whereas all the other top clubs have gone backwards)
2.Wigan(some good new signings and players like O'Loughlin back from injury will help them)
3.Leeds(weaker than last season,will still be there or thereabouts though IMO)
4.Warrington(made some classy new signings,and should have enough to make the play offs)
5.Hull(same as usuals really)
6.Huddersfield(strengthened last seasons weak points,if Robbie Paul fires like he used to then they will make the 6)
7.Bradford(some quality players like Fielden but very little depth if injuries strike.signed lots of injury-prone players)
8.Harlequins(similar to 2005,but lost a bit of last year's depth)
9.Les Catalans(not sure what to expect from these.Stacey Jones should make sure they are not involved in a fight for the wooden spoon)
10.Salford(same as last season really...should have enough to stay up)
11.Wakefield(apart from Solomona and Jeffries they have very little)
12.Castleford(...)

 

[ozbash]

1-leeds
2-hull
3-saints
4-bulls
5-les catalans
6-wolves
7-broncos
8-castleford
9-wigan
10-giants
11-wakefield
12-salford

 

[JasonE]

1. Saints - strong all over the place and good youngsters.
2. Leeds - they have lost quantity but only Calders and Ward were any good, others like Barrie Mac who was rubbish for the last 4 years are no loss. Peacock is a massive gain. A fully fit Danny McGuire will make a big difference as well.
3. Wigan - much stronger in the forwards and Higham is a great pickup, Hock and Lockers are all class.
4. Hull FC - Have a settled line up and are fairly solid all over. Need a big year from Briscoe.
5. Giants - If they don't get to many injuries i think this could be the year when they break into the top 6, lot's of size up front, mobile backrowers and the improving Thorman alongside Paul in the halves.
6. Warrington - A lot depends on Briers and Chris Bridge in the halves but they have the power in the pack and need Gleeson to capture his form of 2 years ago.
7. Bulls - Have a heap of good players but not convinced with the new signings, it could be a year of rebuilding for the Bulls with Karl Pryce and Matt Cooke staking their claim.
8. Quins - Have a decent enough squad and good halves to guide them about. Added a couple of pretty solid players in Heckenberg and Gafa while their centres Sykes and Smith are under rated and will get even better.
9. Salford - They have a good coach who is moulding them into a decent team who just lack one or two star players, watch out for Andy Coley to have a better season and Fitzy at fullback is an exciting player.
10. Les Catalans - Will find it tough over the long season but should show enough to have some good wins and be especially hard to beat at home in the middle of summer.
11. Cas - Have put together a really good forward pack who should mix it with most but i'm a bit worried about the lack of quality out wide. Hope Kainy at 7 goes well.
12. Wakey - Not sure about Wakey so i have too many question marks, they have put together a good pack and could add Danny Ward as well ? they need Rooney fully fit but not enough out wide although Jon Whittle looks like he could be a decent centre in the Martin Gleeson mould.

 

[terracesider]

I've just cut pasted from the Fartown board from last October and I haven't seen anything to change my mind, except that I'm even more confused by the comings and goings at Odsal.

It is a bit early but at least it takes my mind of the tri-nations. I see it in 3 groups: those with a chance of winning the GF; those fighting for the top 6; and the also-rans.

1. Saints - Anderson may move them up a notch
2. Leeds - look as strong as they were this season but everybody's favourite bottlers.
3. Wigan - Another Millward team in the making. A prize pillock he may be, but he can coach and his sides do play entertaining football.
4. Bradford - God knows what's happening there, but probably enough strength in depth to get them into the top 4.

5. Hull - Still basically a squad from Mcrea that's too good even for Kear to mess up.
6 Fartown - looks the strongest squad since the days before most of us can remember.
7.Harlequins (wierd typing that) - usual special treatment from the RFL.
8. Les Catalans - a decent collection of Anzacs
9. Wire - may pay the price for last season's play-off nonsense.

10 Wakey - Usual. They'll have their moments but not enough of them.
11. Salford - A pity, but they just look to be outclassed.
12 Cas - They struggled in NL1 and don't seem to have rebuilt to any great extent.

 

[natbradfordbulls1985]

1. Leeds- Let some players go , but have got some good players in like Jamie Peacock .
2. Bradford- Not as strong , sold some good players on . Older guys in but dont think it will hinder them much .
3. St helans- Have a good side , but not for the top spot.
4. Wigan - Not as good as they used to be , struggled last year . dont think they will this year.
5. Hull - Had a good season last year , think they will carry that on to this year.
6 Warrington - :?
7.Harlequins - :?
8. Hudd - Hudd will have a good year if they play well , bu not good enought for the top 6
9. Les Catalans - New side in super league , think they can do quite well.
10 Wakey - :?
11. Salford - :?
12 Cas - Not strong enough for super league , think they will struggle like they did in NL1
__________________

 

[natbradfordbulls1985]

All righty then.I don't think we've had one of these yet,and if we have it's been a good while.

Can people post reasoning for their choices please?

Mine:

1.St Helens(stronger squad than last season,whereas all the other top clubs have gone backwards)
2.Wigan(some good new signings and players like O'Loughlin back from injury will help them)
3.Leeds(weaker than last season,will still be there or thereabouts though IMO)
4.Warrington(made some classy new signings,and should have enough to make the play offs)
5.Hull(same as usuals really)
6.Huddersfield(strengthened last seasons weak points,if Robbie Paul fires like he used to then they will make the 6)
7.Bradford(some quality players like Fielden but very little depth if injuries strike.signed lots of injury-prone players)
8.Harlequins(similar to 2005,but lost a bit of last year's depth)
9.Les Catalans(not sure what to expect from these.Stacey Jones should make sure they are not involved in a fight for the wooden spoon)
10.Salford(same as last season really...should have enough to stay up)
11.Wakefield(apart from Solomona and Jeffries they have very little)
12.Castleford(...)

Bradford Bulls in 7 th , How hudd end right up there above bulls u gotta be kidding right !!

 

[jed]

Bradford's squad is a lot stronger than it looked at the end of the 2005 season, we've made some handy signings that have experience, as well as a few good youngsters.
I think we'll still be top 4 though.

 

[natbradfordbulls1985]

Course we will , no question about it .

 

[Phillips]

1. Bradford
2. Saints
3. Leeds

 

[terracesider]

Bradford Bulls in 7 th , How hudd end right up there above bulls u gotta be kidding right !!

You have been signing players released by us :lol:

 

[Evil Homer]

Bradford's squad is a lot stronger than it looked at the end of the 2005 season, we've made some handy signings that have experience, as well as a few good youngsters.
I think we'll still be top 4 though.

Peacock ---> McKenna
Pryce ---> Bai
Reardon ---> St Hilaire
Paul ---> Gene
Parker ---> Watene

Hardly stronger.IMO anyway.The one favourable comparison is Radford ---> Newton,and even then Newton is out till April.

 

[jed]

Sorry, badly worded

What I meant to say is that it is a lot stronger than it looked like it would be.

 

[Bullseye]

Bradford will finish no higher than 3rd IMO but no lower than 6th.

 

[Weasels Ripped My Flesh]

6. Wakefield

 

[bartman]

Here's my guesses:

1. St Helens - strongest squad on paper, keen to improve on last year's outcome
2. Wigan - massive momentum to improve after their worst year, OK signings
3. Hull - showed they can mix it with the big teams last year, expect same again
4. Bradford - very slow to get going last year, with lots of new signings might be the same
5. Leeds - squad looks or feels weaker this year to me? struggled at the back end last year and feel there'll be struggles this year too

6. Catalans - don't know what to expect, but if they win 50% of their games (ie home ones) they should finish about here?
7. Huddersfield - I think they'll improve on last year and are a chance challenging for the 6
8. Warrington - I know this is a slide from last year and I don't know why... even post Johns I just don't feel comfortable putting them above teams 1-7 in my list, but could well surprise me
9. Harlequins - I'm not convinced. Could do a Wakefield and turn in a poor year after a reasonably good one making the finals

10. Wakefield - think they'll bounce back a little, but not in leaps and bounds
11. Salford - again, I'm not convinced. Thing they'll be in the relegation battle
12. Castleford - at a disadvantage from the start, but think they'll put in a better go of it than Leigh did. It's possible for them to avoid relegation but will be tight

 

[natbradfordbulls1985]

Here's my guesses:

1. St Helens - strongest squad on paper, keen to improve on last year's outcome
2. Wigan - massive momentum to improve after their worst year, OK signings
3. Hull - showed they can mix it with the big teams last year, expect same again
4. Bradford - very slow to get going last year, with lots of new signings might be the same
5. Leeds - squad looks or feels weaker this year to me? struggled at the back end last year and feel there'll be struggles this year too

6. Catalans - don't know what to expect, but if they win 50% of their games (ie home ones) they should finish about here?
7. Huddersfield - I think they'll improve on last year and are a chance challenging for the 6
8. Warrington - I know this is a slide from last year and I don't know why... even post Johns I just don't feel comfortable putting them above teams 1-7 in my list, but could well surprise me
9. Harlequins - I'm not convinced. Could do a Wakefield and turn in a poor year after a reasonably good one making the finals

10. Wakefield - think they'll bounce back a little, but not in leaps and bounds
11. Salford - again, I'm not convinced. Thing they'll be in the relegation battle
12. Castleford - at a disadvantage from the start, but think they'll put in a better go of it than Leigh did. It's possible for them to avoid relegation but will be tight

St helens may look good on paper with there "so called" good players , but can they preform on the field to win games and finish top ? . No matter what it says on paper , it all comes down to how the players play in the matches they play. We are all saying castleford arn't going to do well , but who knows we might be down rating them and give us a shock and finish higher .

 

[bartman]

Well St Helens finished top last year... the challenge for them will be to have their top team available and peaking at the right time to win through the finals. They've got everything to prove after falling down in finals and Cup last year.

My top five are pretty interchangeable to be honest, but had to put someone number 1. Same for the next bunch from 6-9, I think any of them could make the finals. And the last bunch I think can finish in any order there too. Things are stacked against Cas, but I'm sure they'll want nothing more than to get safe and shock everyone in the process.

 

[natbradfordbulls1985]

Things are stacked against Cas but they give Hudd a run for there money in the friendly the other day . Ok the teams may not have been at full strength but still it was a close game .

 

[Evil Homer]

Don't read anything into friendly results.A few years ago Huddersfield beat Leeds and St Helens pre-season then didn't pick up their first league win till something like round 15.

 

[spook]

Don't read anything into friendly results.A few years ago Huddersfield beat Leeds and St Helens pre-season then didn't pick up their first league win till something like round 15.

first sensible thing said on this thread...

to be frank anything can happen betwen now and october... and perhaps moreso this year than ever before.. any one of those teams can beat any other of the teams on their day... all it takes is a run of form (like wolves last year and wakey the year before) and you have a top six bolter on your hands. It takes a star player or two to be injured and you have thne self same teams fighting relegation... an injury crisis and you have wigan out of the six and saints knocked out of the playoffs.

this season will be tight... very tight... from top to bottom.... very few points could separate 4th to 12th as little as 10 points IMO and the relegated team could easily have 9 or 10 wins...