Leeds?! I really don't rate them. I think they're in real bother if injuries hit, looking at their squad. I think there's a real lack of experience after their starting 17 and it'll be inexperienced kids expected to step up and I don't see them competing with others if that happens. I think there's a few that have better squads more equipped for the top 3 than them.
I really like Leigh's business in the off-season. Adding depth in Innes Senior and Liam Horne from Cas and adding quality in Adam Cook and Jacob Alick-Wiencke from the NRL to a squad that has Umyla Hanley, David Armstrong, Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam, Isaac Lui, Tesi Niu, Robbie Mulhern, Owen Trout and Joe Ofahenghaue is some smart business. Leigh have lost 6 home games over the past 2 seasons, the Leigh Sports Village is a bit of a fortress for them and they've had a core of their side together for a few years now, I think they're well placed to have a real dig this year. I've backed them for the cup and the League Leaders Shield. Whilst they have a tough start in Leeds, Saints, Wigan, Catalans and Wakefield, if they get off to a good start they'll be a real contender.
I don't like Warrington, I think Wigan look a bit stagnant and have hit the point where they're at their maximum on cap space given they'll have been extending contracts during the last few years of trophies though they'll be there or thereabouts as normal, I think there's far too many questions on Saints and where we stand to consider them as 'back' and Hull KR will be around the top 3.
I fancy Wakefield to make the play-offs as a bit of a "shock" prediction. I really like the Jazz Tevaga and Tyson Smoothy signings and added to what they've got, I think they'll compete.
I couldn't care less which way around the York-Bradford-Toulouse-Huddersfield dogfight for the spoon will land, though I would love Huddersfield to get relegated somehow.
