East Coast Tiger
Coach
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Looking through those squads the number of Aussies/Kiwis in SL does not seem to be falling. Bradford is bad in particular. They've always had a lot of imports but now they outnumber the poms. Only good point is that two of the imports are PNG players.
As far as quality goes I think the Bulls aren't as bad as I thought they would be when they lost all those players in the off-season. For me them winning the title was a minor surprise last year and a repeat is not out of the question.
Saints look good. I think Pryce could make a very good regular number 6 given the chance and with a fit Scully, Lyon and Long they are deserved favourites.
Wigan are a bit short on depth compared to the other big clubs but surely if they stay relatively injury free this side can be there into October. Why Farrell was such a loss I'll never know but they've got enough good players on paper to be contenders.
Leeds will be up there again although its hard to see how they can win a title this year when they couldn't last year. They blew it I reckon. They haven't made any significant changes to the side really. They've replaced like with like but have added Peacock which is a big signing - not least because it robs the Bulls of another experienced player.
Wire looks at least as good as last year (pre-Andrew Johns) but it's hard to see them doing any better than a finals appearance. They're not contenders in my book though I'd love to see them make either the CC final of SL GF.
Hull again looks good and it might just be their year to finally make a big impact on the SL finals. The positive vibes after the CC win seem to have given the club a real spur on especially when they beat Bradford, Saints and Leeds on the way. They've got good players in key positions like Horne, Cooke, Briscoe and Swain but also has Tony who can play anywhere.
Wakey could either be surprisingly good like they were two years ago or disappointing and near the bottom. They were very inconsistent last year but they've obviously got the ability to beat any side on their day. More of those performances and less poor ones and they might be a finals hope.
Huddersfield I don't seen as finals contenders but they've got some good players even of a few of them are past their best (ie Paul). I'm not sure their forwards are that great but guys like Paul, Thorman, Aspinwall, De Vere means they have a good backline on paper.
Salford are not finals contenders either in my book but they should avoid the drop again. I think their squad is a little better then last year but they're a bit like Hudds in that all of their name players were far better in years past and at other clubs. I hope they go alright and if they do get all the money they reckon they are they might be a strong club down the track if they survive.
Cas would have to be favoured to go down. They haven't signed many good players and are running our of time and available players to add. The side that went down two years ago was far better than the one they are likely to put out this season if that's any indication.
Quins are a bit unknown for me. I don't really know who they've got and who they haven't got - no shortage of Aussies I'm sure. Dorn, McLinden and Leuluai make for some good halves though. They should have at least as good a side as last year which makes them definite finals contenders but they're going to make the grand final. Hope they do well though. It might be the best chance for league in London in many years.
I'm so excited about Les Catalans and after initially worrying they wouldn't be competitive I'm confident now they can make the finals. They should be hard to beat at home so if they can beat the sides they should beat away and add the odd upset they will be right up there. Jones is the key though and injury to him would be a big blow.
All in all I'm looking forward to the season but I'd like to see a few more English players in the "English Super League".
As far as quality goes I think the Bulls aren't as bad as I thought they would be when they lost all those players in the off-season. For me them winning the title was a minor surprise last year and a repeat is not out of the question.
Saints look good. I think Pryce could make a very good regular number 6 given the chance and with a fit Scully, Lyon and Long they are deserved favourites.
Wigan are a bit short on depth compared to the other big clubs but surely if they stay relatively injury free this side can be there into October. Why Farrell was such a loss I'll never know but they've got enough good players on paper to be contenders.
Leeds will be up there again although its hard to see how they can win a title this year when they couldn't last year. They blew it I reckon. They haven't made any significant changes to the side really. They've replaced like with like but have added Peacock which is a big signing - not least because it robs the Bulls of another experienced player.
Wire looks at least as good as last year (pre-Andrew Johns) but it's hard to see them doing any better than a finals appearance. They're not contenders in my book though I'd love to see them make either the CC final of SL GF.
Hull again looks good and it might just be their year to finally make a big impact on the SL finals. The positive vibes after the CC win seem to have given the club a real spur on especially when they beat Bradford, Saints and Leeds on the way. They've got good players in key positions like Horne, Cooke, Briscoe and Swain but also has Tony who can play anywhere.
Wakey could either be surprisingly good like they were two years ago or disappointing and near the bottom. They were very inconsistent last year but they've obviously got the ability to beat any side on their day. More of those performances and less poor ones and they might be a finals hope.
Huddersfield I don't seen as finals contenders but they've got some good players even of a few of them are past their best (ie Paul). I'm not sure their forwards are that great but guys like Paul, Thorman, Aspinwall, De Vere means they have a good backline on paper.
Salford are not finals contenders either in my book but they should avoid the drop again. I think their squad is a little better then last year but they're a bit like Hudds in that all of their name players were far better in years past and at other clubs. I hope they go alright and if they do get all the money they reckon they are they might be a strong club down the track if they survive.
Cas would have to be favoured to go down. They haven't signed many good players and are running our of time and available players to add. The side that went down two years ago was far better than the one they are likely to put out this season if that's any indication.
Quins are a bit unknown for me. I don't really know who they've got and who they haven't got - no shortage of Aussies I'm sure. Dorn, McLinden and Leuluai make for some good halves though. They should have at least as good a side as last year which makes them definite finals contenders but they're going to make the grand final. Hope they do well though. It might be the best chance for league in London in many years.
I'm so excited about Les Catalans and after initially worrying they wouldn't be competitive I'm confident now they can make the finals. They should be hard to beat at home so if they can beat the sides they should beat away and add the odd upset they will be right up there. Jones is the key though and injury to him would be a big blow.
All in all I'm looking forward to the season but I'd like to see a few more English players in the "English Super League".
