Castleford Tigers
Ins: Zak Hardaker (loan), Jesse Sene-Lefao, Larne Patrick, Greg Eden, Tuoyo Egodo, Dan Igbinedion
Outs: Luke Dorn, Denny Solomona, Lee Jewitt, Frankie Mariano, Ryan Boyle, Jy Hitchcox, Ben Crooks (loan), Will Maher (loan), Tom Holmes (loan)
There is no doubt that Castleford have lost some attacking power, with the loss of Luke Dorn and Denny Solomona. Daryl Powell is a shrewd operator and I have no doubt he will plug these holes somehow. Zak Hardaker is not a like for like swap and despite the previous Man of Steel accolade he looked more like Man of Balsa Wood. In a struggling Leeds side he tried damn hard to stop the rot, but the more he tried the worse he got. Maybe the NRL straightened him out, but only time will tell if the Man of Steel was a flash in the pan. I expect Castleford to be as unpredictable as last year but without the flair.
Prediction 6th
Catalans Dragons
Ins: Sam Moa, Greg Bird, Luke Burgess, Luke Walsh, Mickael Simon, Brayden Wiliame, Iain Thornley
Outs: Todd Carney, Glenn Stewart, Dave Taylor, Eloi Pelissier, Gregory Mounis, Morgan Escare, Romain Navarette, Stan Robin, Antoni Maria, Olivier Elima
Another rebuilding year for the Catalan side, after showing much early promise they became porous in the second half of the season. The out going players show a ripping up of the 2016 team, with a lot of good talent walking out of the door. I expect the Dragons to really struggle this time out.
Prediction 8th
Huddersfield GiantsIns: Lee Gaskell, Dale Ferguson, Paul Clough, Jake Mamo, Shannon Wakeman
Outs: Scott Grix, Joe Wardle, Eorl Crabtree, Craig Huby, Larne Patrick, Kyle Wood, Jake Connor, Josh Johnson, Jamie Ellis (loan)
2016 was not a good year for the Giants, and the transfers in and out suggest that things are not going to get any easier any time soon. Relying on recruitment from the sinking wreckage of the Bradford Bulls, does not look like the way to bolster a flaying Super League team. The Huddersfield pack looks on the weak side losing Crabtree, Patrick, and Huby. Many people are expecting a very difficult year for the Giants.
Prediction 12th
Hull FC
Ins: Josh Griffin, Jake Connor, Albert Kelly, Nick Rawsthorne
Outs: Leon Pryce, Iafeta Palea’aesina, Frank Pritchard, Kirk Yeaman, Harry Tyson-Wilson, Reece Dean, Jordan Abdull (loan)
I will personally miss the might and power of Frank "The Tank" Pritchard, but there is more than a little muscle in this Hull side. The Challenge Cup victory was the end of the season for Hull. Dreams of doing a Leeds and winning everything disappeared very sharply after the elation. I expect Albert Kelly to be back to his best and for this to be a remarkable season for the Black and Whites, with no derby games to distract.
Prediction 1st
Leeds Rhinos
Ins: Jack Ormandroyd, Cory Aston, Matt Parcell
Outs: Mitch Achurch, Zak Hardaker (loan)
Not much activity going on at Headingley this season. The top priority has been a quality Hooker, and with the stay away Segeyaro, they have had to scour the NRL looking for an available player willing to make Leeds his home. Matt Parcell looks on a paper to be an adequate if not an upgrade on Segeyaro. Nobody thinks that this Leeds team will be serious challengers but they can not be as bad in 2017 as they were in 2016. Much is still dependant on the ageing half backs, and there needs to be an improvement in the youngsters. The backs still look strong, but they are in need of someone who can slot over those conversions with more regularity than was evident last season
Prediction 5th
Leigh Centurions
Ins: Glenn Stewart, Eloi Pelissier, Antoni Maria, Atelea Vea, Ryan Hampshire, James Green, David Thompson, Ben Crooks (loan)
Outs: Greg Worthington, Liam Kay, Fuifui Moimoi, Bob Beswick, Johnny Pownall, Reni Maitua, Tom Spencer, Andrew Dixon, Tom Armstrong, Eze Harper, Richard Whiting, Sam Barlow
Plenty of activity at the LSV, and most it forced by the emergence of the Toronto Centurions. Some of the positions where vacated during the 2016 season and have already been bloodied into the team like Josh Drinkwater, Mitch Brown and Matty Dawson. Ben Crooks and Atelea Vea will fill holes, but the strengthening will come from Glenn Stewart and Eloi Pelissier. A tough year ahead but this is a team full of experience.
Prediction 9th
Salford Red Devils
Ins: Lama Tasi, Lee Mossop, Kris Brining, Daniel Murray
Outs: Josh Griffin, Daniel Vidot, Tommy Lee, Phil Joseph, Mason Caton-Brown, Matt Sarsfield, Matty Gee, Jordan Andrade, Sean Kenny, Luke Burgess
After much soul searching Marwan Koukash reversed his decision. Go down he would stay, survive and he would sell. The tense nature of survival allowed him to change his mind, but not without changes. Tim Sheens as gone leaving Ian Watson alone in the hot seat. Corners have been cut and spending is to be reduced in attempt to get the club in a situation where it can survive without a wealthy benefactor. The reserve grade as been cut, but the club are nowhere near solving the issue of increased revenue, and an expensive rental agreement for the stadium. 4 in and 10 out tells it's own story, and a club that struggled for large periods after the points deduction was finally applied. There is a good team in there somewhere, I am just not sure it is going to find itself this season.
Prediction 11th
St Helens
Ins: Ryan Morgan, Luke Douglas, Matty Smith, Adam Walker, Tommy Lee
Outs: Travis Burns, Jordan Turner, Lama Tasi, Atelea Vea, Luke Walsh, Andre Savelio, Shannon McDonnell, Lewis Charnock, Olly Davies, Matthew Haggerty, Levy Nzougou
Quite a list of departees. St Helens have obvious strengths and fragile egos. The forwards are good, the backs are good, but the half backs do not work in tandem. The closest they got last season was Jordan Turner made the switch at the back end of the season. Out goes Burns, Walsh and Turner and only one half back signed. Nobody doubts the boot of Matty Smith, but one suspects that St Helens need a more creative spark, and where is the cover coming from with only Smith and Farge as the experienced half backs. Expect plenty of wins but for St Helens to be as dull as dishwater (Wigan 2016 style)
Prediction 4th
Wakefield Trinity
Ins: Scott Grix, Kyle Wood, Mitchell Allgood, Sam Williams, Craig Huby, Mason Caton-Brown, Keegan Hirst
Outs: Richard Owen, Nick Scruton, Scott Moore, Mickael Simon, Anthony Tupou, Scott Anderson, Stuart Howarth, Craig Hall, Andy Yates, Jason Walton
Wakefield appear to be building on top of what was a solid 2016 season. Recruitment looks strong but expect Wakefield to be unpredictable, it seems to be part of their DNA.
Prediction 7th
Warrington Wolves
Ins: Kevin Brown, Mike Cooper, Dom Crosby, Andre Savelio, Matty Blythe
Outs: Chris Sandow, Mitchell Dodds, James Laithwaite, Ben Evans, Gary Wheeler, Jordan Cox, Ryan Bailey, Daniel Murray, David Thompson
What a season for Warrington, involved in the treble but falling short at the big hurdles. Big disruptions with Sandow, but the rumour was he was just bad news off the field. Kevin Brown is still at the top of his game, but the big question is how many games will that be? Declan Patton looks like a very able replacement, but is it all a big gamble? Every Warrington fan expects this to be their season, but then again they say that every year. Expect the nearly men to live up to their reputation.
Prediction 2nd
Widnes Vikings
Ins: Tom Armstrong
Outs: Kevin Brown, Setaimata Sa, Paddy Flynn, Almer Salvilla
A wafer thin squad made even more transparent with a weak recruitment drive. Rumours of financial problems are backed up by the lack of purchase power even with a reputed £200 K burning a hole in Steve O'Connor's pocket. There is a lot of pressure being heaped on Tom Gilmore to adequately replace the departing Kevin Brown.
Prediction 10th
Wigan Warriors
Ins: Joe Burgess, Thomas Leuluai, Morgan Escaré, Romain Navarette, Liam Forsyth
Outs: Josh Charnley, Dan Sarginson, Matty Smith, Dom Crosby, Lee Mossop, Ryan Hampshire, Luke Waterworth
Award for the most boring team to watch 2016 went to Wigan on an unanimous vote. Even the Wigan supporters club (Sky Sports) put the boot in. 4 drives down the middle (One man Rugby) throw the ball on the 5th and then kick. Rinse and repeat. It was quite telling in the absence of Wigan Players, with the exception of Dom Manfredi. The one thing they did do well was defend except against Wakefield 62-0 in case anybody has forgotten that little gem. All credit must go to the team for finishing the season like a runaway train. Burgess, Leuluai and Escare are interesting signings, but is it enough to finish top of the pile?
Prediction 3rd
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