I can't argue with any of that. Although I think Cas are favourites for bottom I am more optimistic for the future than for a few years. Anything other than Wigan winning everything will be a bonus.

1. Wigan

2. Hull KR

3. Warrington

4. St Helens

5. Catalans

6. Leeds

7. Leigh

8. Huddersfield

9. Wakefield

10. Castleford

11. Hull

12. Salford



Salford bottom only because they seem about to be plundered by other clubs and I've seen how this can sap the energy out of clubs. They will start ok with a siege mentality but things will fall away pretty quick as they lose their best players.



Not convinced Hull will do any better than last year. Rapana has apparently got himself injured in training.



Cas, Wakefield and Hudders are interchangeable.



Leeds I think will improve but it takes time to build a competitive squad so they won't start to challenge for top for four a year .

I am sure the bosses son-in-law can add full back & scrum half, in place of Rapana & Abdul, to his already impressive roster of Chief Exec & Director of Rugby.

A quite bizarre situation playing out there.

https://youtu.be/MLnTZdBN0JI We take a look ahead to the SL season and discuss how we think other teams will go.

https://youtu.be/MLnTZdBN0JI We take a look ahead to the SL season and discuss how we think other teams will go.

It is possible that we will continue to be terrible, but there have been a lot of stories this off season that have highlighted just how poorly prepared we were last year. When Jake Clifford went back to the NRL he mentioned in an interview that his pre season at Hull was very easy. This seems to have been backed up by several other players since. We were unfit, we were disorganised, we had Hull Uni students acting as physios, hardly any S&C staff to speak off. Cartwright seems to have brought about a much more professional set up. If nothing else I expect us to be a lot fitter, hungrier and defensively solid. The squad isn't exactly bursting with quality, but the pack looks strong, and there are several very promising youngsters who cold have break out years. You mention Rapana, he might miss the first couple of games of the season apparently, but young Logan Moy has by all accounts been hugely impressive in pre season, to the extent that Rapana might end up at centre when he returns.