1st. St Helens
Undoubtedly the three-peat champions are favourites to win the whole thing again and at this point in time, I wouldn't be surprised. They have amazing squad depth all across their team and if one of the main players get injuried, someone with equal amount of talent will go straight in and act like they've been playing their for a long time. Saints 1-13 is the best in the competition and they will take some stopping if any of the other clubs want to bring their reign down by the end of the season and snatch the league from them. The sport should be very excited to see Jack Welsby in that number one shirt for saints once wore by one of the greatest full-backs to play in the Super League, Paul Wellens who is now assistant at Saints and will be training Welsby to be the greatest ever.
2nd- Catalan Dragons
Catalan had an outstanding season last year picking up that League Leaders trophy after the sensational last five minute comeback vs Saints at Magic Weekend last year. Could they go further this year and win it? Most defiantly and I think at this current moment in time, they are the closest team to compete with Saints and their dominate back of Alex Walmsley and Matty Lees with Catalan getting Dylan Napa from Canterbury Bulldogs and Sam Kasiano. Catalan have lost the influential James Maloney to retirement but they have swooped up NRL legend Mitchell Pearce from Newcastle Knights which is massive for Catalan and Super League in general. Two time Man of Steel, Sam Tomkins, is still at Full-Back for the Dragons and is highly needed in that Catalan team if they want to win a trophy this year.
3rd- Warrington Wolves
Warrington, the "it's always our year" team has now gone 68 years without a league title and fans are starting to get inpatient with it now and them really wanting to win the league. The Steve Price era has now gone and now it's time for Daryl Powell's reign as he brings in six players, Two of which have followed him from Cas, Pete Mata'Utia and Oliver Holmes and the other four, Greg Minikin, Joe Bullock, James Harrison and Billy Magoulias. Warrington are the closest team to Saints and Catalan and they have a shot of winning something this year if everything clicks to place in the first five games, they will be in for a good season.
4th-Leeds Rhinos
Leeds are looking really strong for the upcoming season, they have made some sensational signings like David Fusitu'a who is a great talent that will score many tries for the Rhinos this season, especially with young centre Harry Newman along side him is a key bonus for Richard Agar's men if they want to push on to win something this season. They have also brought in Aiden Sezer and Blake Austin who both played with each other at Canberra Raiders in Australia and they looked really good there. Sezer hasn't really set the super league on fire as of yet with all of his injuries but with his mate Austin by his side, they could be a lethal duo this season that can come in contention of winning trophies. They also arguably have the one of the best packs in Super League with Matt Prior and Mikolaj Oledski who are two amazing props who knows how to carry the ball and make metres for their team-mates and put them in a comfortable position to score tries.
5th Wigan Warriors
Wigan could be any where from 3rd-6th and it feels like people are writing them off to early. Wigan have a great team for the 2022 Super League season and looking at them at the Pre-Season friendly vs Warrington, they have a great little set-up that could content for trophies this year. Matt Peet it seems like he's changed the whole club and made it a better environment where the players can enjoy coming into training because from an outsider looking into that Wigan club, the players seemed dis-interested and unmotivated and that ain't the Wigan way. They have made some quality signings with Cade Cust and Patrick Mago the standout signings for me and really took to the Warrington defense in that friendly two weeks ago. Also, great news for Wigan fans from the news that Bevan French will be returning to the club after he suffered the tragic loss of his late mother and I wish nothing but the best for him and his family.
6th- Castleford Tigers
Coming in at the last play-off place is the Castleford Tigers who have recruited really well at the off-season and I think they will just make play-offs. Jake Mamo being the notable signing for the Tigers from having a storming season last year at the Warrington Wolves scoring 16 tries. Also notable signings from Kenny Edwards, George Lawler, Mahe Fonua and Joe Westerman coming back to Cas after his time away from the club. Castleford for me have the advantage on all the below teams and it is why I have picked them to place 6th in the upcoming season. If Lee Radford can get the ball rolling early on they have the best chance to come 6th and maybe further up the table
7th- Hull KR
Hull KR are my just outside the play offs spot due to the fact that they got really lucky last season even getting into the top 6 as Castleford had more points then them but Hull, KR played less games which effectively meant Cas would just miss out on Points Percentage. They could come in the top 6 but I really can't see them having another season like last year, If they were to make the top six, it would need consistent performances from the whole team and not drop off like they usually do, I think Coote will be unreal for Hull KR and if him and the team get firing on all cylinders, they have a great shot of play offs.
8th- Hull FC
Coming in at 8th spot is cross city rivals, the black and whites. If your an FC fan you could be in for a long season, They have a great team but I don't think Brett Hodgson is good enough for the head coach job. Especially for a club like FC who have a massive history, they should not be coming 8th. They are starting the season with so many injuries to key players like Ligi Sao, Jake Connor, Scott Taylor, Manu Mau and Kane Evans all sidelined for weeks and I think that will be the down fall for FC and I don't think they will come back from that many points dropped. They have got some exceptional talent with new signings Luke Gale coming into to the team for the move from Marc Sneyd to partner up with Josh Reynolds and if them two can click, they will work but them two have to bond and work if they want any shout for play offs this season.
9th- Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield are my 9th place and they are so hard to predict because you never know what you will get with them. They could either play below their standards or play amazing Rugby League, and under Ian Watson they can do that. I have placed them in 9th place because bar the new signings they have made, they haven't really got any squad depth to cover for injured players and I think that's been their down fall in recent years because when someone is injuried, they haven't had anyone to play their and they are relying on inexperienced players to cover that roll. They have brought in the likes of prop forward Chris Hill, who had an outstanding season last year for Warrington, Theo Fages and Tui Lolohea. Tui and Theo are two very good half-backs who can take Huddersfield to the next level but it will take them time and I think after this season they will be up their challenging for play off spots.
10th- Salford Red Devils
In 10th I have gone for Salford and it will take some time under new coach Paul Rowley and they have got the players to be a decent side this year but Salford fans will admit it will be a transition period this year under Rowley and seeing what he can get from his players and to get use to his style of Rugby. Rowley has also been out the game for at least two years now from leaving Toronto so he will just be finding his feet and they're aim for this season will be to stay up and secure Super League for next season. Salford have brought in some great talent starring two time Lance Todd winner Marc Sneyd returning to Salford from his seven year spell at Hull FC and he's back better and fitter then he was when he left and certainly the club is in a better state also. They have also brought in Sitaleki Akauola from Warrington that can bust teams and make breaks for the team and with a lead runner, there's a try coming. Deon Cross as well from Widnes makes the step up from the Championship club and he will be wanting to make a statement that he's a Super League player and to catch the eye of rival clubs.
11th- Wakefield Trinity
Wakefield are coming in at 11th place and from what we saw from Willie Poaching's half of season in charge, they could be in the mix but with the quality the other teams have this year, I have placed them 11th. They have recruited really well with the signings off Tom Lineham, Lee Gaskell and Liam Hood who are class players but with the team around them, I don't think they have a chance this season.
12th- Toulouse Olympique
The team I have predicted to go down is newly recruited Toulouse Olympique, with the loss of Jonathan Ford due to Ford not getting the vaccine. I think they will really struggle. They have some sensational talent in the team like Dom Peyroux and Mark Kheirallah but the Super league maybe to much for them and so many of that squad have no experience in big matches, they will struggle to find the breakthrough so they will get relegated from the Super League and once they get that Super League experience that is their down fall, They will be a good team going forward and they will know what to do when they are in tight matches.
Super League Champions- Saints
League Leaders- Saints
Challenge Cup- Warrington
Promoted- Featherstone Rovers.
Very good blog not sure on toulouse to get related wakey could go down aswell
ReplyDeleteThanks mate, appreciate the kind words.
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