Bookies seem to have you as favourites to finish bottom of the league next year which I think is harsh. Albeit it might not matter too much in the current format.

With you avoiding the middle 8s this season and having time to recruit and bringing in good players like Sam Williams and Mason Caton Brown as well as getting John Kear on board I'd have thought you'd have a better team than the likes of Salford, Widnes and (possibly) Leigh.

So, what's the feeling like over with your lot in west Yorkshire? Are you expecting to finish bottom? Realistic expectations for next season.

It's fair enough. We're always going to be favourites for bottom place until we don't have the smallest budget and play out of a decrepit, high maintenance, rented stadium.
However, the underdog tag suits us, particularly with the return of King John.
Perm any 4 from the bottom 6 for the mediocre 8s.
The top teams can start slowly, knowing they have enough class to pick up enough wins to stay in contention and then turn it on at the business end of the season (like Wigan have just done).
The bottom half have to hit the ground running and pick up enough wins in the first half of the season to ensure top 8. A poor start is difficult to recover from.

depends who lelse we get to compliment sam Williams- who BTW played reserve grade this year except when there was a injury- at the moment we will be last I would say but hey we all thought that this year

It is hard to say I think at this stage until all teams recruitment is completed.

One benefit for us is that with there not been too many comings and goings our squad is quite settled.

Leigh on the other hand it may take time for them to gel.

I feel that Salford will be a middle 8 club again next year as I dont really see them moving forward.

Out of this years top 8 I think Widnes will be looking over their shoulder and I think if Solomona goes that will be a blow to Cas and think they drop a bit.

If you look at this seasons bottom 4 and ask, will they improve enough to finish above Wakefield:

Leeds clearly had a poor season but, finished quite well in the M8's and will again be challenging for top 4
Shudds, similar to Leeds, probable top 6/7
Salford, who knows. Their league finish was skewed by the points deduction but, they will likely be bottom 4
Leigh, a bit like Salford, they are certainly signing plenty but, you have to expect them to be bottom 4

Trinity, finished 8th, just. we need to be lucky with injuries and find a winning run again.

Ill be happy if we are competitive for a full season ! (but we look nailed on for the bottom 4, just as we did last season

)

I think Leeds will be top 8 again this year definately, but not convinced about them breaking back into the top 4 yet.

Huddersfield, although I do think will turn the corner, I don't think it will be as easy for them to break straight back into the 8. There was talk of a clear out there and a re build, so again, like Leigh, it may take time fir them to gel.

I said before, I think Castleford may struggle a bit if Solomona goes. I dont doubt that if he does he will be replaced, but it isnt very often a player scores 40 tries + in a season. They could be 20-25 tries lighter than last year. That could equate to 3-4 less victories for them next year.

INOUT

I disagree. Solomon a scored a lot of tries made for him.
If he goes they won't lose 40 tries, as someone else will be stood there catching the ball.
They also have Roberts back.

Dornoch is the bigger loss imho

We'll have to work very hard to clear the bottom 4 this year. I just asked we became more competitive last year but felt we let ourselves down with bottom 4 rivals when we'd done the hard work against the bigger sides. Clearly work to be done defensively but if I see 100% application out there then I can excuse the odd tonking that comes along.

We never seem to back up a good season with another. So its fair to assume that well be back in the bottom four.

Unless your laying a bet who cares what the bookies think - there about as accurate in their predictions as Belly, Wollo and Co.

Hey! I had 7 consecutive winning bets for Wakefield's Super 8 games.

Now that I believe.