It is hard to believe that there are only two days to go until the start of the 2014 Super League season as the magnificent comeback at Old Trafford by the victorious Warriors is still fresh in the mind.
This year sees a change from the traditional setup with the season starting a week earlier for two teams with the reigning Grand Final and Challenge Cup winner Wigan and the reigning League Leaders Shield winners Huddersfield getting the ball rolling in a true 'Clash of the Champions.'
In the off-season, a wide range of opinions and predictions have been produced and even though I am a Warrior it is not bias to say that I do believe that Wigan will repeat their 2013 heroics in the Grand Final and Challenge Cup. However, the pursuit of the League Leaders Shield may evade them again due to the early issue of having the World Club Challenge to deal with and made harder by the fact it is in Australia for the first time in 20 years.
The first test of this will come when they return to face Wakefield in March after the games against the NZ Warriors and the WCC itself against the Sydney Roosters coupled with the long travel they will undergo.
Aside from Wigan, my main tip to do well in 2014 is one that many would not have foreseen and it is St Helens and this is because of the new signings that they have brought in with the standouts being Mose Masoe and Luke Walsh with the latter showing good signs in the last week's defeat to Wigan.
Saints have been pushed out of the illusive 'top four' and after a poor cup campaign coupled with the failure to reach the Play-off semis, an improvement is needed and I believe that if Wigan don't finish top of the tree it will be the boys from Langtree Park.
Huddersfield securing the LLS was a surprise to many but their lack of consistency in the play-offs let them down and I feel it could be 3rd/4th place finish for them with a play-off semi a possibility.
Warrington came so close to finally becoming Grand Final winners but just like Huddersfield, I feel that their failure to get the job done in the final stages of the season may see them drop and could put them in a three way battle for the final two places in the top four along with Leeds.
Leeds are a different side to consider because they do have the experience of being successful when the titles are handed out and have done so from outside the top four and I think may have to attempt it again despite the signing of Tom Briscoe to go with their mercurial winger in Ryan Hall.
Away from the big five, my next tip is Salford as the massive changes they have made have galvanised their ambition to move away from the bottom and begin to challenge at the top. Their 2014 lineup features stars picked from all across the league with the biggest names being Adrian Morley, Rangi Chase and former Warrior Harrison Hansen.
Top five maybe a step too soon but 6th and a potential surprise feature in the final four of the play-offs would be a massive success for the re-branded Red Devils. Catalans have had mixed finishes in recent years and I think this year they will retain 7th as despite having a brilliant record over in France, their away form is very mixed and the main factor is the long trips that they have to make and I remember last year's game away to Wigan where they looked tired before the game had even begun with ended in a horrifying 38-0 defeat.
Hull are a side that back in August when they faced Wigan in the Challenge Cup Semi Final, looked like a good prospect for a run in the play-offs but that all changed when they were demolished by Huddersfield 76-18 and the resulting exit of Peter Gentle. In preparing for this preview, my hopes for Hull decreased after the thrashing they received against Featherstone at the weekend which was made worse because of the fact that they fielded such a strong side.
So I feel they play-offs will be just too soon for the new coach Lee Radford to reach in what will be a season of transition which could see them 10th.From this I think their city rivals, Hull KR will repeat their 2013 finish of 8th and secure a play-off place but in a battle with Widnes who have gone from basement boys to the heights of 9th in 2013 and with addition of Danny Tickle could trouble the top eight.
The biggest change in 2014 is the return of promotion and relegation and it will take a miracle for London to survive after a harrowing off season that at one time saw them with a squad of 12 players and in serious trouble of becoming non-existent in Super League.
London to finish bottom is a near certainty for most predictors but their companions in the bottom two this year for me are Bradford as they seem to be on the same path as London which is a shame given that they were flying at the top as recent at 2005.
Their problems were increased this weekend after a massive loss to fellow SL side Castleford who this year I think will renew their battle with Wakefield in the fight to avoid relegation by finishing 11th or 12th.
Next up will be the preview for Wigan v Huddersfield likely to be on Thursday to start of what should be a superb 2014 season, Come on you Warriors!
This year sees a change from the traditional setup with the season starting a week earlier for two teams with the reigning Grand Final and Challenge Cup winner Wigan and the reigning League Leaders Shield winners Huddersfield getting the ball rolling in a true 'Clash of the Champions.'
In the off-season, a wide range of opinions and predictions have been produced and even though I am a Warrior it is not bias to say that I do believe that Wigan will repeat their 2013 heroics in the Grand Final and Challenge Cup. However, the pursuit of the League Leaders Shield may evade them again due to the early issue of having the World Club Challenge to deal with and made harder by the fact it is in Australia for the first time in 20 years.
The first test of this will come when they return to face Wakefield in March after the games against the NZ Warriors and the WCC itself against the Sydney Roosters coupled with the long travel they will undergo.
Aside from Wigan, my main tip to do well in 2014 is one that many would not have foreseen and it is St Helens and this is because of the new signings that they have brought in with the standouts being Mose Masoe and Luke Walsh with the latter showing good signs in the last week's defeat to Wigan.
Saints have been pushed out of the illusive 'top four' and after a poor cup campaign coupled with the failure to reach the Play-off semis, an improvement is needed and I believe that if Wigan don't finish top of the tree it will be the boys from Langtree Park.
Huddersfield securing the LLS was a surprise to many but their lack of consistency in the play-offs let them down and I feel it could be 3rd/4th place finish for them with a play-off semi a possibility.
Warrington came so close to finally becoming Grand Final winners but just like Huddersfield, I feel that their failure to get the job done in the final stages of the season may see them drop and could put them in a three way battle for the final two places in the top four along with Leeds.
Leeds are a different side to consider because they do have the experience of being successful when the titles are handed out and have done so from outside the top four and I think may have to attempt it again despite the signing of Tom Briscoe to go with their mercurial winger in Ryan Hall.
Away from the big five, my next tip is Salford as the massive changes they have made have galvanised their ambition to move away from the bottom and begin to challenge at the top. Their 2014 lineup features stars picked from all across the league with the biggest names being Adrian Morley, Rangi Chase and former Warrior Harrison Hansen.
Top five maybe a step too soon but 6th and a potential surprise feature in the final four of the play-offs would be a massive success for the re-branded Red Devils. Catalans have had mixed finishes in recent years and I think this year they will retain 7th as despite having a brilliant record over in France, their away form is very mixed and the main factor is the long trips that they have to make and I remember last year's game away to Wigan where they looked tired before the game had even begun with ended in a horrifying 38-0 defeat.
Hull are a side that back in August when they faced Wigan in the Challenge Cup Semi Final, looked like a good prospect for a run in the play-offs but that all changed when they were demolished by Huddersfield 76-18 and the resulting exit of Peter Gentle. In preparing for this preview, my hopes for Hull decreased after the thrashing they received against Featherstone at the weekend which was made worse because of the fact that they fielded such a strong side.
So I feel they play-offs will be just too soon for the new coach Lee Radford to reach in what will be a season of transition which could see them 10th.From this I think their city rivals, Hull KR will repeat their 2013 finish of 8th and secure a play-off place but in a battle with Widnes who have gone from basement boys to the heights of 9th in 2013 and with addition of Danny Tickle could trouble the top eight.
The biggest change in 2014 is the return of promotion and relegation and it will take a miracle for London to survive after a harrowing off season that at one time saw them with a squad of 12 players and in serious trouble of becoming non-existent in Super League.
London to finish bottom is a near certainty for most predictors but their companions in the bottom two this year for me are Bradford as they seem to be on the same path as London which is a shame given that they were flying at the top as recent at 2005.
Their problems were increased this weekend after a massive loss to fellow SL side Castleford who this year I think will renew their battle with Wakefield in the fight to avoid relegation by finishing 11th or 12th.
Next up will be the preview for Wigan v Huddersfield likely to be on Thursday to start of what should be a superb 2014 season, Come on you Warriors!
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