Re: The Team to Beat in 06?

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 10:58 am

Bradford are on the downward although I thought that last year too

Peacock is a big blow though. Saints will be there or thereabouts with Lyon, Cunnigham still there and Sculthorpe, Long back fit. Cayless is a good prop too. Leeds should be a better team albeit weaker on the wings. Outsider, Hull.

adrenalinxx · Post by **adrenalinxx** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:16 am

TWO EYED WARRIOR posted:
Who do you all think will be the team to beat in 06!
Obviously we all hope its Wigan, but with Bradfords additions to there squad they look strong and Leeds adding some quality again also are looking very strong, Stains seem to have a settled squad but ive go my doubts about Anderson as coach.

What do you think?

Wigan need to beat every team this year bu there will be no easy games.

Its really hard to say how the Super League is going to go this season because a lot of team have got a lot of new players and a lot depends on how well these new players play and how they play within the team.

Catalan with Stacey Jones could be a good attacking side and French team have caused problems for some Super League teams in the Challenge Cup but can they do it on a weekly basis.

I think there might be some fallings out a St Helens as Anderson has a habit of it when things don't go his way.

Bradford should just join the Zurich Premeirship because they are too big and too slow.

Leeds will probably but 1 or 2 but they will lose a few more matches this year.

Hull have good half back and forwards but just don't seem a complete team to me.

Wigan well.......
- Start of last season are defence was execellent but attack was poor.
- Mid season was just poor poor poor
- End of the season we played better and could see Millwards influence.

I think Millward will use Wigan past experiance to deal with the injuires as alot of the players where brought in during an injury crisis. Have Sean O'Loughlin back will inprove are defence and give our attack direction. Danny Orr has a great long kicking game and good distbaution, Moran has a good short kicking game and will do alot more this year. Some very good forwards will open teams up down the middle and with 2 of the strongest centres in DV and Richards they should easily create space for the wingers. All depend on whether these new players fit in straight away and that we don't pick up any more injuires. 1st this season for wigan.........but didn't we all say that last year?[/quote]

superleague · Post by **superleague** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 2:12 pm

saints will be the team to beat for me they have a good and strong balanced squad and as someone said most settled. leeds will be up there in the top 3 as will hull or bradford for us i cant see further than 4th even without too many injuries i think next year we will be realistically challenging for hounours but i hope i'm proved wrong about us. i think 5th will go to the wire and i think the 6th spot will be battled for between london huddersfield and the frogs.

exile in Tiger country · Fri Jan 06, 2006 6:40 pm

I think Bradford will be there or thereabouts, but an even numbered year doesn't bode well for them Leeds seem a weaker side to me. I think Huddersfield could surprise a few people this year, and as for stains, I don't think Anderson will do that well for them.I think he inherited a good side from Millward and thats all.

Fraggle · Post by **Fraggle** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 7:08 pm

exile in Tiger country posted:
I think Bradford will be there or thereabouts, but an even numbered year doesn't bode well for them Leeds seem a weaker side to me. I think Huddersfield could surprise a few people this year, and as for stains, I don't think Anderson will do that well for them.I think he inherited a good side from Millward and thats all.

Leeds and Bradford both seem quite unsettled at the moment, with various players going between the two clubs, chairman resigning at Bradford, possible compensation issues surrounding Spotty Harris signing for Bradford etc. For Saints, I think much depends on KFC's fitness, particularly now we've got his replacement, and how Leon Pryce fits into their team. Bottom two will be Castleford plus one of Wakefield or Salford, I don't expect to see UTC near the bottom with Stacey Jones leading the troops around the pitch, they'll win a few games this year. Not sure about the new London, it'll be interesting to see if the merger has given them any fresh ideas otherwise they'll be 7th/8th/9th as usual. Don't know enough about the other teams' recruitment to comment.

I'm not sure where we'll be. Remember that we're effectively a new team again, with Millward being able to properly coach the players instead of trying to patch the sinking ship, lots of new faces but yet more of the perennial injuries. I think the new players should be of good enough quality to improve the team, but until we actually see them playing competitively (ie. not against Leigh which will be a game for IM to tinker with things) then we won't really know.

waterside glens · Post by **waterside glens** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 8:11 pm

given a reasonable injury free run we will be very hard to beat. when you look what we did at the back end of last season with ahell of a lot of players missing i think we,ll be close this year

walsall warrior · Post by **walsall warrior** » Fri Jan 06, 2006 11:59 pm

I dont think Bradford have recruited well.Their squad has some very old heads.This will tell towards the end of the season.Hate to say this but saints look to have the most settled and complte squad.If the loser Anderson can muster something he hasn't previouly shown then they seem to be certs.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 12:48 pm

I think Catalan will do very well at home and our 1st match v them will be incredibly difficult IMO.

For Saints this is the now or never season IMO. Lyon will 99.9% likely return to Aus after this year leaving a huge hole. Paul Anderson is probably in his final year and the likes of Long, Hooper and so on are not getting any younger. If Pryce can maintain his end of season / Tri nations form though he will a big player for them.

Martin Taylor · Post by **Martin Taylor** » Sat Jan 07, 2006 6:37 pm

I would like to think we could be the team to beat, but i just don't think we have the strength in depth this season. I would expect us to be in the top 3 though. I think Saints will go well, but i think Leeds will be a very potent team with the addition of Peacock, plus another years experience for players like Mguire, Burrows, Bailey, etc... will help Leeds even more.
I don't think the additions of Mckenna and Bye are that good for Bradford, but with Newton on-board, they have finally found a fierce replacement for Lowes. They will also miss the consistency of Peacock.

exile in Tiger country · Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:26 pm

Martin Taylor posted:

with Newton on-board, they have finally found a fierce replacement

WHO?