Bullseye wrote:
I can see Fax having a good season. They finished on a high last year and go into 2016 on the up. They will be even tougher opposition for us. Over the course of the season I can’t see them getting 2nd but 3rd is well within their grasp.
I’d say 2nd for us given our recruitment and lack of a decent halfback to partner Gaskell. Leigh should be favourites for 1st given their squad strength. The only doubt I have about them is if Rowley can deal with the influx of egos and potential dressing room disruptions that may be caused. It’s a test of his man management skills that he won’t have had in the past but I don’t see him under any pressure in that department until the middle 8s when they’re properly tested. Leigh’s only real tough league games look to be versus us and Fax. Fev look weaker and Sheffield don’t look much stronger on paper at least.
suspect fev might be a bit stronger than their recruitment suggests. Now they've taken over hunslets status as Leeds A, they'll probably have a few extra players available.
1. leigh
2. bulls
3. fax
4/5. fev/dews
6. london
notice they've announced a few rule changes too. main ones that affect us are signing deadline for middle eights being 48hrs before first middle eight game and dual reg players being eligble to play for both parent and dual reg clubs in middle eights, i.e. not having to stay with one club once middle eights starts, if I understand new rule correctly.
Dual reg thing only really benefits SL clubs as they could theoretically influence middle eight games by strengthening their dual reg partner when they play other Middle eight teams, but I guess its only an issue if a SL side that is involved in the middle eights is also dual reg with a championship team in the middle eights.