2018 Season Predictions

 Name: David Lyon – Redvee Editor

Final Table Prediction:

1 St Helens – Barba will dominate and it’ll be his magic that will see Saints rise to the top

2 Castleford Tigers – Though Hardaker will be missed, Castleford won’t fall too far from grace

3 Hull FC – Lee Radford’s done a great job at Hull FC, and they’ll continue to impress

4 Wigan Warriors – A fully fit Sam Tomkins will see Wigan squeeze into the top 4.

5: Leeds Rhinos – A steady season, just missing out on the top 4 in what will be a period of transition early on

6 Catalans: Good recruitment and better home form will see a sharp improvement

7 Warrington – Outside of their first team, the squad still isn’t good enough. Few injuries and they’ll struggle.

8 Wakefield – Will find it hard to replicate last season, but will still make the 8.

9 Hull KR: A horrible place to go to – they’ll pick up wins at home.

10 Huddersfield – Brough is past it, even the heroics with his boot can’t make this side successful.

11 Salford Red Devils – will stay up… just

12 Widnes Vikings – Going down, never to be seen again (I’ll be right at some point)

 

Grand Final Prediction: Saints v Castleford – Heatbreak again for Cas as Saints win

Challenge Cup Winners: Saints v Hull FC – Saints to win

What constitutes a successful season? A top 2 finish, and a trophy is a must.

Minimum expectation you’d accept? Top 4 and a trophy.

Saints Stand out player: Ben Barba by a country mile – he’ll have the man of steel in the bag all year long. Best player in the league by a mile.

Saints Stand out player discounting you’ve just picked Ben Barba: Jonny Lomax – a run in the side playing six will see the best come out of him.

 

 Name: Chris Price

Final Table Prediction:

1.Castleford
2.Saints
3.Warrington
4.Hull FC
5.Wakefield
6.Huddersfield
7.Wigan
8.Leeds
9.Salford
10.Widnes
11.Catalan
12Hull KR

Grand Final Prediction: Saints vs Castleford – Saints win

Challenge Cup Winners: Hull FC vs Castleford – Cas win

What constitutes a successful season? – Getting to a final

Minimum expectation you’d accept? – Getting to the semi finals

Saints Stand out player: Ben Barba

Saints Stand out player discounting you’ve just picked Ben Barba: James Roby

Final Table Prediction:

1. Warrington – much depends on how Ben Murdoch-Masila (my tip for Man of Steel – 66/1) and Tyrone Roberts fit into their team. But I expect much more from the Wire this season.
2. Saints – top 2 is Holbrooks aim and I see no reason for us not to get there. Especially if we can settle on halfbacks and we keep can keep Roby and Barba fit.
3. Leeds – I could easily swap Leeds and Warrington round. But the Loiners will be in the mix – I just worry about their kicking game with Moon and McGuire in the halves.
4. Castleford – not as good a showing as last year but they’ll still be difficult to beat at Wheldon Road
5. Hull – Hull have lost some big game players in Ellis and Fonua but will still be challenging for honours at the end of the season.
6. Wakefield – Wakey are building good things. I still don’t think they’re quite there as far as top 4 goes but they’ll make the 8 again.
7. Wigan – the Riversiders also need to decide on their spine with several options at 1, 6, 7 and 9. Much depends on keeping perennial big game player and captain Sean O’Loughlin. I don’t think
8. Huddersfield – a team who consistently love taking 2 points off us, but can’t consistently take them off everyone else. If they improve that they’ll challenge for the 4, but with an aging Danny Brough I don’t see how they will.
9. Hull KR – their ground in Belgium is an intimidating place to go and they’ll put some wins together there (including their annual win against us). They’re a half back light at the time of writing, but have enough experience to ensure safety.
10. Catalans – if Catalans don’t win at home, they don’t win anywhere. Steve McNamara must prove the doubters wrong, but personally I think Catalans are going backwards despite some decent signings
11. Salford – they’ll miss the Doc more than anything, but it’ll be tough going for Salford this year.
12. Widnes – apparently we’re obsessed with Widnes. I’m just obsessed with how bad their pitch is. And I’m not sure their squad is much better.

Grand Final: Warrington v Saints. And it’ll be a horrible final for us Saints fans, until we nick a win.

Challenge Cup: Hull v Wigan. Hull to win the cup again.

Successful Season: Regan Grace and Morgan Knowles kicking on and showing us that their talent is growing from just potential. A top 4 finish is once again a must.

Minimum expectation: Making the playoffs.

Saints Stand Out Player: Ben Barba, of course.

Saints Stand Out Player (without Ben Barba): Alex Walmsley. He is playing for a contract somewhere – if that’s with us then fantastic. If it’s in the NRL then we might get his best season yet as he looks to impress his Aussie admirers.

 

 

 

 

 Name: Ste Orford – Redvee Contributor, @saintbiffy

Final Table Prediction:
1. Leeds – Always there or thereabouts and have recruited well in Richie Myler and Brad Dwyer

2. Saints – Justin Holbrook has spoken about the importance of a top two finish and a home semi-final. Sights are set higher than under KC
3. Hull FC – The most consistent team over the last two seasons will challenge again
4. Castleford – Not as strong as last year as others adapt to their style but still good enough for the 4.
5. Warrington – Big improvement on 2017 but just missing out under new coach Steve Price.
6. Wigan -Transitional period. Kids to become more consistent but not quite consistent enough.
7. Wakefield – Lost the element of surprise after a great 2017 and will find it a little tougher this time.
8. Huddersfield – Improving steadily under Rick Stone and should make the Super 8s again.
9. Catalans – Steve McNamara doesn’t inspire so no Super 8s. Expect them to handle the qualifiers more easily than in 2017.
10. Salford – Loss of Ben Murdoch Masila and Michael Dobson will hurt. Much depends on Littlejohn and their ability to fend off Hull KR’s interest in Robert Lui.
11. Hull KR – Not the depth for this level. Addy will be a big miss and relying on 35 year old Danny McGuire for creativity.

12 Widnes – Stale squad. Stale coach. Real danger of the drop (that is if there is a drop in 2018).

Grand Final Prediction:  Leeds to beat Saints

Challenge Cup Winners: Saints

What constitutes a successful season?

Making a final but doing it by playing a more attractive, open style than in recent years.

Minimum expectation you’d accept?

Top four in SL and a better effort in the Challenge Cup. It depends on the draw but if we do get a big team early at least be competitive after the thrashings of the last two years.

Saints Stand out player: 
Ben Barba

Saints Stand out player discounting you’ve just picked Ben Barba: Expecting big things from Luke Thompson.

 

Name: The Yellow Giraffe (Redvee Forum User)

Final Table Prediction:

1. Saints – We have the best full-back, the best hooker and the best prop (Alex Walmsley) in the competition. (Percival not far off best centre either). Keep those 4 fit and we are the team to beat in my opinion. We also have the standout player in Barba; he will win some games single-handedly this season, as Jamie Lyon used to do. Still a big question mark over our half-back choices but hopefully we will settle with a partnership asap. That could be our only obvious downfall.
2. Castleford – Zak Hardaker will be a big loss for them but he’s their only major loss. They’ve also picked up a good player in Joe Wardle and I think Garry Lo will be a handful too. They’ll be hungry after their whimper in the Grand Final and I can’t see them fading away without a fight. I expect a big year from Ben Roberts.
3. Warrington – Warrington are my “surprise” package this year in terms of making the biggest improvements from 2017. They’ve had a huge turnover in players so I could be miles out here; I just think they’ve added some good, experienced players in Tyrone Roberts, Ben Murdoch-Masila and Bryson Goodwin and I think they will be a force again. Darryl Clark needs to find his form from a couple of years ago though; he was disappointing in 2017.

4.Hull FC – Similar to Castleford in that they have lost a big big player in their captain Gareth Ellis. He’ll be a big loss for them, as will Mane Fonua who was a very important player for them and used to do a lot of damage to defences. Mickey Pea is a solid enough signing but the other two are quite unknown or unproven and look a bit underwhelming to me. They’ll still be competitive but won’t be fighting for top two.

5. Leeds – Leeds could be forgiven for another year of transition; perhaps not as bad as they had in 2016 though when they ended up in the middle 8’s after losing Sinfield and Peacock the year before. Losing Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire will be tough on them but they have enough elsewhere to not have to worry about the Middle 8’s this time; but I don’t think they’ll make the playoffs.
6. Wigan – This is one that could come back to haunt me but I think Wigan will miss out again on the top 4. I don’t think there’ll be much in it from 3rd to 6th so don’t shoot me if they finish 3rd! Their recruitment has been modest at best and they’ve lost two cult heroes in Gelling and McIlorum. They’re lacking a prop or two for me and will be heavily reliant on Flower and Clubb to stay fit. They’re similar to us in that they don’t know their best combinations yet and their 1,6,7,9 make-up will change quite a bit, which could cost them.
7. Wakefield – Wakefield had a great year in 2017 but will drop a couple of places this year I think. They’ve not had a huge turnover in players so they have some continuity and consistency there, but with Wigan and Warrington expecting improvements I can see them being overtaken. They won’t be too concerned with being caught up in the bottom 4 I don’t think.
8. Catalans – Another season, another big set of changes at Catalans. They are a club who always seem to have issues and they were in real danger of being relegated in 2017. However I don’t think they will appear in the Middle 8’s this time. They’ve made a fantastic signing in David Mead who will provide some real highlights for them, plus they have the added “aggression” of our old friend Michael McIlorum to boost their pack. They’ll win enough to just about stay out of danger but won’t be a threat to the top 4.
9. Huddersfield – A tough one to predict really. On paper they aren’t any stronger than 2017, with just 2 players coming in; neither of whom are going to get bums on seats with all due respect. On the plus side, Rick Stone will now be settled in as coach and having Jake Mamo fit will be a huge plus for them, as he started 2017 brilliantly. However I think they may have to settle with finishing top of the Middle 8’s come September.
10. Salford – Another club who have recruited from the bargain basement and I think they will struggle. Michael Dobson and Ben Murdoch-Masila will be massive losses and they haven’t been replaced with anything like the same quality. I can’t see past them battling it out in the bottom 4.
11. Widnes – Widnes will always pick up wins at home and always seem to claim a decent scalp or two; but it’ll be another year in the bottom 4 for them. They have some decent young lads coming through who may surprise a few, but not enough to reach the top 8 just yet. Another club lacking in the prop department but do have the potential to have unearthed some unknown gems in the Albert brothers from PNG.
12. Hull KR – My tip for the wooden spoon and also relegation. Danny McGuire aside they haven’t done anywhere near enough in terms of recruitment in order to avoid going back to the Championship. They are normally tough to beat at home and this may be their only cause for optimism, but it won’t be enough. It’s a very weak squad on paper.

Grand Final Prediction: Saints to beat Castleford

Challenge Cup Winners: Hardest thing to predict because of the nature of the draw, but I’ll go for Saints to beat Warrington.

What constitutes a successful season? I think either the Super League or Challenge Cup trophy will be a successful year; we simply have to win one or the other. Another year falling just short won’t be good enough for me.

Minimum expectation you’d accept? See above. Anything less than a trophy would be hard to take this year, regardless of how close and competitive the league is.

Saints Stand out player: Ben Barba. It’s an obvious answer but it’s impossible to ignore him. He showed glimpses of what he could do in 2017 and in that final game v Castleford he was faultless. He’s proved before he can do that week in week out at the highest level and if he does that in 2018 then we are in for a great year. He’s my tip for Man of Steel in 2018 and will have a similar impact to what Jamie Lyon did in 2015-2016.

Saints Stand out player discounting you’ve just picked Ben Barba? Morgan Knowles. I thought about Percival, Roby and Walmsley as they are all influential players for us but I think 2018 could be the year that people outside of St.Helens finally notice Morgan Knowles. I’m a huge fan of his and he has a massive future, hopefully as captain at Saints. He had a great World Cup in an appalling Welsh side and hopefully he will gain plenty confidence from that. With Holbrook mentioning “limited game time” for Wilkin, that will hopefully mean a consistent run in the starting 13 for Knowles and in turn the rest of the competition will see his class on a regular basis

Name: There’s Only One Stan Wall – Redvee Forum User

1. Castleford – Powell will ensure they won’t miss Hardaker
2. St.Helens – Growing under Holbrook into a huge threat
3. Warrington – Injection of fresh faces coaching/ playing staff with revitalise them. Still not there year though
4. Hull F.C. – home form will see them top 4
5. Wigan – Lost crucial players halves a concern and SOL will miss regular games
6. Wakefield – Another solid season from the most improved squad in SL
7. Leeds – New era will struggle to replace departing legends
8. Catalan – away form and discipline always an issue
9. Salford – On the wane not not just the fans jumping ship
10. Huddersfield – average squad Brough crucial as usual
11. Hull KR – Ageing squad and lack real quality signings
12. Widnes – eventually I’ll be proven right…bottom. Lack of finances will eventually bite them

Grand Final Prediction: St Helens v Warrington Winners: St.Helens

Challenge Cup: Castleford

Minimum expectation you’d accept? One of the 2 major trophies Grand final /Wembley appearance

Saints standout player: Ben Barba

Saints Stand out player discounting you’ve just picked Ben Barba? James Roby

 

 

Name: Dave Howarth

Final Table Prediction:

1. Leeds – will continue to show consistency. Lost 2 big players but with a fully fit squad will be difficult to beat
2. Saints – will improve again this year. Keeping Barba fit is a must
3. Hull FC – there or thereabouts. Can Radford keep Hull going for the full 30 rounds and not fall away
4. Wigan – Dark horses for me. Wane needs to win a trophy or he could be out. Tomkins has to play out of his skin this year
5. Castleford – wont be the same without Hardaker. Can they adapt their game as Saints/Leeds showed how they can be beat
6. Warrington – improvement required. Decent recruitment but wont be their year…..again
7. Wakefield – best of the rest after the top 6
8. Catalan – they will improve with a full pre season under Mcbanana. Recruitment hasnt been as excessive in recent years so consistancy the key
9. Huddersfield – take Brough out the team and they could finish lower than 9th
10. Salford – some big players departed and not replaced with similar quality
11. Widnes – not enough quality in their recruitment. Keeping Mellor fit is their only hope of not finishing bottom
12. Hull KR – Danny Mcguire wont save them from 12th. Be interesting to see how fit Mose stays if the going gets tough

Grand Final Prediction: Horrible feeling that Wigan will prove doubters wrong and win ugly

Challenge Cup Winners: Saints. Its been 10 years and we are due a visit plus Id prefer a Wembley trip to a GF. Think the club will make the CC a priority

What constitutes a successful season? Top 2 finish and CC final

Minimum expectation you’d accept? has to be at least one trophy

Saints Stand out player: James Roby