So, Super League X is upon us and I am a bit surprised at what the so called experts are predicting. It seems everyone thinks Saints will either win it or be runners up, which I find amazing! We sign Jamie Lyon to replace Martin Gleeson, and, two lumps of lard in Paul Anderson and Michael Smith. Smith has already melted away, so we have made two signings. We have lost Joynty, Stankevitch, Bracek and Gleeson. We are also now releasing Bibey too, so with Mason out, we look short in depth already.

I know some will say the youth in our squad is talented, and I agree, but no more so than a few other sides I can mention. So, it seems we need luck with injuries, not something we have been blessed with before! Plus, we seem to like making things hard by giving points away at Easter, and I cringed when I saw Bradford again on Easter Monday! I hope Longy has closed his account with Stan James!!

The whole League seems stronger again this year, Leigh apart, so it will take a tough team to win it. This is were I think we fall down. It may just be me, but over the last two years, a team with incredible team spirit and will to win, has turned into a side that will roll over and die. We used to win so many games when our backs were against the wall, not now! If things do not go our way, we start kicking off at the officials and giving penalties away, exactly the opposite to how we used to be. We have gone from a highly disciplined unit, to a spoilt child who can not get his way, just like our coach!!

It is for these reasons I see this being a long season rather than a successful one. We will start well, then fall away, Cunningham will play half a season again, Scully will get a hamstring injury again, Gilmour will go missing again after May and our Front row will run out of juice by August. I look at the league and see far more professional teams or far hungrier teams.

People are writing Bradford off, but they have retained most the squad from the last few years, plus have added two good pack recruits in Brad Myers and Andy Lynch. They have a pack good enough to get them to another Grand Final, having the backs to win it is another thing! Leeds will be favourites, but they have been playing since December getting ready for the farcical World Challenge game. They too could run out of steam, plus, I will be amazed if they have as much luck with injuries this year! If they do though, they could win it again.

Hull just can't perform away from home, until they do I can not treat them as serious contenders. Wigan will start slow, but they will be there at the end, I hate to say it, but watch out for a charge in September. My only doubt is Dennis Moran, I do not see him as the right player for them, but if I am wrong they could win it. Sean O'Loughlin will be a massive star this year, mark my words.

Of the rest, Warrington will hover around 5th - 6th, but not a big enough squad, especially with Kohe-Love back, the brittle bone kid, they will be down a centre all year. Wakefield won't be as good without Ellis, but will still be tough. London will surprise a few this year, just you see. Huddersfield fighting for play offs, Widnes picking up injuries after 4 defeats in first four games, never recovering and going down, along with Leigh who will struggle to win a game at all!

My predictions?

Grand Final Bradford v Wigan, Wigan to win. Leeds finish top, but falter in play offs, plagued by injury and tired players. Saints finish third but don't win a play off game.

Leeds to beat Warrington in the Challenge cup Final.

The Aussie's to win Tri Nations again!