After Great Britain’s eminently forgettable performances in the Tri-Nations Down Under, the players return  refreshed and ready for the start of a new engage Super League season on Saturday.

With the St Helens trophy cabinet already full to bursting following a clean sweep of silverware in 2006, few would look beyond Knowsley Road when trying to find the winners of the Old Trafford Grand Final on October 13.

But Super League XII will be anything but the one-horse race it turned out to be last season, and there will be a much stronger and hungrier pack snapping at Saints’ heels this summer. While coach Daniel Anderson undoubtedly has a strong squad at his disposal, a handful of departures and a string of pre-season injuries have made his squad look a little more threadbare than it once was.

Jamie Lyon is the high-profile departure and it will be interesting to see how fellow Australian newcomer Matt Gidley handles the expectation on his shoulders. But the departure of Paul and Vinne Anderson may hit the champions even harder. The two Andersons (no relation) offered the Knowsley Road side the dependability and versatility that is becoming extremely important in the age of the salary cap. Time will tell how much those players will be missed and should St Helens falter, an ever-increasing pack of chasers are waiting to pounce.

Saints will also be without fullback Paul Wellens for the first-round opener against Huddersfield on Saturday. He picked up a leg injury in the pre-season friendly against Leigh. Skipper Paul Sculthorpe is also out, and there is a major doubt about loose forward Jason Hoopper, who hasn’t recovered from a shoulder injury he picked up in Saints’ training camp in Dubai.

A rejuvenated Wigan Warriors, under Brian Noble’s leadership, proved in the latter stages of a turbulent 2006 that they are still a force to be reckoned with. With Aussie test star Trent Barrett and former Harlequins half-back Thomas Leuluai pulling the strings at the JJB Stadium, youngsters like Gareth Hock and Chris Ashton should be able to build on the promise they showed last year.

Leeds Rhinos will, of course, be challenging in the higher regions assuming they put right the inconsistency problems that arose towards the end of last season, while Bradford Bulls are renowned for their ability to perform at the business-end of the season, even if their back-line looks somewhat exposed following the departure of Marcus Bai.

They will be joined by an Adrian Morley-powered Warrington Wolves, who stunned Leeds in last season’s play-offs yet managed to stun themselves by losing games they should have won comfortably. Challenge Cup finalists Huddersfield look like being this season’s surprise package who just might sneak into the top six at the expense of Salford.

But the team to watch in 2007 will be Hull FC. Last year's Grand Finalists have recruited modestly but players such as Danny Tickle and Willie Manu will bring extra strength in depth to an already fearsome forward pack. Wayne Godwin has the ability to send even the tightest of defences into complete chaos and Matt Sing’s try-scoring record in the NRL speaks for itself.

The men from the KC Stadium also have the added bonus of a favourable draw in the Super League’s farcical fixture list. Whilst their main title rivals are slugging it out with each other, Peter Sharp’s men take on relegation fodder Hull KR on no fewer than four occasions. While that is no guarantee of eight points, it certainly gives them a jump start against Leeds, Bradford and Wigan.

At the bottom, don’t expect the exciting relegation battle of last season. Hull KR will be the side rooted to the foot of the Super League. Some may point to the Robins' performance against Warrington in last year’s Challenge Cup as a sign that they are capable of avoiding the drop- but don’t let that fool you.

Last season Justin Murphy coached arguably the most confident side in the British game and the victory over the Wolves wasn’t perhaps the shock it was made out to be. This year that will be far from the case. Wakefield may well find themselves looking anxiously over their shoulder as the season progresses, and while Rovers’ young side will lack no enthusiasm, there isn’t the quality or depth at Craven Park to prevent an immediate return to the National Leagues.

With the line between pain and glory becoming thinner by the year, and so many sides gunning for those coveted top six places, there will be little margin for error. Injuries, suspensions and even refereeing errors are what may well determine any team’s fate, but whatever happens, don’t be surprised to find both Hull sides sandwiching the rest of the league table at the end of the year.


Do you agree with the writer's predictions? Will Hull and Hull KR finish at opposite ends of the Super League table? Sportingo welcomes your thoughts and comments.