The Virtual Terrace • Re: Championship Predictions.
1. Toronto - Recruited well some SL/NRL standard in there. McDermott probably the biggest signing of all and will do what Rowley failed to do.......earn promotion to SL. Will beat York comfortably in the first game.
2. Toulouse - Improved their squad with the signings of Parata, Bergal, Evans and Vaivai. Think their home form will only be bettered by Toronto’s. All depends on how they travel. Will narrowly beat Leigh in the opener but will suffer a scare.
3. Widnes - All depends on if they get injuries as they don’t have much depth. However their starting 13 is a very good one. Inu and Gelling are class. Ashall-Bolt could have a breakout season too. It’s a long season and if they keep fit they could be in line for the MPG. Think they could suffer a shock start with Inu and Cahill out.
4. Halifax - Against my better judgement I think Halifax will finish just above Bradford. Very solid side and recruited well. Tangata is a big loss but a good replacement in Kavanaugh. With a spine of QLT, Murrell and Johnston it’s hard to see them lower. I think the three games vs Bradford will decided 4th and 5th. If key players are fit and ready I can see them turning Widnes over in Round 1.
5. Bradford - Have the potential to finish 3rd or 4th with the squad we have. However it is a long season and we are well known to have some bogey teams in this division. With Bustin and Peltier out for a bit we could struggle up front if we pick up another injury or two. Our back line is one of the best in the league providing Hitchcox and Webster stay fit. Will be tough to beat at home. Chisholm needs a good season and I think Wildie will be one of our better performers this season. I think it will be a tough game against Featherstone in the opener but should win by 6-10 in the end.
Anything below 5 is just too hard to predict. Leigh and Featherstone both have a case for top 5 depending on who they manage to get from St Helens and Leeds. However I think with Leigh recruiting a few of their ‘old’ team (McNally, Pownall, Ridyard, Spencer etc) they will gel quicker than expected.
Rochdale and Swinton for me will finish bottom two but only because I think Barrow at home will be hard to crack and they’ll pick up a few wins against better sides. Sheffield, Batley abd Dewsbury will be interesting to see this season. I rate Greenwood and hope he does well at the Rams.
York are the biggest unknown for me. One of the best young British coaches in the game. A very good squad. But Adam Robinson will be a miss in the pack as will Joe Batchelor. With no dual reg with Hull KR it will be hard for them to win certain games where they would lack that creativity. Their new stadium could provide a mid season boost and I hope that the opener their (York vs Bulls) is a great spectacle. I hope they finish mid-table and consolidate their Chanpionship status and build in the future. Hope I’m wrong though and they challenge for top 5 with Halifax, Bradford, Leigh and Featherstone!
Either way it’s going to be a bloody good season to watch!! I for one will probably watch every single game highlights!
2. Toulouse - Improved their squad with the signings of Parata, Bergal, Evans and Vaivai. Think their home form will only be bettered by Toronto’s. All depends on how they travel. Will narrowly beat Leigh in the opener but will suffer a scare.
3. Widnes - All depends on if they get injuries as they don’t have much depth. However their starting 13 is a very good one. Inu and Gelling are class. Ashall-Bolt could have a breakout season too. It’s a long season and if they keep fit they could be in line for the MPG. Think they could suffer a shock start with Inu and Cahill out.
4. Halifax - Against my better judgement I think Halifax will finish just above Bradford. Very solid side and recruited well. Tangata is a big loss but a good replacement in Kavanaugh. With a spine of QLT, Murrell and Johnston it’s hard to see them lower. I think the three games vs Bradford will decided 4th and 5th. If key players are fit and ready I can see them turning Widnes over in Round 1.
5. Bradford - Have the potential to finish 3rd or 4th with the squad we have. However it is a long season and we are well known to have some bogey teams in this division. With Bustin and Peltier out for a bit we could struggle up front if we pick up another injury or two. Our back line is one of the best in the league providing Hitchcox and Webster stay fit. Will be tough to beat at home. Chisholm needs a good season and I think Wildie will be one of our better performers this season. I think it will be a tough game against Featherstone in the opener but should win by 6-10 in the end.
Anything below 5 is just too hard to predict. Leigh and Featherstone both have a case for top 5 depending on who they manage to get from St Helens and Leeds. However I think with Leigh recruiting a few of their ‘old’ team (McNally, Pownall, Ridyard, Spencer etc) they will gel quicker than expected.
Rochdale and Swinton for me will finish bottom two but only because I think Barrow at home will be hard to crack and they’ll pick up a few wins against better sides. Sheffield, Batley abd Dewsbury will be interesting to see this season. I rate Greenwood and hope he does well at the Rams.
York are the biggest unknown for me. One of the best young British coaches in the game. A very good squad. But Adam Robinson will be a miss in the pack as will Joe Batchelor. With no dual reg with Hull KR it will be hard for them to win certain games where they would lack that creativity. Their new stadium could provide a mid season boost and I hope that the opener their (York vs Bulls) is a great spectacle. I hope they finish mid-table and consolidate their Chanpionship status and build in the future. Hope I’m wrong though and they challenge for top 5 with Halifax, Bradford, Leigh and Featherstone!
Either way it’s going to be a bloody good season to watch!! I for one will probably watch every single game highlights!
Statistics: Posted by Bulls Boy 2011 — Wed Jan 30, 2019 11:21 am