Another season is upon us in a matter of months and the prediction that Wakefield will finish bottom is rife again. You'd think that a top 8 spot and a Challenge Cup semi final would show people that we might have start to become much more competitive... But no, Wakey are predicted to be bottom again...

Would it help at all if everybody predicted Wakefield would be top?

I'll take the underdog tag all day long





Let's face it, for any glory hunters out there, Wakefield isn't the club that you follow.

We thrive in adversity and with Kear back at Belle View, we'll be digging in, ready for the fight.



I'm looking forward to it but, a top 8 finish would be one hell of an achievement, just as it was last season.



Full list of odds (William Hill) for next seasons GF winners



Wigan (1)- 11/4

Warrington (2) 7/2

Hull FC (3) 5/1

Saints (4) 5/1

Leeds (9) 7/1

Castleford (5) 9/1

Catalan (6) 20/1

Hudds (11) 20/1

Leigh (10) 33/1

Salford (12) 50/1

Widnes (7) 66/1

Wakefield (icon_cool.gif 200/1



So, we're rank outsiders for the title.

Widnes fans will be more vexed than us. A 7th place finish and they are 66/1 just above Trinity in the list.

On paper we will as always have the 12th position squad on ability, we spend the least, and if you had to put money on it nobody would criticize you for picking us to finish last. The reality is there will be some good sides in the bottom four. Every pundit will put Widnes , Leigh and Wakey in the bottom four. They may well suggest Huddersfield or Catalan for the other spot.

I think that Warrington, Wigan , Cas , Saints, Hull have no worries about a bottom four finish. I think the rest, Catalans, Widnes, Leeds, Salford, Leigh, Hudds and us will be competitive and four of the 7 will be disappointed. As always we will need our fair share of luck with injuries, we will need a great team spirit. We have to to be fit and we need to lean how to defend, somehow the coach has to work another miracle and reduce our average points against fro 40 + to 20 in order to give ourselves a chance.

I think until we put back to back play off seasons together, we will always get written off.



Still really hard to predict with I think some player movements to be confirmed in an out with all super league teams.



Out of last years middle 8 teams in Leeds, Huddersfield and Salford, I can see Leeds returning to the top 8, but not challenging the top 4. I see Huddersfield improving but may still be a middle 8 side, or at best scrape 8th, and Salford middle 8's with newcomers Leigh.



I see the top 4 staying as it it was in 2016, with maybe the order changing, maybe Castleford pushing the top 4 but missing out. Potentially, I also see Catalan dropping a couple of positions..



I think we will be among those sides fighting for one of the last play off spots with Widnes and Huddersfield.

They might be but ateotd like you say the finished just one place above us & are far far better odds than us. Anyone remember our odds at the start of last year?

I'm not into betting at all thus don't know how the odds are made etc but I'd have thought Trinity, Widnes, Salford and Leigh would be around the same odds. Leigh at 33/1 and us at 200/1 is a bit crazy tbh. Neither teams have any chance of winning but at least our side has experience at this level and have just finished in the Top 8. Saying that the likes of Kear & CC will love being written off and given the underdog tag again this year and will use it as a tool to get that bit more out of the team.



On the whole Leeds will improve but I'm not sure they'll be Top 4, I don't think they've recruited really anything since last year. Granted Segeyaro made a big difference for them but basically it's the same side. Similarly Hudds I don't think their squad is quite good enough and will be probably fighting it out to not be in that bottom 4 again. I don't think Salford on paper look as good as last year, neither do Catalans. Widnes look to be around similar strength to last year, with little changes to their squad. Cas if they don't get hit by the injury bug, especially in key positions, they should finish in the Top 6 again. Personally though I can't look much beyond Wigan, Hull, Saints and Wire at the top next year.

wakey 10th - Salford and Widnes below us



middle 8's a lottery depending on injuries to squads when time comes

We get this every year.



But just to clarify, these odds show the likelihood of winning the grand final. That doesn't mean they reflect the league position. Completely different thing.

The squads have not been finalised yet, but hey you carry on your defeatist dogma and then wonder why no ones interested in watching the club.



Ever heard of positive publicity?



Carry on being Captain negative.

I'm afraid Belly is to slow to work that one out, doesn't say much for a private education!

So we're tipped for bottom. There's a surprise, just post the pundits prediction on the dressing room wall and let the players prove them wrong. Bring it on I say!

I agree for some reason I'm feeling confident this year I can see Widnes Leigh Salford huddersfield finishing below us n I think Catalans may struggle this year too