So, as the new Super League season fastly approaches and the debacle that was 2016 is firmly behind us, I just wondered how every one seriously rates our chances now that we haven't had any floods, Southern Hemisphere touring teams or Legends departing the squad.

Should we have recruited more? Changed the coach? Who knows?

Personally, I think we'll struggle again. Let's hope I'm wrong.

Scrape into the top 4 but no silverware.

Scrape into the top 8 after the mid season sacking of McD after a run of entirely predictable losses.

We will make the top 8 with games to spare but be too far adrift from the top 4 to actually challenge. McDermott to leave by "mutual consent" at the end of the season.

probably make the top 8 but never in the shake up for the top 4,and there is every chance with a bad start we even go middle 8s again.

The club to announce that it will be Mcdermotts last season around mid summer and he will move on in October.Mcdermott to take England job after Bennett steps down after WC



Mcuire and JJB to bid farewell too. true end of an era.

The lack of top class recruitment signals 'everything that could go wrong last year did' message from the club and our players are still up for it despite what 15.000 fans think. So for me there's no excuses if we don't deliver (4th at least). Fwiw for me around 6th spot then miss the final 4 and mac/mags/jjb saying farewell!

Top 6 will consist of Leeds, Saints, Cas, Hull, Wigan & Warrington with the latter 2 the strongest favourites to make the 4. Of the others it will be who has a better run with injuries and also a long cup run to Wembley could be costly.

Definitely think we can make top 4 but going to be tough and very close with those other teams.

We need luck with injuries & a quality season from the Senior pros to get near the top 5 imo but i think we'll end up 6th after rd23 then end the year without troubling the top 4.
How far we progress in the CC depends on the draw but i doubt we'll get past the qtr final.
Overall i think the loyalty card has been played too long for certain players as i said before Barrie Mc Senior Webb Ali etc all left when they could have carried on.
Our recruitment for 2yrs has been very poor i've no problem with lower league "gambles/potential" but they need to be matched with Quality signings.
Finally i think the biggest mistake us retaining the Coaching staff for me they have all run their course here & last year proved conclusively they aren't up to managing the transition.

Unfortunately I can't drum up much optimism about the upcoming season, once again there seems to be a lack of ambition, or unwillingness to invest the necessary funds to upgrade in what is obviously a transitional period. Top 8 hopefully, but I think the silverware cabinet will only be opened for cleaning purposes. If found unable to solve performance problems again this season, Mr. McDermott will have to go, no doubt in some face saving fashion.

the Golden era is over we know that .I just want to see the team make us optimistic for the near future . top six I will be happy

6th for me. We have to hope our senior pro`s do the business and the likes of Sutcliffe and Golding show what they can do.
The halfbacks I do not think are up to it and Mags in particular really has to shine to give us any chance of staying in the top 6.
and tbh I`m not looking forward to this season at all after the dross served up last year.
I have been really impressed watching LUFC this season and have to confess I am enjoying watching how they play this year under Monk.

2017 promises to be an interesting season, to say the least.

Segeyaro aside, there has been less disruption compared to 2016 at this stage of the season. There should be no illusions throughout the club about what is at stake, which will hopefully mean that individuals will be determined to avoid a similar situation. You would expect a better pre-season, although the Boxing Day friendly at least suggests there is a fair bit of work to be done.

More so than ever before, there appear to be question marks over MOST individuals in the squad, including senior players staring at retirement, seasoned professionals who struggled for form last year, players returning from injury spells, new signings, young players needing to prove they can cut it, and a coach who needs to prove he has got what it takes to turn our fortunes around. This is both worrying and exciting in equal measure.

But it is also quite a bit of uncertainty. On the one hand, if most of the squad play to something approaching their potential or past ability, top 4 is a possibility. On the other hand, I think we're lacking a big signing or two (especially a half-back) to suggest there has been enough of an improvement in the playing roster from 2016 to indicate a return to the top, especially after losing Segeyaro who basically saved us from relegation.

I'm always optimistic about Leeds, but I fear for the consequences of losing a few games early in the season. The team need to develop more confidence in themselves as a group (hence why the friendlies should be taken more seriously IMO), and any confidence will erode quickly if we do not get off to winning ways early in the season.

I will be happy so long as there are signs that we are genuinely turning a corner. This means avoiding the middle 8s, better weekly performances, and indications that there are younger players coming through who will form a nucleus of a successful side in years to come - especially in key positions.