I think people are being a bit over the top with how badly we are going to do next season. Certainly I'd be happier with another experienced prop, but do we really think our pack's worse than the season just gone? NRL Grand Finalist Dodds to replace Asotasi, and you don't think that's an improvement? Also if you look at the stats alone our pack wasn't that bad either (3rd for metres made and 1st for average gain).
Our problem for the last two seasons has been lack of creativity in attack, which was improved significantly with the arrival of Sandow (albeit behind a broken and exhausted team late in the season) and should improve again with Gidley and with Ratchford being more settled in the halves.
My predictions
Final position - 3rd/4th, depending how well Leeds cope with losing Sinfield, Peacock and Leuluai.
GF/CC - One final and semi finals in the other, probably not enough in the tank for both.
Smith - This is his last chance, so I think he'll be gone at the end of the season if we don't get any silverware.
Overall - Shaky start to the season, cue the doom and gloomers, despite us starting every season poorly for years and (except this year) improving later. We'll struggle if we get lots of injuries again, particularly in the pack, but otherwise I reckon we'll be up there competing for trophies even if we don't win anything.
