With a few weeks to go until a brand new Super League season, Ben Long presents his dreaded predictions on the final League table, Grand Final winner, Challenge Cup winner, and the individual awards.
1. St Helens
It’s very, very difficult to look past the Saints finishing top. They have the best players in virtually every position, the best team across the park, and should enter 2020 with immense confidence following their outstanding consistency in 2019 and eventual Grand Final victory.
There hasn’t been a great deal of recruitment from new coach Kristian Woolf, and who can blame him; his confidence in this outstanding squad is completely justified. Now that elusive grand final success that evaded them in both 2017 and 2018 has finally been met, one would think the Saints will also be a little more mentally assured.
If Alex Walmsley and Luke Thompson both stay fit, it’s very difficult to see any team getting the better of them through the middle; with so many quality backs playing off the back of a dominant platform, including the outstanding Jonny Lomax, they will remain a difficult side to contain.
It will be interesting to see how many games the great James Roby plays next season – possibly the only cause for concern for St Helens supporters.
Key Player – Jonny Lomax. He just gets better and better. He has tremendous vision, link-up play, outstanding pass timing and he can apply his ability week-in-week-out. He’ll be a strong early contender for Man of Steel after controversially missing out last season.
