Super League 2010: George Riley's team-by-team betting guide

Rugby League / George Riley / 23 January 2010 / Leave a Comment

How will Leeds cope without Lee Smith?

"Leeds have maintained their traditional minimalist recruitment policy with big back row Greg Eastwood finally arriving a year later than planned after visa problems. He'll add real go forward, but rugby union recruit Lee Smith will be a massive loss and Leeds will have to find a lot of tries from somewhere to compensation."

Rugby League expert George goes through the Super League contenders from top to bottom

It seems a split second since Australia's thumping Four Nations win but Super League kicks into gear next weekend with the defending champions again the team most fancied to lift the Old Trafford silverware.

Leeds Rhinos made history with their third consecutive Grand Final triumph and they are simply the team to beat once again.

The Blue and Amber are already trading around the [2.02] mark with Betfair punters to top the end of season table. The club have maintained their traditional minimalist recruitment policy with big back row Greg Eastwood finally arriving a year later than planned after visa problems. He'll add real go forward, but rugby union recruit Lee Smith will be a massive loss and Leeds will have to find a lot of tries from somewhere to compensation.

Look for youngster Kallum Watkins to get much more game time this season, and if Brett Webb can stay injury free Leeds will go fine. It is a big season for the two halfbacks Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire. Burrow was left out in the cold for the Four Nations as England looked to the youth of Richie Myler and Kyle Eastmond, while Danny McGuire saw his international hopes fade after being booed by England's fans. Leeds have a phenomenal coach, a hefty pack, and brilliant guile in the backs. They remain the team to beat.

St Helens are a [4.1] shot with Betfair punters to pip Leeds to the regular season title. Saints will flourish this season now that the effervescent Kyle Eastmond can be unleashed from the shadow of Sean Long. Eastmond is my tip to be the standout player of this Super League season. Mick Potter will have no excuses now after a year under his belt as coach, and Iosia Soliola will add real flare to Super League. Long aside, Saints have kept their spine and Scott Moore has returned from a brilliant spell at Huddersfield that earned international recognition for the young hooker. Saints will once again be very strong.

If the big two are going to be disrupted this year then Warrington and Wigan are my tips to do just that. Warrington trade at [13.5] to top Super League and I expect them to be hugely competitive this year. Tony Smith will flourish in his first full season back after the England job and he has made some terrific signings. Myler sparkled under his international coach and will add life to the halves, while my pal Ryan Atkins arrives in the centres from Wakefield looking to win back the England place that he was denied by a shoulder operation.

I really like the look of the Wolves this year and they could well go the distance. Full-back Richie Mathers has an infectious enthusiasm. He has been training the house down and I expect a massive season from him as he looks to challenge Shaun Briscoe for the England number one shirt. David Solomona's a great addition too and the heroes of Warrington's Challenge Cup winning side are still there. Look out for the Wolves.

Wigan are [15.5] to top the end of season table, and I expect they and Huddersfield to challenge for the remaining place in the top four. New Warriors coach Michael Maguire has added Paul Deacon who moves from Bradford, but I don't see a huge improvement in class in the Warriors side. If Maguire is as good a coach as Wigan think then the Warriors could be very dangerous. The club traditionally finishes the season well so they must start with a bang too to stand a real chance.

Huddersfield Giants' preparations have been marred by off-the-field allegations against their players, but coach Nathan Brown will have his side focused for the kick off.

Huddersfield were my team of the year last season, and properly looked the third best team in the competition behind Leeds and Saints. They should go close again and trade at [11.0] to top the table. Man of Steel Brett Hodgson is worth a place in any side and will again star, with coach Nathan Brown choosing largely to keep faith with the squad that performed brilliantly for him last year. Lee Gilmour has been there and done it and will add handy experience, while Graeme Horne's versatility is a useful addition.

Bradford Bulls ([22.0]) are currently the sixth most fancied side with Betfair punters. Steve McNamara survived a troubled season and will start the season a new man after keeping his job.

Matt Orford is a very good signing to replace Paul Deacon but the rest of the squad to me looks a little thin. They will badly miss new NRL recruit Sam Burgess who was tempted Down Under by Russell Crowe. Although watch out - as the giant GB prop has two younger brothers at the Bulls - Thomas and George, and we may see a bit of them this year. Sam tells me they are more of a menace than he is. Steve Mac's side will make the playoffs this year. Bradford start the season top of the table alphabetically and that is the closest they will get!

I really hope Harlequins ([100.0]) have a big season. Brian McDermott is working his backside off to spread the rugby league gospel in London. This time last year he told me his target was to win Super League. I'm sure when I ask him again next week he will say the same. Youngster Ben Jones Bishop is another great addition from Leeds, and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook will have England on his mind. Fellow young guns Will Sharpe and Lamont Bryan are my tips to shine this season too and I think Quins should be sniffing around the playoff places.

Hull KR coach Justin Morgan set his players the same goal as Quins last year and they occupied third spot for much of the season. Morgan is a very shrewd tactician and I don't see Rovers being any weaker this time. No massive additions or omissions from their squad to report but there is a lot of strong young talent ready to come through, while Peter Fox and Shaun Briscoe showed their class for England during the Four Nations.

City rivals Hull FC have lived in Rovers' shadow for the last three years and will be hungry to put that right. Sean Long will shoulder of mountain of responsibility after his move from St Helens and Long takes over their captaincy. There's a first full season at the club for former Rhinos' Jordan Tansey and in Fitzgibbon, Manu, Yeaman and Calderwood there is a wealth of quality. I expect Richard Agar's side to get much closer than last season and look a good shot to me to make the top eight.

Castleford Tigers will start the season with one less finger than last. A freak incident on a training jaunt to France saw coach Terry Matterson lose a finger when his wedding ring got caught on a fence over which he leapt to retrieve a ball. Cas were very strong last year, and youngsters Joe Westerman and Michael Shenton are only going to get better. I have the Tigers in my end of season playoff picture. Rangie Chase and Brent Sherwin are class in the halves but I fear for the depth of their pack. Mitchell Sargent is a monster and Steve Snitch a decent signing but I don't see a lot else.

Wakefield will again target a playoff place but they'll miss last season's top scorer Ryan Atkins - now at Warrington. Paul King, Paul Johnson and Glenn Morrison are all in, but their legs have all season better days. I see the Wildcats being tough to beat at home but, as last season, I fear for John Kear's side if they get a few injuries.

Catalans Dragons again proved last season that one their day they can beat any side in Super League. A hugely powerful pack, married with some real flare in the backs often makes for an unhappy trip to the south of France for the rest of Super League. Playoffs is the minimum target for the Perpignan club and I expect big seasons again from Clint Greenshields, Thomas Bosc and Stacey McGuire.

The Celtic Crusaders start the season with a new home and a new name, Crusaders RL. There is a new coach for the troubled Welsh side too, with Brian Noble taking his wealth of experience to the valleys. Iestyn Harris and Jon Sharpe join a really strong looking coaching set up and, put simply, Crusaders can only get better. Three players - winger Gareth Raynor, the versatile Tommy Lee, and prop Jamie Thackray move from Hull FC. But I don't see anything in the rest of the squad to give Noble and co reason for optimism. I see nothing other than a rock bottom finish for Crusaders.

Salford will point to the emergence of Stefan Ratchford last year as one of the bright spots in their season. Coach Shaun McRae is realistic enough to know that his season will probably be over once the playoffs start, but I'm looking forward to seeing if Ratchford can build on the impressive platform he laid in his breakthrough season. Leeds outcast Ashley Gibson arrives with a point to prove, and veteran Willie Talue knows his time is running out to make Super League headlines. There is a splattering of talent at the Reds but a lot of ordinary players, and they will struggle again.