Four Super League teams that will be challenging this season

“It’s been a new challenge for a lot of players and there are some really good young players who have come through and brought some enthusiasm into the squad as well as the senior players who are looking forward to their biggest year so far.”

St Helens
There is no reason why Saints can’t go all the way to a Grand Final win this season as well, though their first big test will come against South Sydney Rabbitohs in the World Club Championship. They are 80/1 to record a clean sweep of trophies this season.

Loose forward Jon Wilkin is keen for St Helens to pick up where they left off against Wigan in the Grand Final, and no doubt will play a key part in the club’s season.

“The key word is intensity. When we played Brisbane back in 2007, what stood out to me was the intensity level, it was beyond anything I had ever experienced before and I expect the same again,” Wilkin said. “It’s a huge start to the new era, it’s exciting and a great way to get the momentum started for the new season.”

Leeds Rhinos
It is a brave decision from coach Brian McDermott not to bring in more than just Australian prop Adam Cuthbertson and, despite a failed attempt to recruit Wigan’s Lee Mossop, he is confident that youngsters can help fill the holes left by Ben Jones-Bishop, Ian Kirke, Ryan Bailey and Chris Clarkson.

With elder statesmen Kevin Sinfield, Jamie Jones-Buchanan, Rob Burrow and Danny McGuire, once regarded as the golden generation in this Leeds team set to hang up their boots soon, McDermott accepts there is a responsibility to blood new talent. This could be evident this season, with the West Yorkshire club 9/2 to retain the Challenge Cup.

“I’d be hesitant to bring in someone in front of Brad Singleton, Josh Walters or Liam Sutcliffe and then you start looking at the lads below those like Ash Handley, Robbie Ward and Elliott Minchella, that’s where the future is for us,” McDermott said. “If you look at what the squad will look like in five or six years’ time, some of these fellas will have to be seasoned professionals by then.”