So, in the final part of my Super League 2015 season preview, we look at the four teams I think will compete in the first ever top-four playoffs in an effort to secure a place in the grand final.
The top ranked team will play the fourth ranked team and the second ranked team will play the third ranked team, with the top two teams having home advantage – nice and straight forward.
After 23 regular season games plus seven Super 8 matches, I think the top four will line up as follows.
Huddersfield Giants – 4th
The Giants have been a strong outfit for a number of years now and topped the league table in 2013 for the first time in more than 50 years under rookie coach Paul Anderson. They couldn’t match that feat in 2013 but still finished a handy third, though they have yet to convince that they have what it takes to make the next big step and reach a grand final.
They have the best halfback in the competition, and one of the best in the world, in Danny Brough who has 63 try assists over the last two years and has a brilliant kicking game and strong running game.
Forward strength is still vital to the Giants’ cause and although they have let the outstanding Larne Patrick join rivals Wigan and big Antonio Kaufusi has gone home to the Canterbury Bulldogs, they have brought in Craig Huby (Castleford Tigers), who had the best year of his career in 2014, to add to the existing power of Eorl Crabtree, Brett Ferres, Ukuma Ta’ai, Chris Bailey and Michael Lawrence.
They have two exceptional hookers in Shaun Lunt and Luke Robinson, who can also play halfback, and they are now backed up by another new addition from Castleford Tigers, Jamie Ellis, another player who can fill a halfback or hooking role.
Their strike power in the backs is also strong with the likes of Jermaine McGilivary, Joe Wardle, Aaron Murphy and Jodie Broughton able to score tries for fun from anywhere on the pitch. England international centre Leroy Cudjoe also has a point to prove after missing on the Four Nations squad.
This is a squad with depth and strength all over the park and they could replicate their success of 2013 but they seem to fade at some point in the season which costs them and they haven’t been tough enough mentally to win the big playoff games.
If they can eradicate these two regular occurrences then you could see them at Old Trafford in October.
Star man: Danny Brough
Brough is sheer quality with a bit of attitude thrown in, and he has the all-round game to dominate matches and is a world class goal kicker. The only problem is that if he doesn’t fire the Giants will struggle.
Coach: Paul Anderson
The big former Bulls and St Helens prop forward has done an outstanding job since taking over from Nathan Brown at the end of 2012, winning the Giants’ first major trophy in a generation. He has a burning desire to succeed and the common sense and ability to bring out the best in his players.
Wigan Warriors – 3rd
Wigan were disappointed to finish 2014 without a trophy after winning the double in coach Shaun Wane’s first season in charge in 2013 and there is no doubt that Wane will have the Warriors fired up to regain at least one of the major trophies in 2015.
Blake Green is a major loss having returned to the NRL with Melbourne Storm after four successful years in Super League. The Warriors have not gone out and bought a ready made replacement but have handed Green’s number six jersey to talented local youngster George Williams who they will look to start alongside England international Matty Smith.
Lee Mossop has returned after an injury-plagued year with Parramatta Eels and the former Eels and Cronulla Sharks forward Taulima Tautai has joined after a storming season with Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.
Other than that Wane has kept faith in his squad from last year with gun winger Joe Burgess hoping to end his time at the Warriors with another big season before he heads to the Sydney Roosters.
There is quality all over the park from Matty Bowen at full back, wingers Burgess and Josh Charnley and Anthony Gelling and Dan Sarginson in the centre – Sarginson was the stand-out England back in the recent Four Nations tournament.
Their forwards are as strong as any in the competition and in Liam Farrell, Joel Tomkins and Sean O’Loughlin, with Larne Patrick thrown into the mix, they have a very powerful and athletic back row while hooker Michael McIlorum adds as much grunt and attitude as is needed.
They will mount a serious challenge for all honours in 2015.
Star man: Sean O’Loughlin
The captain is the heart and soul of the squad and when he is on form the Warriors are difficult to beat. Whether defending or attacking, O’Loughlin never shirks a challenge, they just need him to stay fit.
Coach: Shaun Wane
Wane is an old school blood and thunder no frills coach. If his team aren’t playing well he lets them know in no uncertain terms. Won the double in his first season after inheriting the head coach’s role from Michael Maguire and will be desperate to bring more trophies back to his hometown club.
St Helens – 2nd
Their grand final winning coach Nathan Brown may have headed home to Australia but they have replaced him with club legend Kieron Cunningham, who will enjoy the unbridled support of players and fans. It remains to be seen if this appointment is too early in Cunningham’s coaching career, however.
The Saints won the grand final last year despite being without a number of important players for large chunks of the season – the likes of Jonny Lomax, Jon Wilkin, Luke Walsh and Anthony Laffranchi were all missing at some point with veteran fullback and captain Paul Wellens forming an unlikely halfback partnership with back rower Wilkin at times.
But they still had enough to see the job through with players like try-scoring winner Tommy Makinson, world class hooker James Roby, Lance Hohaia, Jordan Turner, Kyle Amor and Mose Masoe standing out. Halfback Walsh had a great start to his first year at Saints before he broke his fibula and tore ankle ligaments against Widnes in July – an injury that ended his season.
In 2015 Walsh will be partnered by his former Penrith Panthers teammate Travis Burns, who has signed after two good years at Hull KR. This halfback partnership could tear Super League defences apart and how well they combine will go a long way to deciding if the Saints can defend their title.
They have lost good players in Sia Soliola, Willie Manu and Gary Wheeler while they have brought in only Burns, at Cunningham’s insistence, and powerful forward Atelea Vae from London Broncos.
Having Lomax and Walsh back will be huge plusses and new captain Jon Wilkin will want to mark his first year at the helm with a major trophy.
Star man: James Roby
Roby is one of the best hooker’s in the world and has a phenomenal work rate. The Saints are a much better side when he is in it.
Coach: Kenny Cunningham
Club legend and rookie coach, no doubt Saints would have liked him to have another year or two under Nathan Brown. This will be a big test for Cunningham and he will need good staff around him. The support of the players and fans is unquestioned and it will be interesting to see how Saints go under him.
Warrington Wolves – 1st
The Wolves could only finish fifth in the table in 2014 after being losing grand finalists in 2012 and 2013. But despite that lower than expected finish they still made the qualifying semi-finals and only lost out 16-12 to the Wigan Warriors in one of the games of 2015.
They have a very strong squad and like to play entertaining rugby league. Coach Tony Smith has been very selective in his recruitment for 2015.
They have added England hooker and last year’s Man of Steel Daryl Clark to their squad, in place of the retired Michael Monaghan, and he will add even more pace to a side that is not short of try scoring ability. Clark is brilliant from acting half, can score from anywhere and go the full 80 minutes if needed.
Gary Wheeler is an under-the-radar but shrewd signing from St Helens – if he can stay fit he could be an excellent signing – while it will be interesting to see how Fijian international prop Ashton Sims settles in to his new surroundings as much is expected of him.
The Wolves have an abundance of speed and skill in the backs with the likes of fullback Matty Russell, last year’s Super League top try scorer Joel Monaghan, plus England internationals Chris Bridge, Richie Myler, Ryan Atkins and Stefan Ratchford, while young halfback Gareth O’Brien is expected to push in from his fine form of last year.
Their forward pack, enhanced by the presence of Sims, is big and strong. Chris Hill was one of the most impressive forwards in the Four Nations tournament and was up for the Man of Steel award last year. Last year’s co-captain Ben Westwood will be looking to regain his England shirt after missing out through injury last year, and add Ben Harrison, Roy Asotasi, Micky Higham and James Laithwaite to the mix and you have a squad that will challenge for both major honours in 2015.
Star man: Daryl Clark
The England hooker has a tough job replacing Michael Monaghan but he is more than up to the task. In fact, I think he will go one step further and take the Wolves to the Super League title.
Coach: Tony Smith
One of the most successful coaches in the Super League era. Two grand final wins with Leeds Rhinos, three Challenge Cup wins, one League Leaders Shield and two losing grand final appearances with Warrington Wolves are testimony to Smith’s coaching expertise.
Semi-finals
Warrington Wolves versus Huddersfield Giants and St Helens versus Wigan Warriors.
Two fantastic clashes and games that could go either way – the season has not even started yet so it is impossible to be positive about anything in the year ahead but I am tipping a Warrington Wolves versus Wigan Warriors grand final and the winners will be the Wolves.
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