Kevin & Paddy On Rugby League. Issue 1

Welcome to the brand new feature 'Kevin & Paddy on Rugby League'. The two lads are with RLC Premier South club Hainault Bulldogs, who SportTrades will be following through their season. We asked the two lads what they thought about the coming 2010 season and a couple of predictions. There was no conferring during this exercise.

Kevin Reith (He's the one on the left in the photo)

Super League 2010 will be the best yet, the salary cap in Rugby League lets the smaller club stay on an even keel with the big 4 Leeds,Wigan,Bradford and St Helens.

This proved to be so when the likes of Huddersfield and Hull KR finished in the top 4 and deservedly so.

Well what is 2010 about to bring? Personally from a bias point of view, I think it is going to be a mammoth task for anyone to stop the Champs, Leeds Rhinos, winning the 4th consecutive title. They have only lost Lee Smith to union Club Wasps, but have replaced him with the very experienced, powerful centre Brett Delaney, who made a great try scoring debut, in Matt Diskins testimonial against bitter rivals Bradford Bulls. Also arriving, 12 months late, is the very powerful back rower Greg Eastwood he will be a handful and when he gets into his stride will take some stopping.

Their closest rivals I think will be Warrington Wolves. IF they keep injury free, then Tony Smith will do something special there. He showed that after a short time in charge last season what they could do, when he lead them to the Challenge Cup final victory against Huddersfield.
A lot of people are talking up Wigan with the arrival of coach Michael Maguire and yeah i think initially he will make a massive difference. He has replaced a coach in Brian Noble, who in my opinion is and always has been very overrated, his main success was at Bradford where he inherited a team full of winning superstars and they carried on winning.He went to Wigan and never set the world alight and won nothing hence his departure to Crusaders RL. Which brings me nicely onto a Welsh Super League club in the interim it has turned out to be a bit of a shambles, I am all for spreading the RL message throughout the whole world, but not at the expense of the clubs that have kept the sport and the game itself going for over a 100 years.

This was something that was rushed and because of that the problems have started hence the upheaval to Wrexham. This does really put into perspective how derisory the process for selecting the Super franchises were, because the Welsh outfit never had the financial backing and in fact nearly went bust, only for the move to Wrexham which has saved them in the short term.

You then look at the offer the Widnes chairman made in their super league application, which was he would put into the RFL account 1 million pounds and If they fell into financial problems he would surrender that money. Widnes one of the most successful clubs of the modern era turned down flat, bet they are saying very loudly in Widnes 'Told you So'.
Will Crusaders be in Super League after the next round of franchises happen, probably so, but for all the wrong reasons. I sincerely hope that it gets resolved and the sport can thrive in Wales, but me like the rest of the people in RL land, will have to wait and see.

My tips for 2010 :

Super League top 3 :

1. Leeds Rhinos
2. Warrington Wolves
3. Wigan

Grand Final - Leeds v Warrington (with a Leeds win)

Bottom 3 :

Bottom - Crusaders
2nd bottom - Quins RL
3rd bottom - Salford

Challenge Cup Final - Leeds v Wigan (Leeds Completing the double)

World Club Challenge - Leeds 26 Melbourne 12

Don't forget to tune in to Sky Sports Friday at 7.30pm for the opening fixture Crusaders v Leeds


Paddy Crowley (He's the one on the right in the photo - this is getting like Ant & Dec)

The Engage SuperLeague 2010 season kicks off this Friday with the clash between last years Minor Premiers and Grand Final Winners, Leeds Rhinos against the much changed Crusaders ( more about them later!).

For a summer season, it does seem to be an early start. Even though the first spring flowers haven't started blooming I am pleased to have some live action back on the TV after an indifferent Autumn International Series and Guinness Premiership in Rugby Union.

With World Cup final winner Eastwood joining a fit Danny Buderus, the Rhinos must be favourites to reach Old Trafford again in 2010. Although Lee Smith has left for Pastures new they have an ample replacement in Brett Delaney.

Who will be their main competition though? Although you can never write off a Saints side I think the chasing pack will be alot closer this year with a fitter Wigan side, coached by Michael Maguire, a Warrington Side rejuvenated after a Challenge Cup Victory and a Catalan side who have adjusted to Kevin Walters. An injury or dip in the form to the ever present James Graham could see these three sides leap frog Saint Helens in the League, regardless of any magic that Kyle Eastmond conjures. At the other end of table I can see it being a very close bottom 8 with only a few points separating ninth from Last. The only team i do see majorly struggling in 2010 will be the Salford Reds.

London-wise I see another strange season for Quins RL. With a full strength side they can beat anybody home or away. News from the Stoop that Rob Purdham may be out for a good few rounds, along with worries about Temata and Wells, suggest that they may struggle to recapture the great start they enjoyed last year. Brian Macs challenge this season will be to keep them all fit for as long as possible during a regular season campaign spanning seven months.

My predictions for the season are below, but before I do I will get my excuses in early! This promises to be the tightest season in SuperLeague so far with a mixture of teams who, in my opinion, will be there or there abouts come the play offs in September.

Play Off Positions

1. Leeds Rhinos

2. Wigan Warriors

3. St Helens

4. Catalan Dragons

5. Warrington Wolves

6. Bradford Bulls

7. Hull FC

8. Huddersfield Giants

Bottom team: Salford Reds

Man of Steel: Danny Buderus

Top Try Scorer: Ryan Hall

As already mentioned the season kicks off with the Rhinos playing the Crusaders at The Racecourse ground, Wrexham. It has been a turbulent off season for the Crusaders with their moves some 156 miles north of their base within Bridgend.

On the field, I see them being a much harder side to beat with new coach Brian Noble a seasoned Superleague Coach who has brought in some solid performers for 2010. Off the field it shall be interesting to see how the folk of Wrexham take to the team as I cannot imagine many will make their way up from their old fanbase.

Should the RFL have allowed the team to move ? I honestly don't think they had any choice in the matter. On the plus side, if this team and the Championship 1 side, the scorpions survive and thrive then Wales will have a SuperLeague Side, A championship 1 side as well as a thriving community club set up within the country. I am sure the RFL would've taken that when the Wales "crusade" was started off, even if it has happened in a less than orthodox way.

One things for sure, if the Crusaders can move over three hours away from their existing home I am looking forward to Leeds Rhinos making the Olympic Stadium in Stratford their home after the Olympics in 2012!!

For the Hainault Bulldogs I see a promising 2010, with a top four finish within the RLC Southern Premier a realistic expectation. We have some key players back in key positions as well as a new member joining Kevins coaching team who will add much value to the development and performance of the team.

We are pleased to have a very tight, happy relationship in place with Dagenham RFC and are looking forward to the season ahead which kicks off in March for our Junior Sides.

As well as our Senior First Team, we will be running a London League Side for players who are looking to enjoy the greatest game for maybe the first time, as well as Our Under 12, 14 and 16s competing in the London Junior League. As well as a strong training ethic we pride ourselves on being a welcoming club to Player and supporters of our team as well as visitors with a fully stock, reasonably priced bar.

If anyone is thinking of giving the sport a go over the summer I'd say "why not!" Get in touch, come down for a run about and see if you enjoy it, most people do!