THE new Betfred Super League season is almost upon us...and I can’t wait!

The Saints are 9/4 favourites with the title sponsors to repeat last seasons feat and lift the Grand Final trophy at Old Trafford.

With very little change required in the playing staff, only Danny Richardson and Adam Swift moving on to pastures new, and no new recruits coming in, it looks like business as usual.

However, one major change is that of Head Coach, with Kristian Woolf now in charge taking over from the ever-popular Justin Holbrook. Woolf, the current Tongan national coach will no doubt bring his own style of how he wants to play, and will certainly be determined to continue the Betfred Super League domination!

One bonus for the new gaffer will be the return of the current Young Player of the Year Matty Lees who sustained a very serious abdominal injury towards the end of last season.

Salford, the surprise package of 2019 and runners up in the Grand Final are first up at the TWS. The Red Devil’s have drifted to 33/1 with Betfred for success in 2020, mainly due to losing some key players over the off-season, but certainly won’t be a push-over in the opener.

Having made some ‘big’ signings including Seb Ikahehfo and Pauli Pauli…no doubt they will look to come out of the blocks aggressively, but are taking on the best pack in SL and if all goes to plan I can’t see past a Saints win.

Wigan open their campaign some 24hrs earlier hosting Warrington. The Warriors are 3/1 for Grand Final glory with the Wolves at 4/1 with Betfred.

One of the big talking points over the previous few months is how new boys Toronto Wolfpack will fair in their first SL season.

The Canadian side shocked the rugby world when they managed to tempt NZ superstar Sonny Bill Williams to join them on a two-year deal. The dual-code star has certainly helped the sport gain some great publicity in recent months, along with the sport’s Royal Patron Prince Harry, who during a tough personal time agreed to make the RLWC2021 draw at Buckingham Palace earlier this month.

Toronto are currently 20/1 with Betfred to claim glory in their opening season. Personally, SBW aside, I don’t think the Wolfpack squad is strong enough to compete with the top teams throughout the year. They only have a small squad, including a number of players who have previously struggled in Super League. However, I’m all for expansion and the inclusion of the Wolfpack is great for the game and will no doubt be a great tool come the broadcasting renewal negotiations.

Not one to sit on the fence! This is my prediction: Not surprisingly I am again tipping the mighty Saints for Grand Final glory, with Wigan and Warrington the chasing pack with Huddersfield and Hull KR scrapping it out at the bottom to avoid relegation.

No surprise title sponsors Betfred have Sonny Bill Williams as 16/1 favourite to pick up the Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Award, but with my Saints hat on both Lachlan Coote and the outstanding Jonny Lomax both look fair bets at 16/1 & 20/1 respectively.

So strap in the seatbelts and let the action commence!