A new era dawns in the Rugby League world as the Super League season gets underway at the weekend. With two new stadiums, six new coaches and one ‘new’ club along with a new competition sponsor a refreshing air of change surrounds the start of the new domestic season as the 14 clubs once again look to preach to the unconverted of the Rugby League cause over the next 8 months. The question remains of whether the new season will result in a new team being crowned champions at Old Trafford on October 6^th.

A unique free sponsorship deal will see the Super League brand emblazoned upon 120 Eddie Stobart trucks travelling across the country

Last season came to a dramatic conclusion under. After Warrington dominated much of the year and looked on their way to a first Super League title, the old guard eventually prevailed as Leeds Rhinos’ play-off surge saw them end the hopes of last year’s League leaders before going on to beat St Helens in one of the most exciting Grand Finals in history.

With many clubs’ rosters looking stronger this previous year a close and competitive season could be in store and an increase in possible contenders could see a tight race at the top. A new venue will also feature as a whole weekend of fixtures will be taken to the Etihad Stadium for the ‘Magic Weekend’ in May. With the play-offs to follow the 27 weekly rounds there will be time for many twists and turns before as the season heads to its climax at Old Trafford on October 6^th. Whilst Leeds will feel confident of defending their crown in 2012, it promises to be another season in which clubs around the region will be challenging for honours once again.

• St Helens

2011 finish : Grand Final Runners-Up (3^rd in league)

Anticipation is in the air ahead of the new season as Saints welcome a new era as they move into their brand new stadium Langtree Park.

Last year proved eventful as, playing out of their temporary home at Widnes, and with injuries causing much squad disruption, Saints made it all the way to the Grand Final coming within 20 minutes of winning the most unlikeliest of titles before Leeds’ late rally condemned them to a fifth consecutive Grand Final defeat.

2012 holds much promise with Jonny Lomax being awarded the number 7 shirt after impressing in the position last term. Saints will have to compensate for the departure of James Graham whose leadership presence and work rate in the front row will be missed. But new signings should strengthen them with Anthony Laffranchi being brought in to fill the gap left by Graham. Industrious second row Mark Flanagan comes in as well as their headline signing of New Zealand international Lance Hohaia.

The presence of Hohaia should add some much needed experience to the spine of the Saints team. With a lack of creative cutting edge proving costly over recent seasons when it comes to the big games, Saints will want a settled and enterprising halfback combination throughout the year. If the loss of Graham can be covered and Saints can have a better run with injuries then a very good season of challenging for silverware could lie ahead to kick-start the new era. Whilst the ghosts of five consecutive Grand Final defeats may loom, the future of the club looks bright and a record-extending seventh consecutive Old Trafford appearance is a strong possibility.

2012 LSMedia Prediction: 2^nd & Grand Final Runners-Up

• Warrington Wolves

2011 finish: Play-off Semi-Finalists (1^st in league)

The Wolves enter 2012 with a mission in mind. The most consistent and entertaining side of the competition last year, they picked up the League Leaders’ Shield and looked odds-on to secure their first Super League title until the Rhinos came to destroy their hopes.  The massive disappointment should make Tony Smith’s side even more determined to finish the job in 2012. With the team taking a 3-week pre-season trip to Australia ahead of the new season, Smith is determined for his squad to be ready for when the crunch games arrive this time around.

Squad-wise they look once again to be the strongest in the competition with new signings making them look even stronger than last year. Dynamic Second-rower Trent Waterhouse could prove an effective replacement for outgoing Louis Anderson whilst the signing of Stefan Ratchford from Salford ensures that Tony Smith has one of the brightest prospects in the English game at his disposal. Also Chris Hill makes the step up to Super League to join the formidable Warrington pack. With a big point to prove, they look poised to be the team to beat once more and with several key players over the age of 30 it may well be a case of now or never for the Wolves.

2012 LSMedia Prediction: 1^st & Grand Final Winners

• Wigan Warriors

2011 finish: Play-Off Semi-Finalists (2^nd in league)

2012 sees a new regime at the helm at the DW Stadium with Shaun Wane making the step up to succeed Michael Maguire as Head Coach. Denied the chance of doing the double last year as they were eliminated by St Helens in last year’s play-offs, Wane has already publicly expressed his ambitious plans for the season ahead. Whilst difficult to imagine them shifting away from the mechanical ’wrestling’ defensive tactics which underlined much of their success under Maguire, Wane will no doubt be keen to set his own stamp upon the team, citing that a more expansive attacking game will be in evidence at the DW this term.

Transfer activity has been pretty low-key in the off-season. New additions do include temperamental impact prop Epalahame Luaki from Hull FC, along with former Crusaders duo Gil Dudson and Ben Flower, with unknown 20-year old Cook Island centre Anthony Gelling completing Wane’s off-season recruitment. With the losses of Joel Tomkins to Rugby Union and mainstay second row Ryan Hoffman back to the NRL as well as the retirement of Andy Coley, several of the clubs’ Academy products have been promoted within the squad. With some new youngsters also expected to make their debuts throughout the year the club may be going through a mini-transitional period through Wane’s first season. However, the usual danger men should still see the Warriors remain there or thereabouts come the end of the season.

2012 LSMedia Prediction: 3^rd

Widnes Vikings

After 6 seasons in the wilderness of the lower league, Widnes Vikings make a return to the ‘Promised Land’ in 2012 after the club was given the nod for a Super League license last March. Since the announcement the club has prepared vigorously for their return to the top tier with coach Dennis Betts virtually assembling an entirely new squad for the season ahead with 15 signings been made. Plenty of Super League experience exists in the line-up with some key figures including former Wigan fullback Shaun Briscoe and hooker Scott Moore signing from St Helens.  While it may take some time for the team to gel pre-season performances have been positive. The Vikings will already make history becoming the first club to play on an artificial pitch as the Stobart Stadium has had an innovative I-pitch laid. Although their first season will see them finding their feet back in Super League, they have a squad certainly comparable with others around them. The depth of the squad may be tested later in the season as injuries take their toll but with some winnable fixtures coming early on in the season, avoiding bottom spot could well be achievable.

2012 LSMedia Prediction: 12^th

Elsewhere, reigning champions Leeds Rhinos should provide the biggest challenge from across the Pennines. The departure of Danny Buderus is a significant loss but they still have many big game players still in the side who have been there and done it all before. They may not be the most consistent team through the league season, but can still feel confident of providing a real threat come play-off time.

LSMedia Prediction: 4^th & Play-Off Semi-Final

• Departing Huddersfield Giants coach Nathan Brown will want to end his spell at the club on a high. After turning the Giants into regular play-off competitors they will want to shirk off the tag of ’nearly men’ and pick up some silverware. With others around them strengthening they may well end up just on the periphery once again.

LSMedia Prediction: 7^th

• Catalans Dragons will also be looking to continue their progression under the tutelage of Trent Robinson after finishing an impressive 6^thlast season before a 44-0 play-off hammering brought the year to an underwhelming end. Ex-Saint Leon Pryce is the major signing and another positive season in the top half should lie in store for the Perpignan club and they will hope to become genuine contenders in the big games this time.

LSMedia  Prediction: 6^th & Play-Off Semi Final

• An interesting year lies ahead for the city of Kingston-upon-Hull with both clubs bringing in new coaches. Peter Gentle takes the reins at Hull FC and with the club having new ambitious ownership and a raft of new signings joining the team, a new era dawns at the KC Stadium. Keen to put recent underachievement and the Martin Gleeson scandal behind them they could be one club to mount a serious threat to the top order.

LSMedia Prediction: 5^th

• East of the river, Hull KR new coach Craig Sandercock will want to make a good impression and continue the progression of predecessor Justin Morgan. However, with Michael Vella and Clint Newton departing the squad looks weaker. Already injury news has disrupted them with inspirational Ben Galea missing the start of the seaso and stand-off Blake Green is set to miss much of the season with a blood clot in his leg. This leaves much pressure on the shoulders of Michael Dobson once again and a tough year could lie in store at Craven Park.

LSMedia Prediction: 10^th

The Australian returns to Super League for the first time since his sacking at Wigan in 2006

• One of Super League’s most controversial and colourful characters makes a return as former St Helens and Wigan boss Ian Millward (pictured, right) takes over at Castleford Tigers as the club aims to make its first play-off appearance in three seasons. The long-term contract extension signed by Man of Steel Rangi Chase is a huge boost and the raft of steady local products within the squad could see them extend their season beyond the regular league campaign.

LSMedia Prediction: 8^th

• Wakefield Trinity Wildcats have almost an entirely new playing roster for 2012 as well as incoming coach Richard Agar. After being tipped by many to lose out on a Super League license last year before the Crusaders’ withdrawal probably saved them, the club will look for a year of stability. Similar to Widnes a it could be a  year to build as the players familiarise themselves with their new team-mates. Also off-field events may take priority as the club awaits on planning permission to build a new stadium.

LSMedia Prediction: 13^th

• Former Super League powerhouses Bradford Bulls have become a shadow of their former selves with bottom-half finishes becoming the norm over recent years at Odsal. The lack of high profile signings and the departure of former captain Andy Lynch to Hull FC could result in their play-off drought continuing.

LSMedia Prediction: 11^th

• Super League’s Capital city club has undergone another re-brand returning to the London Broncos moniker after six seasons sharing the brand of their Rugby Union co-tenants Harlequins. It will be hoped that the new chapter under the name most synonymous with London Rugby League will improve the club’s floundering fortunes both on and off the field. Several new signings from overseas including most notably former Australian international halfback Craig Gower makes them look stronger as a lack of squad depth and an over-reliance on local youngsters has seen the team struggle in recent years. A year of improvement should lie ahead for Rob Powell’s second year in charge.

LSMedia Prediction: 9^th

• Salford City Reds are another club embarking on a new era as they move into the new Salford City stadium on the outskirts of Manchester. The arriving new dawn has had a heavy cloud obscuring it of late, with coach Matt Parish jumping ship in the off-season after only joining the club last summer, raising questions over club management among the fans. The loss of Ratcford sees another promising talent leave the club and Phil Vievers looks to have a big job on his hands in his first season as a head coach.

LSMedia Prediction: 14^th

Simon Mulligan