Wigan can hold off the challenge of Warrington and retain their crown

Dave Hadfield runs the rule over this season's Super League sides

Bradford Bulls

Coach: Mick Potter (replaces Steve McNamara).

In: Elima (Catalans), Diskin (Leeds), Briggs (Featherstone), Walker (Hull KR), Ainscough (Wigan), Ah Van (NZ Warriors), Hargreaves (St Helens), Sibbit (Salford), Raynor (Crusaders), Royston (Halifax), Herbert (Canberra).

Out: Nero, Godwin (both Salford), Menzies (Catalans), Wardle (Huddersfield), Reardon (Crusaders), Worrincy (Penrith), Burgess (South Sydney), Orford (Canberra), Hall (North Queensland), Sculthorpe (Widnes), Sheriffe (Newcastle RU).

Prospects: With almost a full team in and a full team out, it is a case of into the unknown for the Bulls. No sign yet of their once-fearsome forward power.

Main man: Bulls fans will pray Marc Herbert is the organiser they need.

Up and coming: James Donaldson stood out among the young forwards last year.

Last season: 10th

Dave Hadfield's: prediction 8th

Castleford Tigers

Coach: Terry Matterson (since 2007).

In: Mathers (Warrington), Aspinwall (Huddersfield), Isa (Melbourne), Orr (Harlequins), Youngquest (Crusaders), Fozzard, Emmitt (both St Helens).

Out: Shenton (St Helens), Westerman (Hull), Wainwright (Dewsbury), Higgins (Sheffield), Clayton (Halifax), Sargent, Evans (both retired), Massey, Davies (both York, loan).

Prospects: Cas have lost a couple of obvious stars and much will depend on whether the returning Danny Orr can regularly bring the best out of Rangi Chase.

Main man: Orr can give the Tigers the strategic brain they have lacked over the last couple of seasons.

Up and coming: Adam Milner will be putting on the pressure for a regular spot at hooker.

Last season: 9th

Prediction: 10th

Catalan Dragons

Coach: Trent Robinson (replaces Kevin Walters).

In: Duport (Toulouse), Henderson (NZ Warriors), Baitieri, Paea (both Sydney), Blanch (Wakefield), Dureau (Newcastle), Farrar (Manly), Menzies (Bradford).

Out: Elima (Bradford), Pelo (Montpellier RU), A Bentley (Lezignan), K Bentley (Pia), Johnson (North Queensland), Touxagas (UTC), McGuire, Walker (both Parramatta), Carlaw (Brisbane), Sherwin (released), Guisset, Bell (both retired).

Prospects: All change in Perpignan after a depressing last place in 2010. New coach Robinson will run a tighter ship and will hopefully get better value from his imports.

Main man: If Thomas Bosc is fit, he makes a huge difference near the try-line.

Up and coming: William Barthau has shown glimpses of exceptional talent.

Last season: 14th

Prediction: 11th

Crusaders

Coach: Iestyn Harris (replaces Brian Noble).

In: Reardon (Bradford), Moore, Johnson (both Wakefield), Cahill (Newcastle).

Out: Raynor (Bradford), Hauraki (Leeds), Youngquest (Castleford), Blackwood (Limoux), Lee (Wakefield), Dyer (Central Coast), Thackray (Barrow), Trimarchi (released).

Prospects: Making the play-offs last time was an achievement. To do so this time, after a winter of upheaval and a four-point deduction, would be a miracle.

Main man: Michael Witt's return to fitness creates a mouth-watering half-back combination with Jarrod Sammut.

Up and coming: Lloyd White could be the best of a healthy crop of young Welsh players.

Last season: 8th

Prediction: 12th

Harlequins

Coach: Rob Powell (replaces Brian McDermott).

In: Bailey (Manly), Kouparitsas (Roosters), Ambler (Leeds, loan), Burnett (Hull, loan), Calderwood (Hull, trial), Mellor, Pryce (both Wigan, loan), Latus (Hull KR, trial).

Out: Williamson (retired), Jones-Bishop (Leeds, returned), McCarthy-Scarsbook (St Helens), Sharp (Hull), Orr (Castleford).

Prospects: With their coach and several of their brighter lights gone, it is hard to see beyond another season of struggle for Quins.

Main man: Chad Randall has been a strength at hooker, but now he is needed at scrum-half.

Up and coming: Olsi Krasniqi, a powerful young man of Albanian stock, could shine in the pack.

Last season: 13th

Prediction: 13th

Huddersfield Giants

Coach: Nathan Brown (since 2009).

In: O'Donnell (North Queensland), Simpson (South Sydney), Wardle (Bradford).

Out: Wild (Salford), Aspinwall (Castleford), Hodgson (Warrington), Finnigan (Widnes), Drew (released).

Prospects: Much will depend on how well the Giants cover for the loss of Brett Hodgson and on the continuing development of their young players.

Main man: Kevin Brown has a lot of responsibility on his shoulders as stand-off and new captain.

Up and coming: Jermaine McGillvary showed great potential on the wing at the end of last season.

Last season: 5th

Prediction: 5th

Hull FC

Coach: Richard Agar (since 2008).

In: Westerman (Castleford), Sharp (Harlequins).

Out: Hall (Hull KR), Burnett (Harlequins, loan), Calderwood (released), Berrigan (NZ Warriors), Cusack (retired).

Prospects: Always hard to beat at the KC Stadium, but the squad looks too thin in too many areas to mount a real challenge for honours.

Main man: Australian forward Craig Fitzgibbon should prove to be an inspiring captain.

Up and coming: Reece Lyne has the makings of a top-notch winger.

Last season: 6th

Prediction: 7th

Hull Kingston Rovers

Coach: Justin Morgan (since 2006).

In: Mason (North Queensland), Green (Canterbury), Hall (Hull).

Out: Walker (Bradford), I'Anson (Widnes), Mariano (Wakefield), Ratu (Halifax), Latus (Harlequins, loan), Mills (Leigh).

Prospects: The continued non-arrival of Willie Mason is a distraction, but the Robins look ominously strong in the forwards, even without him.

Main man: Blake Green has been brought over to fill the problem stand-off position.

Up and coming: Liam Watts is a rare Englishman in the pack and one with even rarer ball skills.

Last season: 7th

Prediction: 6th

Leeds Rhinos

Coach: Brian McDermott (replaces Brian McLennan).

In: Hauraki (Crusaders), Cross (Newcastle), Kettlewell (Gloucester RU), Jones-Bishop (returned from Harlequins, loan).

Out: Diskin (Bradford), Eastwood (Bulldogs), Donald (retired), Ambler (Harlequins).

Prospects: It will be novel for Leeds not to be defending their Super League crown, but it could be a liberating experience for them. Thin at half-back and not over-blessed with young players ready for promotion.

Main man: Danny Buderus is now unchallenged as number one hooker and dummy half.

Up and coming: Kallum Watkins looks an exciting prospect.

Last season: 4th

Prediction: 4th

Salford City Reds

Coach: Shaun McRea (since 2007).

In: Smith (St Helens), Wild (Huddersfield), Patten (Bulldogs) Nero, Godwin (both Bradford), Palea'aesina, Bailey (both Wigan), Anderson, Neal (both Warrington), Gleeson (Wakefield).

Out: Talau, Alker (both retired), Leuluai (Lezignan), Swain (Carcassonne), Littler (Leigh), Smith (Wakefield), Fitzpatrick (Preston RU), Sibbit (Bradford), Tyrer (Widnes).

Prospects: No one has invested more heavily in experience than Salford, in their last year at The Willows. The potential is there for a marked improvement.

Man man: Luke Patten has the class and know-how to be a major influence.

Up and coming: They need to find a position for Stefan Ratchford and his unorthodoxy.

Last season: 12th

Prediction: 9th

St Helens

Coach: Royce Simmons (replaces Mick Potter).

In: Shenton (Castleford), McCarthy-Scarsbrook (Harlequins), Perry (Manly).

Out: Cunningham, Gidley (both retired), Smith (Salford), Fozzard, Emmitt (both Castleford), Johnson, Dean (both Wakefield), Ellis (Leigh), Fa'asavalu (Harlequins RU), Frodsham (Widnes, loan).

Prospects: It could be rather an unsettled season for Saints, with Keiron Cunningham and Knowsley Road both gone – plus a new coach in place.

Main man: James Roby will have to lift his game to an even higher level to make up for the loss of Cunningham.

Up and coming: The versatile Jonny Lomax should get plenty of game time.

Last season: 2nd

Prediction: 3rd

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats

Coach: John Kear (since 2006).

In: Penny (Warrington), Mariano (Hull KR), Dean, Johnson (both St Helens), Lee (Crusaders), Veivers, Howarth (Wigan), Smith (Salford), Tony (Whitehaven).

Out: Leo-Latu, Cooke (both released), Gleeson (Salford), Johnson, Moore (both Crusaders), Blanch (Catalans), Demetriou (Keighley), Bibb (Dewsbury).

Prospects: Even with new owners their squad is too thin, and with a likely six-point deduction and the Super League axe looming, it will be astonishing if Wakefield avoid the wooden spoon.

Main man: The experience and leadership of Glenn Morrison will be vital in holding the team together.

Up and coming: Luke George, if he can stay fit, knows how to score a try.

Last season: 11th

Prediction: 14th

Warrington Wolves

Coach: Tony Smith (since 2009).

In: Hodgson (Huddersfield), J Monaghan (Canberra).

Out: Mathers (Castleford), Anderson, Neal (both Salford), Penny (Wakefield), Hicks (Parramatta).

Prospects: Good enough to win the Challenge Cup in 2009 and 2010. Good enough to win Super League in 2011? The Wolves are undeniably stronger for the addition of two A-grade newcomers to their roster.

Man man: Signing Brett Hodgson is a sure-fire way of making a good side better.

Up and coming: Rhys Evans looks to have the makings of a quality outside back.

Last season: 3rd

Prediction: 2nd

Wigan Warriors

Coach: Michael Maguire (since 2010).

In: Finch, Lima, Hoffman (all Melbourne).

Out: Riddell (Sydney), Ainscough (Bradford), Palea'aesina, Bailey (both Salford), Veivers, Howarth (both Wakefield), Phelps (released), Pryce (Harlequins, loan).

Prospects: Saving the best for last, Wigan are bound to be stronger for the addition of the Melbourne Three. Maguire and his methods will not be quite the same shock to the rest of the League.

Main man: Sam Tomkins should continue his exciting progress, but as a half-back or full-back?

Up and coming: After his successful stint at Hull KR, Josh Charnley should see some action for Wigan.

Last season: 1st

Prediction: 1st