Will Rovers and Huddersfield spring surprise?
HUDDERSFIELD Giants and Hull KR have been tipped to be the surprise packages in the 2021 Super League season.
A Rugby League Live survey asked supporters for their views on a range of subjects as the new campaign comes into view.
Twenty-nine per cent of fans backed Ian Watson’s Huddersfield to surprise the most, just ahead of Rovers who received 28 per cent of the votes.
Super League new boys Leigh Centurions came next with 13 per cent.
But a lot of supporters believe John Duffy’s side are in urgent need of reinforcements, with 38 per cent of respondents saying they need to recruit the most before the season begins.
Wakefield Trinity followed closely behind with 37 per cent of the votes after a quiet off-season on the recruitment front.
By contrast, KR and the Giants have impressed with their recruitment since the end of the 2020 campaign.
Asked which team had done the best business, 23 per cent of fans voted for the Robins and 21 per cent went for Huddersfield.
Rovers have brought in four players from the NRL including Brad Takairangi and Ryan Hall, while new Giants coach Ian Watson has signed the likes of Luke Yates and Ricky Leutele.
St Helens got 16 per cent of the votes after adding NRL recruits Joel Thompson, Agnatius Paasi and Sione Mata’utia to Kristian Woolf’s title-winning squad.
Hull FC have made only one new signing but it is the best of the off-season, according to voters.
Australian half-back Josh Reynolds claimed 34 per cent of the votes, ahead of John Bateman
(25 per cent) following his return to Wigan Warriors.
Twenty-two per cent of fans voted for Warrington Wolves new boy Greg Inglis and Hall came next with eight per cent.