I have just read fellow web site scribe, Keith Tomlinsons' pre season forecast and it is obvious KT has put a great deal of research and thought into his article.

However, he asked for opinions on his judgements and while I cannot find reasons to blast open his forecast totally I do feel he is slightly off the mark with his vision of where first of all Whitehaven will finish (7th) and Rochdale (1st) and, remarkably, that's about all I can be contrary about at this moment.

My view is that Haven are going to be a wee bit stronger than KT imagines. Okay maybe I'm suffering some delusions from having had recent cracks, at work, with several very confident jammies but I do also believe Mr Cullen to be a shrewd operator and therefore he will probably whip the ex-Warriors into battle hardened subjects as the season progresses, having had to pick up the threads again from a Boxing Day home defeat that is.

And Rochdale as minor premiers? No not for me. Yes as we know here at Workington, too well, when the Hornets buzz they are a delight to watch but I still see them as too inconsistent to collar the top rung of the NFP. My tip is nowhere near as bold as KT's. I say the Centurions will not fall off the pace despite their play off form of the last campaign. Leigh have a lot of fire power and will use it well to top the pile again.

Whatever us amateur tipsters say nothing can alter the fact that this season is sure to be very, very, demanding on all clubs striving for that crucial top nine. Let's hope the lukewarm stay-aways get off butts and attend what should be some top class Rugby League in much larger numbers.

During his piece Keith T also mentioned the almost total demise of Alliance grade football. A situation that I personally deem a retrograde step for the health of pro RL. I see a scenario where too many players will be launched into limbo mode, unsure of when they will get a pass in anger.

Workington Town announced, several weeks ago, that they wished to continue fielding an Alliance team. A brave move given the many financial implications and at first it looked more than likely that at least eight other clubs were in the same frame of mind - including some from Super League. And there lays the stumbling block to such sensible forward thinking by Town and fellow NFP sidekicks i.e.'the SL authorities', who, allegedly, have or are at present vetoing the formation of an Alliance coalition (er, I say Mr Editor is that a double wotsit?) (What? - Ed). Now, of course, the British game has for several years been split into at least three factions, but surely common sense should prevail here. If NFP and SL clubs wish to meet at Alliance level why the hell not?

Next the big nobs will be taking it a step further and barring the NFP from the 'Challenge Cup trail' and, furthermore, even if it is a ridiculous thought, BARLA will then turn the whole RL world upside down by going professional and thereby stemming the flow of talent from their ranks. What?? No, never? Really!!

Oh fiddlesticks with all of the games organisations they give me too much grief, except the wonderful NFP of course, let's look at an issue that really is going to happen now.

Town's friendly on Saturday 17th versus the Scottish Students (do they wear kilts?). This is the one and only serious workout Gary Murdock's charges are to play prior to the December 2nd opener. And it should be of great interest to the loyal Townies given that so many new faces will be on show.

The Town squad, on paper, looks ever more formidable. I have for a few years admired the skills of such as Martin Wood and Brett McDermott having had several references regarding the latter from my ex-boss at the big factory down the road who was a Barrow fan. The young Brett was a teenage sensation in this chaps eyes. I do hope he matures into a Town star.

If, (and yes I know 'if', and 'on paper' are dangerous hypotheses you 'jammies') the team hit it off early season and, like I said last week, "I'm confident they will" then Workington Town may also make Keith Tomlinsons vision of a fourth place finish seem moonshine and we may see Town challenging the Centurions and Giants for the top berth. Did I say Huddersfield to be up there in the NFP table earlier on? I certainly meant to. So hey, Keith T we agree on that, eh?
K.S.