Super League gets under way again this week and what a clash for the opening round. Wigan is going to be a very tough fixture for us. They will obviously be still smarting from our victory over them in the Grand Final and will see this as a way of avenging that

defeat.

Of course last season will not make any difference as that is gone but they will not see it that way. We will be just focusing on playing well and when we do that we know we are capable of beating anyone.

Training has gone well this week but the weather has made it difficult to get on the grass. We have been using the all weather pitch at Bradford University and that is all we can do. It is a great facility and we would be snookered without it.

We have never won at the JJB and that is something that we could do with putting right but we know that Wigan away is always a difficult task.

They have strengthened well and look like a good side. They obviously played well in France last weekend and it was no surprise that they won convincingly. Craig Smith and Julian O'Neill look good signings for them and they have some strength in depth.

I think it will be a good competition this season. Most sides look capable of beating anyone else and we have seen already that Leeds have beaten us in cup but lost to Widnes in South Africa so there could be some highly competitive games this time.

This year we have a Top Six play off format and that will make it even more interesting as we approach the back end of the season. It certainly opens the door for another team and will strengthen the competition.

One player who won't be appearing for a few weeks is Leon Pryce. He has to sit out his suspension for four weeks and he has had a lot of

press regarding this because the RFU seem frightened to hand out any punishment to Martin Johnson.

The RFL may have some work to do in some area but in this one they are head and shoulders above the RFU. Leon has been working really hard and he is looking very trim. I am sure that he will be back with a bang.

As I predicted there were no shocks in the Kellogg's Nutri-Grain Challenge Cup. All the big guns went through and I was delighted to see 'Sprogger' Spruce having a run out, or should it be a wade out, with Widnes!

He looked sharp when he came on and I am looking forward to seeing him again when we play Widnes in Round Three. The next round has kept the big three apart and I expect Leeds, Wigan and St Helens to be joined by Castleford in the semi-finals.

What's going on at Elland Road? We just don't seem to be able to win a game at the moment and I am hoping things change before the UEFA Cup game this week. It is looking like it is going to be our best route into Europe if this sort of form in the League continues. I don't know what's wrong at the moment but it needs sorting out soon or a season that promised so much will end in disappointment.

This week's Matt Elliott Award for the 'Most Miserable Man of the Week' goes to our Media and Football Manager, Stuart Duffy. He has just taken over the Football bit from Steve Fairhurst and one of his roles is to look after the cars and the insurance.

Last Thursday he arranged for Conditioner Martin Clawson to have his windscreen replaced. He asked Martin to be here at 8.30 and he was seen at 9am walking up Cleckheaton Road. He had run out of petrol.

He didn't have enough money so he had to borrow £10 from Stuart. He was late setting off to take the car and that meant it wouldn't be ready until late afternoon.

He took Martin back again at 4.30pm and as it was an insurance job, he though that would be the end of the matter. But when the insurance pays, the company has to pay the VAT.

When a payment of £59 was demanded before the car could be taken Martin kept his hands in his pocket and Stuart was forced to pay for that as well!

He has been moaning about it ever since and Martin, who is from Featherstone, so it is to be expected of him, is keeping a low profile!

I'll see you all at Wigan.