The new Rugby League season will begin in under two months, with Championship supporters hopeful and optimistic that 2018 will be their year that they finally reach the 'promised land' of Super League. But, which sides are in with a shot of doing the business in 2018?
Leigh Centurions
After starting the 2017 Super League season quite brightly with three wins from six, newly-promoted Leigh found the pace of the top flight too much to handle. And, with eight losses in a row, their slide down the table began to look ominous. Though the Centurions did not actually finish bottom - instead Widnes did - they could not escape the Middle 8s Qualifiers and succumbed to a heartbreaking home defeat against Catalans Dragons in the Million-Pound Game to return to the Championship after just one season in the top flight.
However, Leigh, instead of capitulating, have rallied. With Chairman Derek Beaumont investing heavily in new and existing players and with Neil Jukes still at the helm, Leigh arguably are better equipped for Super League now than they were in 2017. Exciting signings in the shape of NRL sextet, Peter Mata'utia, Drew Hutchison, Paterika Vaivai, Daniel Mortimer, Bodene Thompson and Kyle Lovett, alongside up-and-coming English talent such as Jonah Cunningham, Nathan Mason, Greg Richards and Nick Gregson, Leigh have a very strong squad. And, with seasoned Super League pros Larne Patrick, Craig Hall, Ben Crooks, Kevin Larroyer, Harrison Hansen and Jordan Thompson swelling the ranks, the Centurions have the experience that they need if they are to bounce back to Super League once more.
London Broncos
London Broncos enjoyed a remarkable 2017, finishing second to Hull KR by just three points. With Andrew Henderson as head coach, the Broncos were a force to be reckoned with and ended the Championship season with a +426 points difference and five points clear of nearest challengers, Featherstone Rovers. However, the Qualifiers proved to be a step too far and, despite narrowly missing out by just a few points in many of their games, the Broncos finished sixth in the Middle 8s with just one win and a draw from their seven matches.
If London do reach the top four of the Championship once more in 2018, can they learn from this past, disappointing experience and go one better?
London will also have to do it much tougher in 2018; with Henderson moving to Warrington Wolves to be Steve Price's new assistant coach and with many key players such as hooker Andy Ackers, halfback William Barthau and prop Junior Roqica among the nine departing the capital club ahead of 2018, was 2017 perhaps London's best chance of earning promotion?
Only time will tell, but, as former player Danny Ward takes over as head coach and with former Super League players Matty Fleming and John Boudebza coming in to the side, 2018 could be very much hit or miss for the Broncos. If the club get it right however, they will surely trouble Super League's bottom four come the Qualifiers.
Toronto Wolfpack
The side making all the headlines, the Toronto Wolfpack, head into the 2018 Championship season in buoyant mood. Following their demolition of all League One challengers, Toronto are being tipped to take the Championship by storm too. Following their 2017 season, the Wolfpack have splashed the cash to bring in ten new signings, the majority with Super League or NRL experience.
The likes of wily halfback Josh McCrone and powerhouse forward Dave Taylor provide experience and NRL pedigree whilst Ashton Sims, Cory Paterson, Joe Westerman and Sam Hopkins come with talent and skill in abundance.
Even more promising for Toronto, London's star of 2017, Andy Ackers, will link up with the Canadian side ahead of 2018. For the Wolfpack, it remains to be seen whether or not they can replicate their League One form in the Championship; the Championship is on a different level to League One and Toronto cannot expect to just breeze through 2018 like they did 2017. But, with a base found in Manchester from which to train and live whilst in England and a squad capable of making a strong push for the top four, Toronto are definitely ones to watch in 2018.
Featherstone Rovers
Although part-time, Featherstone Rovers are still one of the most consistent performers in the Championship. In the two seasons where the new Middle 8s structure has been present, Rovers have finished in the top four both times. However, when facing full-time Super League sides, Rovers have simply been overwhelmed by the fast pace, the skill level and the stamina of the top flight teams and, with just one win from 14 Middle 8s matches, Featherstone's form at the business end of the season has been nothing to write home about in recent years. Yet, could 2018 be different?
John Duffy, having been brought in as head coach just one game before the Middle 8s, is now settled and has a full pre-season to work with his squad.
And, with a squad now boasting Super League quality and experience in the shape of former Leigh and Castleford halfbacks Martin Ridyard and Tom Holmes respectively and former Castleford forward Scott Wheeldon, alongside existing former top flight players in Frankie Mariano, Richard Moore, Darrell Griffin and Jason Walton, Rovers have the team to cause a few upsets. But, is it really possible that a part-time team could make it to Super League?
Toulouse Olympique
A team that finished fifth in the Championship is a perhaps surprise inclusion in this list. However, Toulouse are slowly but surely pulling things together. 2017 was the French side's first season in the Championship after earning promotion in 2016 from League One.
A fifth-placed finish - narrowly missing out on the Middle 8s - was therefore nothing to grumble at.
And, Toulouse have added to an already impressive squad featuring the likes of French internationals Mark Kheirallah and Bastien Ader. London Broncos' William Barthau and Huddersfield Giants' Sam Rapira - both experienced players with an abundance of talent - join a squad full of young, eager French talent that run their blood to water for coach Sylvain Houles. And, with the club strengthening its structures and organisation off-the-field to a Super League quality, Toulouse - now a full-time side - have laid the proper foundations for a potentially impressive charge to the top flight.
