STEFAN Ratchford believes the number of squad changes across Super League will make for an exciting season.

His former club Salford Red Devils are the big movers, with 14 recruits, while eight other contenders have at least five newcomers.

The 25-year-old, who has taken over Wolves’ number six shirt from Lee Briers this year, said: “There has been a really big turnover.

“You do usually get three or four per team but this year many have signed six to eight players.

“I think it will be good for the game.

“Some of the sides that are probably classed as lesser teams have made some high profile signings so I think it is going to be a really competitive season and there will be a few shocks along the way.”

He feels results that could have been predicted in past seasons may not be as easy to do so this time round and added: “It will make for a really good year.”

Ratchford feels Salford could be dark horses in the hunt for honours, while he feels Hull FC, Castleford Tigers and St Helens could make great strides this year too.

“The squad that Salford have assembled has been a revelation really and they will be looking to go well,” said Ratchford, who had five seasons with the newly branded Red Devils before joining Tony Smith’s revolution in 2012.

“Hull have made a lot of signings having already pushed on over the past couple of years including reaching the Challenge Cup Final last year, so they’re going to be one of the sides to watch for.

“And I think if Cas can keep everyone fit they can be a strong side, especially at home where they’ve always been a good side.

“I think Saints are looking to dominate in the forwards this year and it’ll be interesting to see how they go with half backs who’ll be playing on the back of a big forward pack.

“I’m sure, after the last couple of years without winning any trophies, they’ll be looking to get back to their winning ways.”

Super League 2014 squad changes, including length of contracts for new signings

Bradford Bulls, coach Francis Cummins

Signings (5): Garreth Carvell (Warrington Wolves, 2015), Dale Ferguson (Huddersfield Giants, 2015), Lee Gaskell (St Helens, 2015), Luke George (Huddersfield Giants, 2015), Adam Henry (Sydney Roosters, 2015)

Out: John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Garreth Carvell (Hull), Heath L'Estrange (Sydney Roosters), Jamie Langley (Hull Kingston Rovers), Keith Lulia (Wests Tigers), Curtis Naughton (Sydney Roosters), Michael Platt (Crusaders).

Castleford Tigers, coach Daryl Powell

Signings (8): Luke Dorn (London Broncos, 2015), Liam Finn (Featherstone Rovers, 2014), Ashley Gibson (Salford Red Devils, 2015), Andy Lynch (Hull FC, 2015), Frankie Mariano (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2014), Brett Seymour (Hull FC, 2014), Mark Sneyd (Salford Red Devils, 2014 loan), Scott Wheeldon (London Broncos, 2015).

Out: Rangi Chase (Salford Red Devils), Jordan Thompson (Hull FC), Jonathan Walker (Hull Kingston Rovers)

Catalan Dragons, coach Laurent Frayssinous

Signings (3): Jeff Lima (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2016), Michael Oldfield (Sydney Roosters, 2015), Ben Pomeroy (Cronulla Sharks, 2015)

Out: Remi Casty (Sydney Roosters), Steve Menzies (retired)

Huddersfield Giants, coach Paul Anderson

Signings (4): Chris Bailey (London Broncos, 2015), Jodie Broughton (Salford Red Devils, 2017), Antonio Kaufusi (London Broncos, 2015), Kyle Wood (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2016)

Out: Jamie Cording (Featherstone Rovers), Matthew Dawson (St Helens), Dale Ferguson (Bradford Bulls), Stuart Fielden (retired), Luke George (Bradford Bulls)

Hull FC, coach Lee Radford

Signings (8): Tom Biggs (Bath, 2016), Garreth Carvell (Bradford Bulls), Mickey Paea (Hull Kingston Rovers, 2015), Iafeta Palea'aesina (2015), Jordan Rankin (Gold Coast Titans, 2015), Fetuli Talanoa (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2015), Jordan Thompson (Castleford Tigers, 2015), Chris Tuson (Wigan Warriors, 2015)

Out: Tom Briscoe (Leeds Rhinos), Ben Galea (retired), Daniel Holdsworth (Cronulla Sharks), Paul Johnson (Widnes Vikings), Andy Lynch (Castleford Tigers), Mark O'Meley (retired), Danny Tickle (Widnes Vikings)

Hull Kingston Rovers, coach Craig Sandercock

Signings (7): Ben Cockayne (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2015), Neville Costigan (Newcastle Knights, 2015), Kris Keating (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2016), Jamie Langley (Bradford Bulls, 2015), Justin Poore (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2015), Jonathan Walker (Castleford Tigers, 2016), Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2015)

Out: Richard Beaumont (St Helens), Alex Brown (Leigh Centurions), Michael Dobson (Newcastle Knights), George Griffin (London Broncos), Danny Nicklas (Doncaster), Ryan O'Hara (Lezignan), Mickey Paea (Hull FC), Cory Paterson (Wests Tigers)

Leeds Rhinos, coach Brian McDermott

Signings (3): Paul Aiton (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2016), Tom Briscoe (Hull FC, 2018), Andy Yates (Hunslet Hawks, 2015)

Out: Luke Briscoe (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, loan), James Duckworth (London Broncos, loan), Alex Foster (London Broncos, loan), Jimmy Keinhorst (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, loan), Paul McShane (Wakefield Wildcats), Richard Moore (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats), Thomas Minns (London Broncos, loan)

London Broncos, coach Tony Rea

Signings (8): James Duckworth (Leeds Rhinos, 2014 loan), Alex Foster (Leeds Rhinos, 2014 loan), George Griffin (Hull Kingston Rovers, 2014), Nesiasi Mataitonga (Cronulla Sharks, 2014), Thomas Minns (Leeds Rhinos, 2014 loan), Scott Moore (North Queensland Cowboys, 2014), Nick Slyney (Brisbane Broncos, 2014), Denny Solomona (Melbourne Storm, 2014)

Out: Chris Bailey (Huddersfield Giants), Mark Bryant (retired), Tony Clubb (Wigan Warriors), Luke Dorn (Castleford Tigers), Ben Fisher (retired), Shane Grady (Dewsbury Rams), Antonio Kaufusi (Huddersfield Giants), Tommy Lee (Salford Red Devils), Jamie O'Callaghan (London Skolars), Chad Randall (retired), Dan Sarginson (Wigan Warriors), Jamie Soward (Penrith Panthers), Scott Wheeldon (Castleford Tigers), Michael Witt (St George Illawarra Dragons)

Salford Red Devils, coach Brian Noble

Signings (14): Rangi Chase (Castleford Tigers, 2017), Harrison Hansen (Wigan Warriors, 2017), Gareth Hock (Wigan Warriors, 2017), Greg Johnson (Batley Bulldogs, 2014), Tommy Lee (London Broncos, 2014), Francis Meli (St Helens, 2014), Adrian Morley (Warrington Wolves, 2014), Jake Mullaney (Parramatta Eels, 2014), Tony Puletua (St Helens, 2015), Steve Rapira (New Zealand Warriors, 2015), Junior Sa'u (Melbourne Storm, 2015), Tim Smith (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2014), Lama Tasi (Brisbane Broncos, 2015), Paul Walton (Batley Bulldogs, 2014)

Out: Ryan Boyle (Castleford Tigers), Jodie Broughton (Huddersfield Giants), Liam Foran (Parramatta Eels), Ashley Gibson (Castleford Tigers), Jordan James (Wigan Warriors), Marc Sneyd (Castleford Tigers, loan) Stephen Wild (North Wales Crusaders)

St Helens, coach Nathan Brown

Signings (5): Kyle Amor (Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, 2017), Richard Beaumont (Hull Kingston Rovers, 2015), Matthew Dawson (Huddersfield Giants, 2015), Mose Masoe (Penrith Panthers, 2015), Luke Walsh (Penrith Panthers, 2016)

Out: Lee Gaskell (Bradford Bulls), Francis Meli (Salford Red Devils), Josh Perry (retired), Tony Puletua (Salford Red Devils)

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, coach Richard Agar

Signings (7): Scott Anderson (Brisbane Broncos, 2014), Pita Godinet (New Zealand Warriors, 2015), Paul McShane (Leeds Rhinos, 2015), Richard Moore (Leeds Rhinos, 2014), Matt Ryan (Parramatta Eels, 2015), Daniel Smith (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2015), Taulima Tautai (Parramatta Eels, 2014)

Out: Paul Aiton (Leeds Rhinos), Kyle Amor (St Helens), Ben Cockayne (Hull Kingston Rovers), Danny Cowling (Halifax), Liam Kay (Leigh Centurions), Frankie Mariano (Castleford Tigers), Justin Poore (Hull Kingston Rovers), Tim Smith (Salford Red Devils), Oliver Wilkes (Leigh), Kyle Wood (Huddersfield Giants)

Warrington Wolves, coach Tony Smith

Signings (4): Roy Asotasi (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2015), Anthony England (Featherstone Rovers, 2015), Kevin Penny (Swinton Lions, 2016), Matthew Russell (Gold Coast Titans, 2015)

Out: Gavin Bennion (Featherstone Rovers, loan), Lee Briers (retired), Garreth Carvell (Bradford Bulls), Mike Cooper (St George Illawarra Dragons), Brett Hodgson (retired), Tyrone McCarthy (Northern Pride), James Mendeika (Featherstone Rovers), Adrian Morley (Salford Red Devils), Rhys Williams (CQ Capras)

Widnes Vikings, coach Denis Betts

Signings (4): Liam Carberry (Wigan Warriors, 2014), Danny Galea (Canterbury Bulldogs, 2014), Paul Johnson (Hull FC, 2014), Danny Tickle (Hull FC, 2016)

Out: Ben Cross (retired), Frank Winterstein (unattached)

Wigan Warriors, coach Shaun Wane

Signings (7): John Bateman (Bradford Bulls, 2017), Matt Bowen (North Queensland Cowboys, 2015), Tony Clubb (London Broncos, 2017), Sam Hopkins (Leigh Centurions, 2015), Jordan James (Salford Red Devils, 2014), Eddy Pettybourne (Wests Tigers, 2015), Dan Sarginson (London Broncos, 2015)

Out: Liam Carberry (Widnes Vikings), Harrison Hansen (Salford Red Devils), Gareth Hock (Salford Red Devils), Lee Mossop (Parramatta Eels), Paul Prescott (retired), Pat Richards (Wests Tigers), Tom Spencer (Leigh Centurions), Sam Tomkins (New Zealand Warriors), Chris Tuson (Hull FC)

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