SO IT is possible to make the rugby league world sit up and take notice then.

Since the steady and then dramatic demise of Bradford Bulls, the last few seasons have seen the bookmakers struggle to look beyond the Wigan, St Helens and Leeds triumvirate when it comes to setting the odds for Super League.

And as the bookies have a living to make out of all this it is hardly surprising, but it is always good to see a new name make a breakthrough.

So when the odds for this season’s competition were announced by William Hill this week it was gratifying to see Challenge Cup holders Warrington Wolves pitched as 5/2 favourites for the Super League crown.

Admittedly the Wire were on Wigan’s shoulders in the betting going into the 2012 campaign, but now they are out there on their own.

For Super League XVIII Wigan and Saints are quoted at 3/1 and holders Leeds at 5/1 to retain their crown, but in a way the odds are fitting praise for what Tony Smith has achieved with the Wolves.

I know there must be some Giants fans who look at the situation and think Smith used to be our coach and one of his main generals on the field Brett Hodgson used to be our skipper and harbour some justifiable envy.

However, for Huddersfield supporters it is probably more positive to think ‘but for the grace of God’ that’s where we could be – and having reached two Challenge Cup finals in recent years and become regular participants in the play-offs there is no reason why Huddersfield fans can’t believe that in the near future they could match the Wire.

The Warrington blueprint certainly is one worth looking at.

Smith has been given time to create a squad that tidily combines youth and experience.

You certainly have to be fairly confident about a side that has so many leaders on the pitch.

Just as an example, though I know it will be painful to Giants fans, last season’s Challenge Cup semi-final at Salford saw the Wolves start strongly and then fend off the Giants riposte before cantering away with the game to win 33-6.

This had an awful lot to do with the fact that Hodgson and the talent that is Lee Briers were already on the pitch and then, had anything gone wrong, they could introduce one Adrian Morley from the bench – and let’s face it Mozza is a bone fide legend of the modern game.

The genius of coach Smith is to keep all his inspirational veterans both fit and hungry for success, while still managing to give his younger players every opportunity to shine.

Elsewhere in the odds reigning Man of Steel Sam Tomkins is 5/1 favourite to keep that title with James Roby and Kevin Sinfield being the bookies’ choices to push him all the way, but my tip to shine this term is another of Smith’s men – Stefan Ratchford.

There is something wonderfully unorthodox about the approach of the 24-year-old, who is exotically described as Anglo-Serbian in his player profile, and his ability to do the unexpected is an impressive part of Warrington’s weaponry.

As for the Giants, like my lot Wakefield Trinity, they are not being tipped to win anything.

I am sure it is not a situation Giants head coach Paul Anderson will be concerned about in the slightest because his target will be to ensure that what happens in 2013 will guarantee his side get more than a mention in dispatches when it comes to the odds for 2014.