KEY POINTS:
Glory years: 1979
2006 finish: 12th (W1 D1 L7)
Best result: Lost 20-23 to Waikato in Hamilton in round four.
Worst result: Humiliated 51-29 by Hawkes Bay in Napier in round two.
Dearly departed: Kevin Farrell, Blair Feeney, Koiatu Koiatu, Mark Lawson, Junior Leota, Luke Mealamu, Ben Meyer, Sione Sione.
Holidaying in France: None.
New kids on the block: Dave Duley, Sione Kepu, August Lee, Simione Saravanua, Nigel Staniforth, Chad Tuoro, Tanner Vili.
Old stagers: Hooker Grant Henson has made 72 appearances for the union. Centre Niva Ta'auso didn't come down in the last shower either, having trotted out 56 times.
Shooting star: Midfield back Lelia 'Flash' Masaga top-scored with five tries last season and has looked sharp pre-season.
Coaches count: Kevin Putt will be hoping for an improvement on last season, when his team ran a few sides close but managed only one victory.
Quirks of the draw: Nightmare start to the season with Auckland, Canterbury, Waikato and Wellington all on the calender during the first six weeks. An easier second-half draw but unless there's a new Jonah and Joeli lurking in their ranks, they'll be goneburgers by the end of August. Home: Canterbury, North Harbour, Hawkes Bay, Wellington, Taranaki. Away: Auckland, Waikato, Southland, Manawatu, Northland. Not playing: Otago, Bay of Plenty, Tasman.
Scouting report
Lost a close one to Harbour before being belted 85-34 by Wellington. Turned things around with a 28-17 win over Northland in their final pre-season hitout. Last year's halfback Ben Meyer and first-five Blair Feeney are gone, while veteran Samoan international Tanner Vili and Nigel Staniforth - younger brother of Scott - are the major recruits.
Prospects
Putt has named a squad with 17 untried players, which would suggest he wasn't too thrilled with last year's bunch. They may have troubled Otago and Waikato last year on their return to the top flight but the bottom line is they beat only Southland. Captain Kristian Ormsby can be expected to lead from the front but how many able soldiers he has backing him up is questionable. Some of the new blokes will have to be superstars of the future if the Steelers are to push for a playoff place.
Prediction: 10th. Should improve on last year, but that won't be hard.
