Christmas is fast approaching and that can only mean one thing: Super League is nearly back.
Boxing Day is the traditional time for friendlies and a chance for fans to see new signings and old favourites in action.
But are there a few clubs who still need a little extra from Santa the day before? We look at each team's Christmas wish list.
Castleford Tigers
Wanted
A 42-try winger, preferably with a hint of legal knowledge.
Why?
Denny Solomona's departure to rugby union and Sale has left a bitter taste, not only in the mouths of Castleford fans but in the sport as a whole.
That contract saga will now be handled in the courts, but it leaves Castleford with a bit of a problem. They're now without a man who scored a record breaking 42 tries last season. How do you replace that with the new season round the corner - that's for Daryl Powell to work out with little time remaining.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Despite Solomona's exit, Castleford's squad looks strong on paper. Zak Hardaker's the marquee name, joining from rivals Leeds on loan, while Luke Gale, fresh from international experience in the Four Nations, will marshal the backs again.
Larne Patrick will add steel in the pack while Michael Shenton will be fit again after missing the whole of 2016 with a knee injury. And can Greg Eden put his spell with the Brisbane Broncos and Wayne Bennett to good effect? Still plenty of reasons to be cheerful for the Tigers.
Catalans Dragons
Wanted
A little more consistency and a little less 'Je ne sais quoi'.
Why?
Another off-season, another player merry-go-round in the south of France. It's seven in, and nine out this winter, including six Frenchmen leaving the club.
While the Dragons have gained new fire in the likes of Greg Bird, Luke Walsh and Sam Moa, they've lost some serious quality too with Dave Taylor, Todd Carney and Glenn Stewart all leaving. Can Laurent Frayssinous afford to underachieve again?
Reasons to be cheerful?
As mentioned above, there is some serious quality joining the 2017 Dragons. Greg Bird has been here before, he knows the Super League standard and is a quality rugby league player.
Luke Walsh, defensive issues aside, is a creative force, while Sam Moa and Luke Burgess will provide plenty of go-forward. Will they win a trophy? Depends on which Catalans turns up.
Huddersfield Giants
Wanted
More quality. And more strength in depth.
Why?
A Danny Brough drop goal stood between Huddersfield and the Million Pound Game. Things needed changing at the Giants. And while eight have gone out of the door, only four have come through it - three from Championship side Bradford and Jake Mamo, a full-back with limited first grade NRL appearances under his belt.
An injury-hit season and the Giants could struggle again.
Reasons to be cheerful?
There is still some quality in the Giants ranks. Brough, Leroy Cudjoe and Jermaine McGillvary all add sparkle in the backs while Sam Rapira, Ryan Hinchcliffe and Tom Symonds provide proven NRL quality in the pack.
If they stay fit and the likes of Kruise Leeming continue to develop, then Huddersfield will certainly improve on last season's efforts. Head coach Rick Stone has had a full pre-season to impress his ideas on his players too.
Hull FC
Wanted
Some end of season gas.
Why?
2016 was a great season for Hull FC but it could have been even better. They broke that Wembley hoodoo and lifted their first piece of silverware since 2005, before burning out at the business end of the campaign.
Lee Radford's side blew the league leaders' shield at home to Warrington, before crashing out of the play-offs at Wigan. The 2017 version will need to peak a little later.
Reasons to be cheerful?
The 2016 heroes are pretty much altogether. Frank Pritchard may have returned to the NRL, with Kirk Yeaman retiring, but the rest of that Challenge Cup winning side all remain. Four new signings have arrived and the standout name is a man plucked from local rivals and recently relegated Hull KR.
On his day, Albert Kelly is a wizard, capable of picking apart any defence. But will the FC fans get the 2016 version that flattered to deceive? It could be the difference between winning more silverware or falling short.
Leeds Rhinos
Wanted
Matt Parcell to morph into James Segeyaro.
Why?
Ah, the contract debacles continue. And once again the player has won. Want-away hooker Segeyaro signed a two-year deal in September, which removed a get-out clause in the process. But with Leeds announcing the signing of Manly's Matt Parcell, Segeyaro looks set to get his wish and return to the NRL.
The new man on paper could be a good signing. Parcell appeared in 15 first grade games for the Sea Eagles in 2016 and is highly rated down under. But Segeyaro played a massive part in steering Leeds clear of the drop last season and is a proven high quality player.
With Beau Falloon struggling at Headingley last season, Leeds need their new No 9 to provide a similar standard to Segeyaro. The question is, can he do that?
Reasons to be cheerful?
There are a few concerns going into 2017 for the Rhinos supporters. Last season's Qualifiers side has only been strengthened with Jack Ormondroyd from Featherstone and Cory Aston from Sheffield. It is hardly the recruitment many were expecting.
But Leeds were unlucky with injuries last season and their first choice 17 still oozes quality. Any side boasting Kallum Watkins, Joel Moon, Ryan Hall and Tom Briscoe in their backline demands respect.
Yet question marks remain over the pivotal half-back positions and their strength in depth throughout the squad. Lots to prove.
Leigh Centurions
Wanted
Survival.
Why?
Promotion has been a long time coming for the Leigh Centurions. They've spent 12 years out of Super League after that dismal 2005 season that saw them win just two games. But they've been knocking the door down for a while now.
Leigh failed to earn a Super League licence on application but won the Championship in 2014 and again in 2015, before bombing out in the Qualifiers that season.
Now they have finally reached the promised land, can they do enough to keep their place among the elite?
Reasons to be cheerful?
Recruitment has been heavy, and for a newly-promoted side, reasonably strong. Glenn Stewart brings the experience from Catalans, Atelea Vea provides muscle in the pack, Ryan Hampshire has a point to prove to Wigan, while Ben Crooks, James Green and Eloi Pelissier have plenty of Super League experience.
It is a squad already packed with quality, including Micky Higham, Gareth Hock, Cory Paterson, Willie Tonga, Harrison Hansen, Danny Tickle, Sam Hopkins and Martyn Ridyard - a squad that smashed down the door in the Qualifiers on their way to promotion last season.
And there might be a few in Centurions colours targeting a little more than just top flight survival in 2017.
Salford Red Devils
Wanted
Less turbulence please.
Why?
It has not been easy as a Salford fan recently. Gareth O'Brien's golden point drop goal kept them in Super League after a long and difficult season. They were deducted six points in April for breaching salary cap regulations and that meant a Qualifiers battle after losing the appeal.
Owner Marwan Koukash considered his future following the RFL's decision, while the club have finished no higher than 10th since he bought them.
A little peace and quiet wouldn't go amiss this time round.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Recruitment-wise, have Salford learnt their lessons from previous years? Off-seasons under Koukash have generally seen a raft of new players and some big names with big egos.
This year's business looks more understated, with Lee Mossop perhaps the pick from Wigan. Lama Tasi returns from St Helens and will add power to the pack.
There's plenty for Ian Watson to work with. If Daniel Vidot stays, he should have a better 2017. Michael Dobson and Robert Lui are a good half-back combination. And Ben Murdoch-Masila will be looking to build on last season's form. There is no reason why Salford shouldn't be challenging in the Super 8s next season.
St Helens
Wanted
Matty Smith to stand and deliver.
Why?
The half-back divided opinion at Wigan. But then again Luke Walsh divided opinion at St Helens. So Keiron Cunningham has put his trust in former team-mate Smith by re-signing him from bitter rivals Wigan.
Smith was crucial for Shaun Wane's Grand Final-winning side last season, kicking teams to death with his trusty boot while guiding Wigan's pack around the park. He needs to do the same at Langtree Park.
Saints need their new midfield general to gel well with talented Frenchman Theo Fages and their partnership could be key to St Helens' silverware chances.
Avoiding injuries to the likes of Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival and Adam Swift would be a bonus this season too.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Their pack looks brutal. Cunningham has already waxed lyrical about new signing Adam Walker's offloading ability and he did star in a relegated Hull KR side. Luke Douglas brings NRL experience and both Alex Walmsley and Kyle Amor can both unload from the tackle and are go-forward machines.
Combine that with Joe Greenwood's try-scoring ability and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook's physicality and the Saints have some real beef up front. It should certainly lay the platform for those exciting English talents in the backs.
If they keep 1-17 fit and firing, then St Helens should fancy their chances of filling up the trophy cabinet this season.
Wakefield Trinity
Wanted
More of the same.
Why?
What a 2016 Wakefield enjoyed. Tipped by plenty as the most likely side to drop out of Super League, they confounded the critics after Chris Chester's mid-season appointment to finish in the Super 8s.
Things didn't quite go to plan against the big boys at the end of the season but there was enough to suggest that the 2017 Wakefield outfit could enjoy another competitive season given their recruitment.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Chester has used the market well. While other sides around Wakefield haven't made too many transfer dealings, Trinity have been busy, and there's plenty of quality too.
Sam Williams should add some gloss from Canberra, while Mitch Allgood, Craig Huby, Scott Grix, Kyle Wood and Mason Caton-Brown provide the Wildcats with genuine strength in depth. Throw in Keegan Hirst, one of the Championship's stars in 2016, and there's plenty for Chester to work with.
Wakefield also had several starring youngsters last season with Tom Johnstone leading the way and Max Jowitt and James Batchelor also impressing.
With David Fifita retained for the new season and John Kear on board as director of rugby, can Wakfield build on last season and keep challenging Super League's elite?
Warrington Wolves
Wanted
Kevin Brown's A-game.
Why?
Chris Sandow's off-season departure was another victory for Super League's contract rebels and left Warrington scrabbling around for a short period. The answer they've come up with in replacing 11 tries and 25 assists is 32-year-old Kevin Brown.
There is no doubting Brown's class. He has been a consistent Super League performer for the past decade, culminating in a Four Nations appearance against Australia this autumn. But is he at Sandow's level? That's what Warrington fans are waiting to judge.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Sandow apart, Warrington have built on last season's double finalists. Signings have been solid, if unspectacular, with the returning Mike Cooper and Dom Crosby bound to add grunt to an already decent pack.
Long-term injuries to Stefan Ratchford and Ben Currie are a concern early doors but there's no reason why Warrington won't be able to go one better in 2017 in both competitions, and finally break their Old Trafford hoodoo.
Widnes Vikings
Wanted
Fresh blood.
Why?
It's fair to say the off-season hasn't gone exactly how Widnes fans would have wanted. Tom Armstrong from Leigh is their only signing and they have lost star player Kevin Brown to Warrington while releasing the injury-hit Setaimata Sa and long-serving Paddy Flynn.
Denis Betts' side plummeted worryingly after a brilliant start to the 2016 campaign and limped into the Super 8s. They will have to prove the doubters wrong to do the same again in 2017.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Widnes have improved year on year since their return to Super League in 2012. Last year's seventh-placed finish was a decent achievement for a side without the financial clout to compete with Super League's best.
The Vikings and Betts are used to proving people wrong. Apart from Brown, last season's big performers are still there. Joe Mellor impressed at half-back, Corey Thompson bagged a load of tries and Rhys Hanbury was consistent as ever from full-back. More of the same is needed next year.
Wigan Warriors
Wanted
More tries please!
Why?
2016 ended with the Super League trophy in Sean O'Loughlin's hands, but until the end of the season, not all was well amongst the Wigan faithful.
The team scored just 669 points, the least in the top six and Shaun Wane's style of rugby league wasn't to everyone's taste.
However, the reminder that all came good in the end and the return of the more buccaneering Thomas Leuluai should raise pulses a little higher this year.
Reasons to be cheerful?
Wigan are the defending Champions without blowing the league away last season. Which means, worryingly for the rest of Super League, there is plenty of room for improvement.
Recruitment has been almost like-for-like. Josh Charnley went to union with Joe Burgess returning from the NRL. The dependable Matty Smith has swapped Wigan for Saints but fellow half-back Leuluai is back in Super League.
Meanwhile, Frenchmen Morgan Escare and Romain Navarrete should add something a bit different in the backs and the pack. Expect Wigan to be there or thereabouts again on all fronts next season.