Wednesday 16 March 2016 14:31, UK
The three big prizes are only given out in August, September and October, so is it too early to take any notice of the Super League table?
Well, I guess it depends if you're a 'half-full' or 'half-empty' person.
Most clubs have 18 Super League games remaining and while an optimistic fan might say their team have the potential to pick up 36 points, the reality is that your team will need a minimum of 20 points to finish in the top eight when we enter the next stage of the competition.
But that looks a long way off for some teams. It is habits and mindset, not time or games, that become the problem to the teams in the lower half of the league table.
Easter is a hugely significant milestone in the season and teams need to stay in contention to give themselves a chance when the weather starts to improve.
Go on then: If Widnes finish in the top four I will be their mascot for a match!
The champions have started the season in a similar way to how Chelsea began the Premier League last August. Just one win in the opening five games puts them under huge pressure this week. The Giants currently sit above the Rhinos on points difference and it is unusual to see the most consistent team of the last three seasons struggle as much as they have.
Huddersfield's performance against Hull KR impressed me and I am certain they will win more than 50 per cent of their remaining games. Next up they have Catalans, Wakefield and Salford and I think that they will pick up six points.
However, it is the top of the league that intrigues me most. Widnes and Warrington have in effect swapped places with Leeds and Huddersfield. How have they done it?
Well you could say the Wolves have bought better players. They have the two favourites to win the Man of Steel in Chris Sandow and Kurt Gidley. New players like Tom Lineham and Joe Westerman have added to the squad's ability, plus you could argue that they underachieved in 2015 and are more where they should be this campaign.
But how do you explain that the Vikings are top of the table? Playing one more than most of the others helps but their squad of players has remained virtually the same.
Widnes have doubled the number of league points after six rounds compared with last year but perhaps more impressively, they have played the best rugby and provided the most entertainment.
Admittedly, two of their wins have been against the bottom two teams but they have also beaten Leeds and Huddersfield in convincing fashion. Those wins did come when their opponents had several injuries but timing is everything in life and they had theirs spot on when they beat Hull last week.
The Vikings have now scored 39 tries in six games and in Corey Thompson they possess a player who could finish the season with the top try scorer award. In addition to him, they have Chris Houston in the second row and Setaimata Sa, but none of those players were big-money signings and I suppose you have to give credit to the coach.
From what I see and hear, along with Daryl Powell, Denis Betts is the best coach in the competition and the team's improvement is a reflection of his ability, intelligence and experience. However, their game against Wigan on Thursday will be by far their hardest challenge of the season and perhaps the first time they have faced a top-four team with a healthy squad to choose from.
The Warriors will be too strong for the Vikings and we will see them as a mid-table team.
I am scared of making any predictions about where Widnes will finish in 2016. I have seen what Gary Lineker said about Leicester City and don't want to strip down to my underwear! I still think that if they finish in the top eight after 23 rounds they will have done remarkably well but I am still not convinced that they will be able to do that.
Go on then: If Widnes finish in the top four I will be their mascot for a match!
Join the Men United March
One of the greatest things about working with Sky Sports is the opportunity to meet people from other sports, to share stories with them and learn from them.
Well, next week gives me the chance to do that in a different way.
On Tuesday, March 22, Brian Carney, Bill Arthur, Barrie McDermott and I will be joining Jeff Stelling from Soccer Saturday on the Men United March.
We are linking up with Jeff for one of the 10 days in which he will walk from Hartlepool United to Wembley, and you can join us too. It's all in aid of Prostate Cancer UK, a charity that the rugby league department at Sky have supported for the last four years after some of the team were affected by it.
You may have noticed some of us wearing the little badge on screen. It's called the Man of Men, and the entire Leeds Rhinos squad wore them when they attended the Sports Personality awards at the end of last year - with Kevin Sinfield clinching the runners-up award.
Anyone can take part in this great walk, you just need to register at www.menunitedmarch.org. If you come along you can talk rugby with us, football with Chris Kamara, Charlie Nicholas and Ray Wilkins, or just have a laugh up front with Jeff and the other walkers.
Sinfield and Eddie Hemmings aim to be at Elland Road as we complete the 29-mile trek from York. It is a rugby section of this walk as we pass through the home of last term's domestic treble winners.
It is a long way I know but it's for a great cause and it will be a great laugh. We get to stroll through some beautiful Yorkshire countryside and listen to some stories that don't get told on television.
If you can't make the walk but want to support Jeff and the rest of us then visit www.menunitedmarch.org or text 'JEFF' to 70004 to donate £3.
