i agree, i think the rhinos will secure 4th place. They have suffered with injuries throughout the season, but have overcome these injuries now and have found their form again.

Finishing 5th isn't better than 4th if you lose in the first week!

FWIW heres how i think things will go down:

week 1

Wigan-hull
Saints - warrington
Leeds - Crusaders
Hudds - HKR

Week 2

Warrington v Hudds
Hull v Leeds

Week 3

Wigan v hull
Saints hudds

wigan saints

saints win

I know...but I did say if all results go with the home team

Err, why? If we finish 5th we have to win away from home in weeks 2 & 3 and of course win in week 1 at home. If we do finish 4th it is possible we could beat Wigan away from home in Week 1, we then get a crucial home draw in Week 3 possibly against Wigan but at home!!! If we lose at Wigan we still have a home draw in week 2 and then we have to go away anyway.

As I have said before, in the 8 team system finishing top is less important than in the old system and the teams in 3rd & 4th have a better opportunity to get to the Grand Final than under the old system as well. The 5th to 8th teams have less chance than 5th & 6th in the old system.

Fair enough but IMO I'd prefer (and think we'd have a better chance) playing Crusaders at home,Hull away and then only going to Wigan once in the final eliminator where our big match experience of last few years could see us get a shock result in a one off game.

Finish 4th and IF all games go with home advantage we probably end up having to play Wigan away twice to get to GF which IMO would be a very tall order.

I take your point about IF we beat Wigan in 1st week but then we'd end up having to beat them yet again and yes even though it would be at home I personally don't think we'd beat Wigan twice in 3 weeks.

Thats why I feel it is the lesser of two evils going the Crusaders (h) Hull (A) and Wigan (a) route.

Time will tell