Now that it's been firmly established that finishing 5th is pole position and the easiest route to the Grand Final under the current play-off format, and particularly so given there's only 4 genuine contenders and 10 whipping boy SL rabble teams who are just making up the numbers... here are my predictions for next season.

There will be 27 utterly meaningless regular rounds of Super League... AGAIN.

Leeds to win the WCC if Melbourne turn up only a week or less before the game. If the triumvirate of Smith, Slater and Cronk all turn up together, it could get tricky.

Warrington, Saints and Wigan to form their irrelevant Top 3 jockeying for position... AGAIN... the rest being incapable of a Top 3 finish apart from one particular club whose preference is to slip under the radar, deliberately target 5th, and manage their resources and efforts for the games which really count.

A whipping boy SL rabble club to finish 4th only to get whipped twice in the play-offs and shown up for the rabble they are... take your pick from one of Catalan, Hull or Huddersfield. The Hull FC rabble might be a good shout for doubling up as next season's 4th placed whipping boy SL play-off rabble.

Leeds to continue their abysmal regular season record against the Top 3 jockey's above. This all but guarantees a position below the Top 3. But they don't want to finish 4th - it's way too difficult an assignment in the play-offs from there (empirically proven - thanks TVOC). Just a little tinkering and fine-tuning required to ensure a 5th placed finish. A mere handful of truly woeful performances against whipping boy SL rabble during the regular season ought to seal it. NOTE TO CLUB5th... AGAIN... to be greeted during the regular season by sundry knee-jerking from the usual suspects. The official club response shall be a series of much soul-searching and patronising platitudes released in the press (courtesy of Peter Smith and the YEP) about how unfathomable their regular season form is but they are really trying to put things right and they possess the character and belief to finish as high up the table as possible - no, really - and your regular season ticket is extremely good value for money and the club remain confident of hitting their target of 10,000 of rltheserl.

TAXI FOR McDERMOTT! McDERMOTT OUT! From the usual suspects.

Leeds to reach another CC Final on the back of wins against championship or whipping boy SL rabble. May have to beat one genuine contender en route. Another CC Final loss as the timing of it does not fit snugly with Leeds timetable of peaking at the right time as they are pre-occupied with fine-tuning their deliberate targeting of 5th place on the SL ladder.

TAXI FOR McDERMOTT! McDERMOTT OUT! From the usual suspects.

Leeds to face whipping boy SL rabble in Week 1 of the play-offs at home. This should be against the team finishing 8th, but given the financial climate and a salary cap level which only a handful of top SL clubs can genuinely operate at, the likelihood of clubs being issued with winding-up orders and going into administration remain high. Therefore it could be a home game against the team finishing 9th, 10th or even 11th. Cue the usual suspects claiming this could be a really tough game.

Leeds to face whipping boy SL rabble in Week 2 of the play-offs away. That'll be against Catalan, Hull or Huddersfield then. Cue the usual suspects claiming this could be a really tough game.

Leeds to face whoever selects them in the Semi Final. Warrington, Wigan or Saints away. Tricky, but Leeds to grind it out and edge it, whoever the opposition might be.

Leeds to win the Grand Final.

McDERMOTT IN! (with reservations). It was all Sir Kev and the lads really.

To be followed by further rlpatronising platitudesrl about how disappointed the club were in finishing 5th and they were trying to finish a lot higher all along because it's a lot easier from there - no, really - but who cares (twitter feed alert!) we have the character and belief to win the games which really count, even from 5th, pulling another rabbit out of the hat, it just gets harder, how good are we, eh?

Sir Kev to be ignored for the MoS award after overseeing and orchestrating 27 rounds of regular season mediocrity AGAIN. Cue sundry outcries of disbelief from the usual suspects.

Great read 10/10.

With great anticipation at the attention this big ones gonna create Jeff lights the blue touch paper and steps back to a safe distance

I just hope no one get's burnt

I predict a top 2 finish if Mags, Zac and Watkins stay injury free.

That made me chuckle. Mostly because I can see most of what he said coming true.

Surely we have to demonstrate how dreadful the whole playoff system is by finishing eighth and then coasting our way to a third succesive GF win under Supermac. perhaps then some of his critics (of which I was one in his first year) will finally eat a full plateful of humble pie.
"We'll win it from eighth, we'll win it from eighth, we're Leeds Rhinos we'll win it from eighth"

so you vanish for almost a month and come back with several paragraphs of the same drivel you have been spouting all season?

Classic Billy Eve

Mods sticky this please

I predict a change to the play-off system to avoid a repeat of the last two years.

This change to the format would have to come from Sky

If i am correct then i believe that the current play off format will last until at least the 2015 season as it was agreed by all the SL clubs and by Sky and that a certain number of play off games were agreed to be shown on tv

Now why doesn't that surprise me - in that case I predict much of the same as this years offerings.

Post this on all other boards.

Different year, same drivel.

Given Herr Eve has taken the trouble to write so much it would rude not to indulge him in his attempt to cover all the bases.

This is my take on next season - some of this may change if further substantial signings are made by any of the top sides.

1. Saints - they look a strong squad and hopeful Brown will put some trust in Gaskill who has the ability to unlock defences. Only concern is Brown being offered a job in the NRL in July.

2. Leeds - this is dependant on signing a hooker of quality who can defend in the middle, McShane is not the answer and neither is Hood at this stage. Letting Lunt go was disappointing. The squad is 4 light of what it was last year - GH needs to add a couple more players

3. Warrington - the GF final loss will hurt and key players are ageing, must also dint Smith's confidence to be out coached by his pupil when it really mattered.

4. Wigan - the loss of key players will hurt, Wane will not see the season out, I expect to see Brian Smith in place by June

5. Hull - not sure how Scott Prince will find Withernsea compared to Cairns!! he will certainly find SL a lot tougher than he thinks - ageing players poor defensive backs but the best of the rest. On a positive they failed to land Chase.

6. Catalan - Robinson was a great coach and the side over achieved - can't see them having the impact this year

7. Wakefield - a team on the up who play attractive rugby under a coach who is a bit smarter than most give him credit for. Also the club has a very good youth set up.

8. London - Rae to work his magic and kick the ageing Aussies into earning the money they taking from the club.

The rest nowhere - Salford and Castleford to fold before the end of the campaign, coaching changes at Widnes, Huddersfield and Hull KR.

Leeds to win the CC final beating all their major rivals on the way ala 99, torrential weather to enable Leeds to win the WCC and Australia to embarrass England in the World Cup final.

I think other sides will have finally got it into their heads how the competition works. Combine this with a bit of psychological damage from trying hard all year and then losing to Leeds when it matters and I think the standard of the weekly rounds will be poor next season.

Leeds to finish in the top two.