Based on the number of points required last season to finish 4th (which I appreciate is only a guestimate of the points requirements this season), Leeds would require a minimum target of 38 points after 30 games.

On that basis, how many points would Leeds realistically require after 23 games?

Let's assume Leeds do qualify for the Top 8 and follow that up with 6 wins out of 7 after the split to reach 38 points. Optimistic, I know, but I'm playing the [i'My glass isn't half full, in fact it is positively overflowing'[/i card here.

That would mean Leeds would require 26 points after 23 games.

They've so far managed 4 points from 9 games.

Therefore they would require 22 points from the next 14 games which translates as a minimum of 11 wins out of the next 14 prior to the split.

They would require 20 points to qualify for the Top 8 which translates as a minimum of 8 wins out their next 14.

CONCLUSIONS:
I no longer believe Leeds will qualify for the Top 4.

I do believe they'll qualify for the Top 8 after 23 rounds finishing 7th or 8th, but it's their SL season effectively over as 4th is out of reach.

They could provide nuisance value to those teams in the battle for the Top 4 though I suspect they'll more likely toss it off instead with nothing to play for and remain in 7th or 8th spot after 30 games.

I would say your post is spot on. Last week I would have said yes can qualify, not now. We will be above Wakey, Hull KR and Salford though. And by the end, above Widnes and Cas. But regardless of our points picked up, Wigan, Warrington, and Catalans will still pick up plenty, and Saints will be above us.

I am more concerned with performances, and development of players now, which is why I have a problem with the coach.

Leeds won't make the top 4?

Not much get's past this guy.

It was the coach's interview after the game yesterday which got me thinking about how many points Leeds would require to qualify. There was something about his mannerisms during the interview when he opined that Leeds were running out of games. I'm sure he's already concluded they've run out of games already.

I'll be surprised of he's at Leeds next season in his current capacity. Might be gone sooner if Leeds are dumped out of the CC early.

If you won the Challenge Cup, from the middle eights (just look at how Rovers suffered in the final, amongst other reasons of cours)then bizzarely that'd be the ultimate challenge achieved by Leeds ha!

You had the easiest Easter period fixtures on paper and lost all three us and Wakefield should have been gimme's and cas away wasn't the hardest or furthest away trip whereas we had the Hull Derby then Wigan and you away and we beat you with a young kid and SR as our halfs I didn't expect you to dominate this season but you have fallen away badly

I think Jeff is correct - no chance of the top 4 - it will take at 3/4 more weeks to get anything like a full strength side on the field by which time they could have lost a further few games.

It does put to bed the idea that a hard fixture list is one of the excuses for Leeds' lack of wins

I'd rather finish 9th then in the top 8 with nothing to play for.
I'd guess Leeds would stay up but it'd be fun visiting Batley, Fev, Bradford et al again.
Alternatively finish in top 8 then get the kids in & treat each game as a trial.

But we have two new stands to pay for, and the money we miss out on is significant. Not to mention the usual suspects on herd will tell us next year we will have done bad because we have to play in an earlier round of the cup.

No we won't make the top four. Unless things change I can't even see us winning a game for several weeks.
What will have concerned Gary and Paul Caddick was last Friday's mass early walk out.
Potentially a drop in next years season ticket sales.
I caught the second half of the wakefield salford game. Wakefield showed tremendous courage and spirit in preventing salford from scoring the match winning try.
Sadly at the moment we don't have any spirit or courage in our squad if players.

Given that we are about to be the bottom of the league, I'm thinking 'no'.

No.

This squad is exhausted. A season to breath. If they want to come back stronger next year then things need freshening up. It happened when Bluey took over and in some way it happened when McD came in.
You can just tell when it's time for something fresh, Sinny and Peacock leaving has taken two hugely dominant personalities out of the dressing room. Time to re-energise the first team with a different coaching approach.
Keep McD at the club by all means, he's earned that, but a senior squad head coach with total control over rugby.

Could be a lot worse.

Leeds ain't Bradford Bulls... YET.

And the coach isn't James Lowes... YET.

Wish I could laugh that off

Could be a lot worse.

We could be Ben Stokes right now!