There's a continuity thing here, both our sides have been in good form overall, chopping and changing loads every week might not do much good. Both sides need some combinations working, especially in the top side. Changing Walker and Myler even is quite significant in the difference in style.

There is a positive opportunity here, even though we might all think a loss is the most likely outcome on Friday - I wouldn't write us off. Saints are a good side but if you can contain (IF) Walmsley you're on the right tracks. They are certainly beatable. If we could beat Saints the week after winning the CC, suddenly we believe we can make the double this year and we're high on confidence and with a deep squad at the business end.

I wouldn't be giving up on this fixture personally: but it really depends on the emotional and physical state of the first grade squad - it ended up being a titanic battle with Salford. Another angle is just that though: the difference between real quality players is that they can back up at that intensity on consecutive weeks and go again. That mentality is what made Leeds so dangerous in play-offs for so long I think. We might learn some things about this team asking them to rise again so soon after the CC...

If we are no chance for the SL title after anther few fixtures then we really can use the time to look at some different player combinations with little pressure - that's not such a bad outcome in the stage of redevelopment we're at, and with a cup in the cupboard.

We should go all out to win, and if not win take saints to a place like we did in that playoff game 2007. It needs to be a tough intense game for them. They've had it all their own way in super league for 2 seasons now and I'm sick of it. Been playing disease riddled teams every week recently.

After winning the Challenge Cup the golden generation couldnt win an egg and spoon race for a few week after. 6 games in 16 days from Saints game is a virtual impossible task.

Having won the Challenge Cup it leaves us in a bit pf a win win situation IMO. No one will judge too harshly (well maybe dome) if things tail off at the end of the season, the amount of games crammed in could be a bridge too far, and if it looks like we can’t make rhe playoffs we can give some kids a game for the experience, however I would be going all out to beat Saints on Friday, if we could manage that we can have a real pop at the SL title.

We have got a big squad which could really help us.

Whatever happens this season will be seen quite rightly as a success.

[*

Probably correct, but this year's CC wasn't quite the emotional and physical rollercoaster it normally is. We'll likely loose to Saints as they will be fresh as a daisy though. Very uphill task to finish top 4 now....
That's why I think we should have changed paying stronger teams vs Cats and Warrington, as we were basically throwing both games and top 4 chances.....

I agree although i probably wouldnt rest Mellor but if so swap with Smith.Start Walker rest Myler give Dwyer more game time bring Holroyd in for Cuthberston .Add Walters to bench (if Mellor rested) for some game time but i would also play him against Cas.

We are miles off Saints on Saturdays pathetic 2nd half performance so i would be happy to give this one away and try win the remaining games . Our 2nd string side will not beat any other reasonable strength team so i would go with with as strong as possible with obvious one or two rotations after Fridays game

Pathetic?

We weren’t great but in case you missed it, we won.

Agreed. I wouldn't play any of cup final 17 against Saints, and then go strongest possible for the remaining games, as long as there's a chance we can finish in top 4. If we're falling short, then integrate kids. 5th and a cup win is successful season though, given we've already had to sacrifice wins against 2 rivals.

Pathetic is harsh I think Salford deserved a lot credit for givi g Leeds a tough game. The Leeds pack had to really dig in at times in the second half. Our attack did loose its way a bit but we were far from pathetic.

We were terrible second half and didn't really deserve to win, but we have a big game player in Like Gale...

We had two injuries disrupt how we were planning on playing, went behind, had the patience to get back level then had the smarts to set up two match winning plays.

We weren’t great by any stretch but ‘terrible’ and ‘pathetic’ is not a good description at all, unless for some reason even when we win a trophy you want to have a go at the club.

Salford also played very well but weren’t smart enough at the crucial times.

Of course we deserved to win