Except last year they finished 1st Seth.

Finishing places have yet to be determined for this year as well.

Also, as a Leeds fan I'd be delighted if we won it again from 5th (though doubt we will) because the supporters at every other club would self com-bust. Furthermore, and more amusing, some of our own fekkwitts would also do likewise at the prospect of yet another year of "papering over the cracks" also known is the sane universe as winning a championship.

I wouldn't, some would though. If you win it again it's because you're the best team in the comp

Everyone knows the method used to decide the champions at the start of the year

Good call Gareth! Point being that they cannot maintain a challenge over the weekly rounds due to the deficiencies mainly in the forwards but still have enough class to win a few when it counts.

We won't cross that bridge because they won't win it this year.

No, it won't be 'papering over the cracks' because not finishing high up the league won't be a crack.

If we do it again, we will have proven the 27 rounds of SL matches are meaningless, as long as you make the eight, and can produce better performances in 4 games consecutively than other sides.

Which, in fact, would suggest that a tactic of allowing 'up for it' teams that can win a one-off game but not perform regularly (e.g. Wakefield) can blow themselves out while we have plenty in the tank for the P/O's.

That said, if we do win, I fully expect the RFL to overhaul the playoffs.

Why? Has anyone won it from eighth? Seventh? Sixth? How many have won from fifth? How many from fourth or indeed third? There is clear advantage to be earned from winning regular season rounds, but like everything, key actions at key times are what really matters.

If Leeds do it again from 5th then it still doesn't prove that the playoffs are massively flawed IMO. Not until we see other teams do it from the 5th-8th positions with squads that don't have a quarter of the playoff experience that Leeds' team contains will i think that. The SL has just reached a strange period where the previous top team (Leeds) have slipped but still have enough on the day to win big ones thanks hugely to having over half a team with 3, 4, 5 GF winners rings. Whilst the top teams weekly, struggle to get over that final hurdle. It will soon change as the number of GF winners in Leeds' squad decreases and other teams finally nail more Playoff success.

If Leeds did win, people would still say McDermott is clueless and it was the team that did it..

Maybe papering over the cracks is the wrong phrase

Dont get me wrong - I love winning the Grand Final and the novelty still hasnt worn off for me

This season more than any though my mind cant help but stray back to 2004 and the way we played all year and really long for that again...

We wont win it

I also agree that Leeds finished 6th in 2006 under Tony Smith.

Incorrect. 5th.

6th!

When Leeds were eliminated, there were still 5 teams left in the playoffs