Predictions for Leeds in 2013

Quote: William Eve "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.'"

Sadly probably a lot of truth in this.......although I'm sure not all will be so compliant next season and the contenders will be more inclined to take a leaf out of Leeds' book by serving up a lot more low intensity matches for the majority of the season. Great