I agree with the last statement, but my point seems to have been overlooked. Do you really think the team can sustain that level of committted consistency right up until and on into the GF; a team that could be lacking (almost certainly) at least Moon and trial-by-twitter-Hardaker?

This is not even considering any other potential injuries/suspensions to McDermott's first choice 17 and his inabilty to grasp the concept of wisely using or trusting subs that might fall outside this first choice 17

If you have a sneaky feeling for Cas Nantwich then i suggest you take the 16/1 availible . personally i would not touch them with a bargepole.

Moon will probably get a suspension but with an EGP can't see it running into the playoffs. With Hardaker, unless the ref says he heard anything I don't think trial by lip reading will be enough to condemn him.

As far as level of consistency, perhaps not. Perhaps we may be poor against Wigan and Hull in the last two games before raising again. Also may not be great against Widnes/Catalans in the first week but still have enough to beat them at home if we do end up 5th/6th. We weren't at our best in 2012 in the first week vs Wakey but we got the job done.

All the issues you raise are ones that can be turned around and pointed at the other 5 legitimate contenders. Time will tell, we aren't in any worse state then them, yes we had to raise for the CC, but so did Cas and so did Wigan in 2013 and Leeds and Wire in 2012, the latter three all Grand Finalists, two of them winners.

If you take the table as it is whichever way you look at potential results and combinations it's a very difficult task from 6th place. Leeds need to get top 4, get a win in the first game then they have a week off and a home tie into the final. That is the route that gives them the best chance winning the grand final, no question IMO. That means winning the 2 remaining league games which would hopefully be enough.

There's no formula that is "best" IMO for reaching the GF in terms of where you finish.

2012, Wigan and Saints both got the week off in the playoffs, both failed in the semis.

2013, Wigan and Warrington both got the week off in the playoffs, both won their semis.

Its playing good, being injury free, and playoff 'smarts' that count more than home/away advantage or a week off.

I can't say im all that bothered what happens in the last 2 games now, the main thing is we got to the start of the play offs with our main men available,.if we do, im confident we can go away to any of the sides in the top 4 back to back and do the job as we did 2011,2012.

I agree 100% with the points that both The Printer and Sal make here


Having an injury free squad come play off time is the common denominator to winning the Grand Final IMO,especially under this play off format

We have admittedly lost 3 very winnable games recently against Wakefield,Bulls and London which has clearly made our task far trickier than had we won those, but i suppose all of the other top sides could say that they have too could they not?




We will be a side to be feared in the play offs and from where ever we finish in the league table
If we play like we did in the Challenge Cup games against Warrington and Castleford in the play offs then it will clearly take a good side to knock us out, as that was typical play off footy at it's best IMO

Don't think the season is over. This is the tightest it's been for a few years . Don't know if we will but we certainly have the potential to get to the final and win. We know how to play come playoff time, we can handle the big stage and pressure, and if we have a full fit squad we have a fair chance.
I wouldn't write of cas or saints either as another thread suggests. I honestly couldn't predict it this year.

6th will probably see us play Catalans at home, a game we were lucky to win a few weeks back.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Saints lose the first game in the play offs. If that happens we could be playing away to them in the next round. They have done the double over us this year.

The performance in the CC final was spot on tactics from the coach, something we have not shown previously this year. I am not convinced were we to play Cas again those tactics would be as surprising. At the end of the day it caught Cas out, and was one of there worst performances of the year. Not sure outside of Wembley or Old Trafford that would be repeated.

On a brighter note, despite the loss, and regardless of wins in the CC semi and final, Fridays performance was arguably the best of the season.

Whether it was better than the five teams above us best of the season is debatable, but if the better of your performances this time of year are happening then it is the best time.

Of course we could end up winning next week at Wigan and it completely changes the possible play off options.

Was the CC sem versus Warringotn not a good combination of performance and tactics? What about smashing Sts in the Cup as well? Those were games that the senior players desperately wanted to win and did with some style.

I'm more confident than ever that we will win the GF, we could do with getting into the top 4 to make it easier but even from 6th in a one off knock out games I'd back us to beat anyone.

Not impressed by any of the 5 above us to be honest, if we hadn't been so concentrated on the CC we would have already won the hubcap.

I think this is the most even (weakest??) SL this year. There is no outstanding team, so I think Leeds have a pretty good shot at it. McDermott has managed the squad better this season so we aren't carrying so many knocks. We have also seen tactics brought in to win certain games.

I certainly think we can win it

If that's how good the league leaders are against 12 men (not to mention the 2 week break v our 3 days training) then we have nothing to fear.