Spot on post.

Said more or less the same thing earlier this season after we were walloped by Cas.

There has been a sea change and we are still out there heads in the sand to it.

I don't buy the Cas will try ensure Leeds play Wigan theory as that will probably leave them playing Hull who they have struggled against all year.
I think they'd rather play Wigan with home advantage as they've done well against them, knowing that Leeds go well generally against Hull (semi-final apart).
They'd then fancy their chances of putting a big score on us at OT or a weary Hull either way.
That's what I'd go for if I was them anyway.

Personally I'd rather avoid Wigan, but that's because I dislike losing to them so much. Conversely, there is no-one I like beating more.

Leeds have been pedestrian for a long time with ball in hand and if you look carefully it's not a recent thing. For years we have relied on scoring in open play. As soon as we get the ball within 30 meters of the line we struggle to come up with anything imaginative. When Cuthbertson came on board it was a breath of fresh air but other teams have quickly cottoned on. We are also slow react when the tide turns against us and become our own worst enemy. We are also very clueless when it comes to a game plan against an organised team with stand out players who can control games.

Agree with that matey.

How about this for opening up the end of the season? https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5645

How about this for opening up the end of the season? https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5645

Can Cas still win the GF without Gale then?

I'd say yes, but any RL fan should hope he makes it back for the end of the year.

Probably the most shocking thing for me about our 'attack' is just how dreadful we are at setting up our threequarters. We've got Hall on one wing who just needs half a yard near the line, and Watkins on the other who needs the ball in space. Do that and our wingers should score a shedload of tries. As it is for two years running all our wingers combined have scored way less than one Cas winger. Its not the only measure, but for me its an indicator of how we aren't even playing to what should be relative strengths.

I think Gale will likely be back for the play offs and i hope he is TBH. That said i think it would be unlikely they win it without him.The aren't a one man team but he is so important to everything they do, it's like taking Parcell out of our side right now.

Obviously they can, but it's less likely. Fortunately Roberts is playing the best rugby of his time here at the moment.

While they would rather have Gale available, if he isn't they'll do what all the best coached sides do - use it as additional motivation and crack on without him.

The problem is our style of attack has both been an advantage and disadvantage over the years.

The improvised style, with some of the players we've had has been difficult to read, which has allowed us to score seemingly random off the cuff tries to win grand finals.

We still have some that can pull it off, but not as well.

Wigan to win the gf for me.

Correct. We might use flooded changing rooms as an excuse if we don't win the GF though...

not winning the GF because of flooded changing rooms would have been fine for us , but it was a case of almost getting relegated. Of course you had a perfectly legitimate excuse for getting relegated Wigan cheating the cap by signing a player oh and your playing them next too

Whilst I'm sure someone will reply saying we won't even make the GF so doesn't matter, which ends each set of fans are in at Old Trafford have already been decided.

Winner of Cas' SF are in the Stretford End
Winner of Leeds' SF are in the East Stand