If any team is looking at their first two play off games as one easy one, and one against a beat up side. Its likely they wont even play the 2nd one, never mind win it.

Who said their week one opponent would be easy?

easy/easier no real difference in this context.

You need to play to your best to win. I dont think we could go up against either of the Hull teams, or Les Catalans, or Saints, or any team in the bottom half of the draw thinking it was 'easier'. All would be capable of putting one over us.

Agreed, and if Saints finish 5th (and they appear most likely) they'll be very dangerous from there. Wouldn't fancy them at home in Week 2 after enduring a beaten-up loss in Week 1.

I wouldn't take Saints lightly in Week 2 if they finished 6th, 7th or 8th either....

I'd still take 4th and the extra life and home advantae if you do have to play in week 2 over 5th given the choice. I think 4th is pretty much done and dusted though.

Discussion about finishing positions is moot. Had any team other than Leedw won it from 5th there might be some merit in discussion. The games are played by players, on a pitch. It is all about who performs on the day and has little or nothing to do with where either team finished on a league ladder. Invariably, during the last ten years, it has been Leeds that have performed regardless of their league placing.

I would suggest playing a lower ranked team at home would be an easier assignment than playing a higher ranked team away. No one said either game would be easy.



That would certainly help but may not be altogether necessary. By the same token you could play at your level best and still lose.



Indeed they would but on paper they would be easier games than facing them away let alone facing one of Huddersfield, Wigan or Warrington away in their place.

No play-off game should be 'easy' which is why I wouldn't use the word in this context.

Is it June again?

Fortunately, this mediocrity-rewarding play-off system is getting ditched.

And not before time.

jeff it's also very noticeable that this seasons eventual nrl grand final winners imo the melbourne storm are also abusing the play off system and are currently t055ing it off in 4th place

i don't think they fancy the J. J. Giltinan Shield this year and who can blame them

Melbourne's key players were missing and focused on playing Origin catch-up for QLD this season, hence their poor run of results in June and July.

The NRL regular season always suffers a downturn in terms of intensity and interest as their national media obsession with the Origin season is hyped up to the max. That's a major negative issue for the game over there IMO rather than a positive one. It's indicative of a sport that doesn't give a rats about it's allegedly precious NRL competition or anything else for that matter when it's Origin time.

agree 100% jeff

LOL, strong logic.

Would rather play hudds, don't rate em in knock out football.

By the way how did we get on in the CC, the knock out competition? .......err, hudds thrashed us.

Also by the same logic, we're not up to much, as our most recent knock out game, was that thrashing against hudds.

Your logic is rubbish, as are your chances with Ryan Bailey.

My logic is not rubbish it's backed up by what's actually happened.

Leeds have mastered the play-offs better than any other team, but they also slump in the CC. Fact.

Huddersfield have yet to master any knock-out competitions. Fact.

If Leeds rise again in the play-offs and Huddersfield fade away no-one would be surprised.

I have no malice against Huddersfield, they are running very well. But their biggest hurdle is still to come.

Indeed. The only other team to come close to our achievements in the play-offs in doing it from 5th was when the Bulls did it from 3rd in 2005. That was the last time Bradford had most of their seasoned stars from their successful squad who had been there and done it time and time before (e.g. Hape, Vainikolo, Peacock, Fielden, Pryce etc - much was made of them bringing Morley in but his contribution in the game was not that significant IMO). Having pedigree & collective experience seems to matter more than how teams fare in the regular season - especially if a team is to win the GF from a position below 1st or 2nd.