I agree - should be a cracker if Hull can avoid any more injuries.

Maybe the wheels aren't falling off but if I were a Wigan fan I wouldn't be so dismissive of our recent form at home to playoff teams.

To be fair, Leeds lost to Wigan at home recently and would have lost to Saints (IMHO of course!) had Saints not lost both halves in-game.

I certainly see your point though.

To be fair Leeds would have beaten Wigan (IMHO) had they retained the ball each time they got into the Wigan twenty.

But, in reality, handling errors are, like injuries, part and parcel of Rugby League and not a valid excuse for losing a game.

Why you opening this can of worms and why the love for Wigan. Has our domination over the "mighty" S blurred the lines when it comes to who to hate?

No doubt our home form is pretty poor, our away form is fantastic though, shame we had to finish top! Id much rather have hull in the first playoff game, even though your playing nowhere near as well as you did this time last year.

More than anything i just think last night proves the playoffs are wide open, form, injuries and squad depth are all crucial IMO

As for handling errors being akin to injuries, well . . . . .

Before Wigan saw fit to lose, just to spite us last night, Leeds needed to beat Les Catalans next week at Headingley to secure a minimum of 5th, leaving a potential winner takes 4th game at the KC post Wembley.

Last night brings Huddersfield (with an almost uncatchable points difference for Leeds) right into the reckoning with two rounds to go. I'm looking at 4th, 5th or 6th now for Leeds and (with Wembley muddying the waters) I wouldn't rule any of those finishes out.

I still think you'll take 4th.

You'll have enough to beat Catalans at home, even with Wembley on the horizon, and I just can't see Hull troubling Leeds in a "do or die".

One within a team's control, the other not.

Make a handling error and you can negate the matter by defending well for an extra set. Defending well won't give you back a kicking game or two extra subs on the bench when you lose both halves mid-game.

I'm sure if Leeds lose McGuire and Sinfield mid-game whilst in front at Wembley and Leeds go on to lose the match, you might think it had an teeny weeny impact on the game. Heck, it may even be a valid reason for a loss.

Except that it's not strictly a do or die. And it's immediately after Wembley. I think it's going to be one tough game.

I know it's not do or die, guess I should have said a game with something at stake.

Agree it won't be a walkover, but I just think Leeds have too much class, especially with Hull light in the halves.

Leeds should beat Catalan but I still think Hull arent a top 4 team. I seriously believe Hull KR and Hudds are better than them. That being said, they are 4th though and if they win their last 2 games will finish there.

As for Wigan, nothing I have seen in the last 3 weeks actually worries me about them. As said earlier in this thread when the intense games come around it wont suit their style. They will struggle to break decent defences down in big games and when the bad weather comes they wont have as much success throwing the ball around like they do.

I think 4th or 5th.

Next week's foreplay ahead of the final is a massive game which we need to win to fend off Huddersfield and the possibility of finishing 6th. Huddersfield have on paper the easiest run in.

However I expect us to overcome the French and secure 5th. No disrespect to Catalans but they have been very poor this season. They had everything to play for at Widnes last week and they put in the worst TV performance I've seen this year.

Leeds on the other hand will be holding the 'boot camp' stage of the 'Leeds' Got Talent' comp (apologies for developing this cringeworthy SKY soundbite) and I fully expect every player to do everything they can to get their name on the Wembley teamsheet. There will be some interesting internal battles including Donald/Smith, Clarkson/Lauititi/Eastwood/Ambler.

We can still finish 6th even if we win next week though.