an embarrassing stuffing on national tv awaits

I'd like to think that Leeds fans will still turn up in numbers whatever they think the result 'might be'. This is a unique occasion with the two semis back-to-back. Wire's form has been up and down all season and Leeds have beaten us before when, on paper, we were favourites (notably the 2012 GF) .

It's pretty unlikely anyway but actually a good part of me doesn't want us to win this.

For me we need to be 100% focused on the Middle 8s. I know many people on here think we'll be fine but honestly I don't really share that confidence at the moment. A CC Final would be a huge distraction from the main task of surviving in SL.

You don't want us to win?

You liar.

You can kind of see his point though. Recent history suggests that whenever we get to Wembley we struggle the game before the final resting players and then have a major slump post-Wembley

IF we were to suffer such a post Wembley slump (assuming we can even get there) then IMO there would be every chance of it getting squeaky bum time in terms of maintaining the required position in the top 3.

Don't forget last time we ventured into the middle 8's we went in as one of the form teams in SL just prior to the split and with a fully fit squad, whereas this time we go into them as one of the poorest teams in terms of recent form and having just been thrashed by a very very poor SL team....who only had 12 men

Absolutely can see what he meant. We have weakened squad with injuries already. The last thing we need is to lose more of the squad in a chase after the CC. Our only priority now should be ensuring our superleague survival.

Nah, go full tilt. Tired of the McDermott-esque philosophy of peaking, targeting certain games etc. Rather watch a side try to win them all for a while, regardless of whether they do or not

Is it just me that seems to think Delaney is always fit for the big games such as a semi final or final but misses the other games in abundance?

Can't understand the mentality of not wanting us to win any game never mind a Challenge Cup Semi Final.

What type of fan wants us to lose? Madness.

To me it’s not a choice, win the semi and get relegated or lose the semi and stay up. We could win the semi (and the cup) and stay up, or lose on Sunday and still go down.

We have to try to win every game.

Because these middle 8s could decide the future of the entire club, winning the Challenge Cup is utterly irrelevant this season, unfortunately. Leeds Rhinos’s priority should be maintaining SL status

Our record since Sinfield returns is lost one, won one against sides we'll face in the 8s. Its not that long ago people were saying we'd easily avoid M8s by beating Hudds and Cats. Then it became beating Wakefield, Widnes and Salford. We've failed on all fronts so far, and the only SL side we have the right to be confident of beating is Widnes. Salford just beat us and KR have improved as well.

The Wire semi will be interesting. If we get hammered then it shows the problem is lack of quality, which is a real worry. If we play well or even win then it suggests the problem is as much attitude as anything else. Almost regardless, assuming we survive a big change in personnel is needed over the next couple of seasons.

No it won’t - it will be blip that can easily be recovered from by a club the size of Leeds.

The focus should be on winning every game regardless of the competition

i agree, all this relegation talk from some fans is almost like they are willing us to fail so they can go "i told you so" the middle 8's are a new competition now, previous form can be somewhat disregarded our season now restarts Sunday with the semis, and the players, club coaching staff all no this.
we will win 5-6 games minimun in the 8's people are massively over estimated the other sides, Hull Kr are the biggest threat to us winning the middle 8's but cannot see anything else other than a few close calls, it wont be easy we will get some battles, but the club is primed and ready to go, watch us fly.
and it will be very close on Sunday and i think we will sneak it, and that will give us a big confidence boost.