Who would have thought at the start of the season that a treble winning side from the previous season and one who would also be involved in the WCC game against the NRL Premiers the North Queensland Cowboys would actually finish in the Wooden Spoon position on the Regular Season ladder after week 23 and would then be involved in the middle 8's competition?

I personally believe that the Rhinos were very lucky to do what they did last season and that the writing was clearly on the wall and that they were a side in terminal decline and that it urgently needed a total invigoration to cover the losses of legends of the club in the retiring Sinfield and Peacock but also for the ageing players like McGuire,Burrow,JJB.Ablett and the injury prone Delaney for 2016

I believe that the Rhinos will ultimately finish at the bottom of the pile and will create a new record of going from Hero's to Zero's within 12 months

I have just had a look at the possible fixtures that the Rhinos will face If they do finish in 12th position as I predict that they will

Home Games
9th placed SL Club
London (2nd placed Championship Club)
Batley or Bulls IMO (4th placed Championship Club)

Away Games
10th placed SL Club
Leigh
11th placed SL Club
Halifax IMO (3rd placed Championship Club)

Big day for Salford awaits with their points deduction appeal to see if they finish in the Super 8's or Middle 8's

The Rhinos urgently need to find some form going into the Middle 8's because every side will surely treat their games against them as a "once in a lifetime opportunity" of playing against them and also if they are successful could ultimately get the Rhinos relegated into the Championship for 2017

The pressure is now on the Rhinos to get out of this mess that they are in and to rebuild for 2017
But IMO they simply don't look like a side that is geared up for this high pressure survival competition to retain it's SL survival

I am worried for the Rhinos

There was nothing lucky last year - Leeds were the best team in the competition. If anything we've been unlucky this year, first with Sinfield leaving a year earlier than planned and then a bad injury list. That's not to excuse how dreadful we've been - I think if we played to our best we should be mid table at worst, even taking injuries into account.

What this season has highlighted is how average some of our squad are, how poor our junior development has been over a number of years, and how many senior players never took responsibility without Sinfield/Peacock to hold their hands. It has also clearly highlighted the limitations of our coach (and other off-field staff).

I do agree that a clear-out is required over the next couple of years, but what's happening to us may benefit in the longer term if lessons can be learned and the ugly reality faced now.

Think I'd prefer just 3 homes games to attend, rather than 4.

I could stand a Saturday afternoon game in Halifax.

You'll be fine, as all 4 'Super League' clubs SHOULD be, it's just the 'one off MPG' where one SL club will have to worry about (unless a championship club finishes in the top 3), and if it's you guys in it, then I will eat my hat....well I don't own one, but I will buy one, and chew like 'buggery' !

MPG could be Super league - V - Super league should Leigh not make the same mistake as last year - Not turn up for games

Then we really do have a problem. Also season ticket sales will drop too and the ground improvements will be on hold-again!

After today the Championship looks like this

1 - Leigh - 39 pts
2 - London - 32
3 - Halifax - 27 (points difference +154)
4 - Batley - 27 (+55)
5 - Bradford - 26 (+259)
6 - Featherstone - 26 (+187)

Remaining fixtures
Round 22
Bradford vs Oldham, Batley vs London, Halifax vs Featherstone

Round 23
Featherstone vs Bradford, Halifax vs London, Swinton vs Batley

Shame for Batley, but I think they'll miss out and it will be Leigh, London, Bradford and Featherston.

Leigh in 2016 aren't as good as they were in 2015 IMO. They don't have the "X-Factor" of Brierley or the game planning of Rowley.

The same also applies to Leeds

It could be interesting on last game of regular season for us we could be playing HKR for 9th which means 4 home games and 3 away.

Really? You mean Leeds, who are currently bottom of the league, aren't as good as the leeds of last year who finished top and won the treble?

Difference is, Leeds have got worse from a position of strength.

Leigh have got worse from not being good enough to get into SL in the first place.

Bradford play Featherstone in the last round so unlikely the loser of that match qualifies.

Fair point, hadn't spotted that. Still think one of Halifax or Batley will miss out though.

Think a lot depends on London, can't move from 2nd position and lost comfortably today at home vs Sheffield. They have to go away to both Halifax and Batley and might already be looking at the Middle 8's.