Catalans away is Saturday and Cas at home is Thursday, all others are Friday games.

So furthest away trip followed by the short turn-around & they say that Leeds runs the RFL!

cheers, just balancing work, family, rugby and other social activities. life's a-bitch

Every one of our games is on Sky except Hull away. The final round all 4 games kick off at the same time on Friday night and they haven't picked which game to show yet (obviously waiting on which has the most riding on it)

Can't ask for much more than that.
Really pleased with more Friday night games too...although I've just told the Wife and the annual moan at going to Rugby Friday & Football Saturday has already started.

The losers of the semis will "earn" a week off in the middle of the super 8s which could prove decisive. A lot will depend on the early results with Warrington looking like making a late run for 4th spot. If the top 4 secure their places early then there could be some nothing fixtures later with plenty of rotation rests.

Given Leeds normally fly back from Perpignan same day, they probably won't be home any later than if they'd had an away game at Warrington or Widnes.

I do know they travel there & back on the day of the game.
You don't believe that there is any difference between flying to & from Perpignan in the same day & a coach trip to Widnes or Warrington on the same day?
You must fly on different airlines to me with different customs procedures then.
Just to point to one major difference.

It's only to the south of France. Maybe not equal to a coach trip to Widnes or Warrington but probably equal to one to London or Bridgend.

Is Westwood banned for the Wolves game against us as well as the cup semi?

Yes

Ironically back for wire vs Castleford game

In terms of how fit you are to be able to play a game of rugby five days later, it makes absolutely no difference.

These are professional athletes, it's not like they're jumping off the plane and then being expected to do a full day's graft in a job the day after.

To be hoped the players don't have the same "looking for an excuse" attitude.

We don't play Catalans until the 5th week, if the gap between them and 4th spot remains at 8 points or increases by that time then they'll have nothing to play for which could see them going through the motions. Certainly seems better than having to go there first week like Saints are having to do, gives them very little time to plan the trip over especially when all thoughts will be on this Friday's game.

I like the order of our fixtures. Get the home ground advantage we earned 3 of the first 4 weeks and our most winnable away game, gives us a good chance of opening a gap if we win our home games against our nearest rivals. Catalans could have nothing to play for by then, so might Castleford. However the one game I wouldn't have wanted for the final week IF we need to win it to get 1st place was the away trip to 4th spot chasing Hudds. We might've had some success over them now but their ground is still one of our toughest places to visit.

Wire 1st up is a tough ask, they can't afford many slip-ups in their battle to get into the top 4. so winning their 1st Super 8 game is probably a must win. they'll be fancying 3/3 against Leeds.