Maybe we’ve not had the required quality coming through the system ? There has been a lot of false dawns with youngsters coming through touted as heirs to the throne of the golden generation. From Baldwinson to Lilley, walker to Tindall, and even Cameron Smith if we’re being honest, they’ve just not been good enough. If they’re not good enough or tough enough it’s hard to blame the club for not nurturing them. In comparison to the quality that has come through the Saints and Wigan systems over the last 7 or 8 years it’s not hard to see why our youngsters haven’t given us a springboard to success. Those two clubs have also added top quality signings from down under to elevate them even further above us. If we’re missing Ellery Hanley’s and Jason Robinson’s on our own doorstep that’s a different kettle of fish, but I don’t think there’s been a lax attitude to youth development at Headingley. I think the poor overseas signing have excaserbated the lack of quality coming through the system.

or possibly signed potentially great players but the pathway, or more likely, poor coaches have ruined their chances.

Agree with the above comment regarding the Salford loss being fatal. Our play off chances ended right there and then unfortunately.

Win our next 4 games then we give ourselves a chance.

They are all winnable if we back up the Wigan performance.

Warrington
Catalans (4 pointer)
London
Hull

We need Wigan and Hull KR to help us out at magic

Extremely unlikely we will make the playoff, obviously the Salford loss was a body blow. Frustrating, as we should have won that game.

Got to love the footage of Arthur's team talk on the behind the scenes footage. Super intense but very calm. I'd want to play for him. Pretty sure they've had to edit the swearing.

Think we’ve also been incredibly unlucky.
Walker was quality and winning a grand finals aged 17-18. Repeated, severe Injury took most of then promise away.
Newman and Holroyd been absolutely blighted too.
Then not to mention poor Stevie Ward. Captain and was the figurehead to take club forwards……

Ward will be the biggest "What if" for a generation. Everything we wanted but cruelly robbed of a career and even more cruelly still suffering from the after effects to this day.

What happened is so cruel all round. Worth remembering when we are all fed up with losing a game of RL!

Think that’s our race run now, I can see Leigh taking the last 6 spot with one of Saints/Salford or Cats dropping out

Cats have been poor all season and still struggling KR made them look like a championship team. Think we will put a score on them Friday and we are two points behind and points difference greatly improved. I they play Wigan at home and Salford away after that and don’t see a win coming there either. If we beat London and Hull and we then find ourselves two points clear of them with two games to go anything can happen we might get Holroyd and Mick back last two games. We have beaten Wigan given Wire a run for there money and threw a winning lead away at Salford and Hull KR there’s still plenty to play for. As Arthur said plenty will prefer Leeds not to be in the mix season end ?

We have to score 4 more points in 5 games than one of the three sides on 26 points, and at least a point more than Leigh at the same time. Our points difference isn't great so we might even have to score more points than that. To have a shot we'll probably have to win at least four games as the worst of the teams 4 points ahead of us would only need to win 2 in the same time. If we don't win by much we'd likely have to win all five games to sneak in.

Of our remaining games we should beat Cats, London and Hull. We then play Wigan and KR, both away from home at a point when they'll be gearing up for play offs - the League Leadership might still be up for grabs for one or both as well.

The fact is that even though we're playing better under Arthur we've won 2 and lost 3. We look a better coached side but the fundamental problems of an undersized pack and lack of points still remain. Its not mathematically impossible yet, but it might be by the time we get to the last two games, even if we win the three beforehand.

Now you gave me a tenner.....

The way Catalans and Saints are playing, it is not inconceivable that both could drop out of the top 6. It isn’t likely but still possible that Leeds or Leigh could sneak in. Salford could also be vulnerable. I’m not running down to the bookies but stranger things have happened.

Nevermind the playoffs, we're getting top 4