Cup final? I don't think so, the Batley and London games are much more important to Fev, if we win those then we are likely to get 6th in the middle 8s - 750k compared to 450k for finishing 8th.

Personally I couldn't give a rats ar$e if Fev win this game or if Leeds win this game by 1pt or 60pts as long as we can beat London and Batley.

Cup final? Nope. Good day out? Yep.

Dave speaking on the positive thread, if we all think this is a way forward to reach the terminus on the front of the 8's then make it more positive and show what could happen, I for one will know it can be enjoyed.

I'd have thought that its quite possible that the first week could well be the toughest against all the Championship sides, as they'll all be up for it. It is like a cup game so they'll go all out. After a couple of games (or based on last year just one for some teams - I'm looking at you Leigh) the effort of playing tougher games every week will tell.

I wouldn't be surprised at a very close game. Back in the day Fev used to beat us quite a lot - often when form said they shouldn't IIRC.

It's all about speed and precision, like an experienced assassin leeds need to kill this game and the middle 8's dead quickly. No fuss, get off to a ruthless start at 100mph. Because if they dilly dally eith mistakes and penalties fev will grow in confidence and it will become a titanic tussle. The same goes for the middle 8's as a whole.

Charlie,

Potentially anything could happen, as you know I'd written us off ages ago. A win against Leeds would be awesome, but not our cup final.

Agreed, we need to be in a guaranteed SL position before Leigh do us in the final round.

Moon, McGuire and Delaney added to the 17 which played at Hull KR, Lilley misses out altogether.

Presumably Achurch and Golding miss out, with Keinhorst dropping to the bench and Delaney starting there.

I think Lilley is injured or at least looked like he had aggrievated his shoulder against HKR.
But if McGuire is fit I doubt Lilley would get into the 17 anyway.
The coaches choice not mine.

So now Lilley, Handley and Mullally could be named in the Featherstone 19 and not be available for us again this season.

This.

Depressingly so infact.

The players can talk the talk, making the right noises about how difficult it will be and how much they respect these teams. But talking, and actually being in that mental space where they can go out there and perform like it's a playoff series for the grand final are 2 completely different things. But that's what they are going to need to do if they want to blow this thing out of the water before it's squeaky bum time.

That's why Featherstone away is the perfect first game for us, if any of our players are under the delusion that the Championship teams are just going to roll over Featherstone will quickly knock some sense into them. And quite honestly if any player goes into the middle eights half d with their job on the line we should be looking at moving them on.