I would still like to see changes made but it wont be happening for next season imo. Looks highly likely we will get a top 4 place at this stage and we have every chance in CC still so no way GH will pull the trigger when he let things roll through 18 months of poop. Unless he sorted something out when he issued the final warning after the Cas game, but i doubt it.

Some of the stuff we have served up since 2015 i'm certain you could

Im sure those people politely and patiently explained to you why these fixtures had nothing to with fact we played mid-season international fixtures.

It was poor last night but not the worst. 8-0 vs Salford last year and losing to Bradford the week before the 2014 CC Final spring to mind as poorer games.

They do though, they have a knock on effect that the club game can't cope with.

3rd game in 8 days is always going to be low quality rugby league. I don't know why the RFL persist with these double rounds, and that includes over Easter.

If we can pick up the win over Wakey it would really put us in a strong position for a finishing top 4 spot. Think most of us expected Wigan to eventually come good and get in the 4 but they just haven't got the bodies back and I don't think they're going to make it now and that changes the playoff complexion massively if so.

Agree with this Printer

I think that most people and probably the Wigan club too believe that they would get the wins to enable them to finish in the top 4 and that they would then fancy their chances of winning the GF. They possibly still could, although it will be tough.

If Wigan do not make the top 4 then IMO the comp will be blown wide open and that all 4 of the sides will genuinely fancy their chances this year with not having to play such a battle hardened side like a full strength Wigan either in the semi's or in the final.

Sides like the Tigers,Hull FC and Salford although relatively inexperienced in the GF play off's could finally put a long overdue new name on the trophy.

If the Rhinos make the 4 then could their experience of being there and knowing what it takes to deliver the wins make them strong challengers and maybe even see them lifting the trophy for an 8th time?

I have to ask, when people post about top four, you are talking about regular season? We do realise that is not the final table? Can't see Leeds winning more than a couple of games in middle eights, so it would need a good six to eight point cushion going into that stage.

I agree however, that should certain teams miss out, it does blow the competition open. But still expect both Saints and Wigan to be there.

Sill do-able for Saints and wigan though I think it a long shot now that both will make top 4.

I'm guessing you meant you can only see Leeds winning a couple of games in the super 8s rather than the middles? If so, I think we're bit better than that. A 6 or 8 point cushion would still be nice, mind. Though if we need that much insurance it'll mean we're too poor to worry anyone in the playoffs.

have a gander at the Wigan board, they don't seem to think so, are you always so negative, every team is struggling with the amount of games and Saints got lucky getting a week off, the consistent thing about the league is its inconsistancy, i think we will make the top four and finish 2nd or 3rd, was it you or Sal who confidently stated the wire had a much better squad than us and would finish above us??

Yeah super eight if that's what we call them, you are correct. I actually thought there were seven matches left from now not six, so over estimated that. Still, that's 12 points of regular season, and I just can't see us picking up more than six, probably four. But it is the eights that worries me more, that is where IMO our true level will be shown. Although, if people are right there will be nothing for positions five to eight to play for, which makes it a null point, and in that case would accept the view.

And just to add here, I think the above purely on what I said earlier on this thread, that a win is simply not just a win. I think the last week will have a damaging effect on this Leeds team due to how they were flogged over the three games, and can't see them recovering. When your top two players play so many minutes in that period of games, you are simply looking over your shoulder for that defining injury.

As half of the games Leeds have lost have been against the team at the bottom, the super 8s should be a breeze.

I mean the final 30 game table. Think we can do well in the Super 8's. As pointed out a few of our losses have been complacent losses vs bottom 4 teams, against teams in the current top 8 we've got a healthy W-L record barring games vs Cas and decent chance we'll have 4 home games and we've got a good home record minus the blip vs Hudds.

Also the others aren't convincing are they. Still early days to think Saints are going to start ripping it up (although the Cas lineup today gives them a great chance) and as mentioned Wigan are struggling. Hull are hardly convincing and are very Jekyll and Hyde. Salford and a Wakey are doing well so far but have they got it in them to keep going all season long?

Depending how the fixtures land you could face the teams in 7th/8th when their chances have mathematically finished and they start going through the motions. I'd say after Cas we're the next most likely to finish in the top 4 at the moment.

Whoever gets through to the CC Final could play a big factor though as we've seen us and Hull struggle after winning recently.