Looking at our last few games and our close rivals , I think it looks like Wigan will finish top with us second.
This assumption is based on saints dropping points due to injurys to players.
I really think we need to finish in the top two, this because we are not as strong as recent years to do it the hard way.
You never know we may even finish top .
All in all I would love to see a cas - rhinos wembly I am sure it would be a superb final after last years dross.
If we won ,that would complete my season, anything else would just be a welcome bonus.

After many years of GF success and don't get me wrong I wouldn't change them for the world I really want the Challenge Cup this year.

Really Really Really Really Really Really badly...!!!

Quite correct , we have had far too many failures in recent years. I know it's many moons ago but I will never forget Alan Tait whilst confronting an oncoming Martin Offiah for some reason pointed to the corner flag,inviting to Offiah to run wide which Offiah promptly did leaving tait in his slipstream .
The London final was enjoyable mainly for big Barrie's try. One of our best performances whilst a long time ago was our success against a very good saints side. John Atkinson was outstanding that day.
So we are coming to the business end of the season which for me has been a strange season, mainly because of injurys and topsy turvy form.
At least we are in the running for both trophys so that's something to be grateful for.

I'd rather take out another title.

We'd need to win another few CC's to be up there with our rivals in the super league era, whereas if we take out another title we are putting daylight between us and saints for amount of super league grand finalds won.

Also, in our entire history the trophies are still lopsided in favour of the CC. We have, what, 11 CC's to our name? and 9 titles. Wigan have about 20 titles. We need more titles, let's get to double figures.

Of course if it's a choice between no trophies and a CC, obviously i'll take the CC.

I thought Handley was only switched recently and had played more games this year on the wing. How many games has he played this year at centre?

I think the squad looks pretty strong considering the injured players(even if they are precautionary). Fair play for resting a couple too.

Up to the players coming in to put their hands for regular first team action.

He's played quite a few there that I've seen JC don't have the exact stats though.

Hopefully Handley is better than when I watched him in the Hunslet friendly at the beginning of the year.

The back 3 of him, Ashton Goulding and Torin Longstaff put in the worst performance of a back 3 I've ever witnessed. Goulding in particular made Vickery look Hall-esque.

Also recall saying the only standouts on that day from the hyped youngsters were Josh Walters and Robbie Ward......and low and behold several months later.

I had the feeling that he only played at centre for the last 5 or 6 games which is not a lot of experience to step up to play centre in SL. He could be more comfortable on the wing for his debut IMO. Depends how he has gone in training I guess because he is a big guy and having a good season.

Definitely played more than 5/6 games there JC!
Printer-However bad Golding and Handley were in that pre-season game they aren't hyped and both very good prospects.

we really can't afford to slip up tonight. with Saints (H) Wigan (A) and Hull (A) as 3 of our last 4 these could turn out to be a vital couple of points.

I agree but seems clear CC semi is the priority given the 'weakened' team tonight against a Bulls team that will be fired up (or so you'd think) with it been the last derby for at least a year and with them high on confidence after last week and the return of Lowes to HQ.

Can see Bradford trying to 'rough' us up tonight knowing that our players cannot risk getting too involved in the 'biff' with the semi next week

I think tonight is a tougher game than most will have been expecting a few weeks ago.

On paper our next two league games should have been and should still be 4 points against the two relegated teams which could end up us being in pole position for the hub cap..... But if we win next week, we play London the week before the final. In that scenario another weakened team on the cards......Broncos first win of season anyone?? they've beaten us before the week before Wembley if memory serves me right

If as seems likely according to the weather forecast tonight's game will be played in the wet then that further helps the Bulls.
I'll be going tonight with a sense of foreboding, recalling the disappointment of this game last season.

Forecast sounds bloody awful for tonight.

My highlight for this evening will be drowning myself in Meat at Reds BBQ before hand then washing it down with several watery Beers in the South Stand.

Hard to know whether the injured players could have played or not. Assuming there was choice, I think the proof of the pudding is in the eating when you rest players. If you lose a game you would expect to win, then inevitably questions will be asked. If you win then it's the right decision.

I still think a first or second place finish is a real possibility, but it would start to look fairly unlikely if we lost tonight. Top 4 is a must I think (despite our past success from below there, I wouldn't want to count on replicating it) and I definitely think there's an advantage to playing the big play off games at home (though I would put home advantage second to form and momentum on the list).