Also what does help us (a bit) is that a lot of the teams in the relegation battle play each other so those are games where one of our fellow strugglers will lose

London have four away. Two points behind everyone and with an irretrievable points diff, they're gone IMO.

EDIT: sorry, hadn't seen that Gotcha had posted something v similar when I wrote this.

I'm not sure. They've shown some spirit. I doubt they're ready to throw in the towel yet. Their last few fixtures are all teams directly above them.

Probably, but if they pick up wins against Hull kr, Wakefield and one other, I think they will survive. A big ask but they still have a fighting chance.

This might be a bit controversial but not having one team clearly and obviously screwed and going down isn't ideal IMO. In the case of us, we would really have liked to focus on rebuilding, having a look at some of the younger players etc. this season. However, having 4 or 5 teams all capable of going down and scrapping and scrabbling for points is a massive distraction. You can't rebuild a house while it's still on fire. Literally we will probably be looking at one win being the difference between 3 or 4 teams, Leeds included. What job can you do other than survive? You can't take risks you have no time to bed players in - instant impact or out - same with the coach, we've already binned Furner (which seems like an age ago now but it was this season).
I'm sure it's all lovely and interesting for neutrals but in reality Saints are p!$$ing it this year and frankly watching several terrible teams with zero consistency battle to avoid financial disaster and possibly genuine extinction is not my idea of fun.

As you say for the neutral it's a different matter. I can imagine it would be far duller if the bottom 5 had nothing to play for.

This just doesn’t happen safe from relegation or otherwise. Senior players are very rarely dropped from a side just to give youngsters a chance. Catalan, Salford and Cas are all safe, none of them are fielding weakened sides to have a look at youngsters, other than those down to injuries. This is what a pre season friendly, reserve game, dual registration or loans are for, not a Super League fixture.

Forecast final standing Wins in Bold
26 Hull KR............Wigan, Wakefield, Catalan, London, Salford,
22 Leeds.............. Catalan, St Helens, London, Salford, Warrington
22 Huddersfield......Salford, Castleford, Hull, Catalan St Helens
22 Wakefield..........Hull, Hull KR, Wigan, Warrington, London
18 London............Castleford, Catalan, Leeds, Hull KR, Wakefield

Its the plastic pitch that might overturn Leeds !

I won't predict individual matches, but I am very confident as I have been for the last few months, that of that group we will finish highest. Which would dissagree with your Leeds and Hull KR predictions.

I couldn't disagree more.

I would argue that it couldn't get any duller, but that's my personal view I guess.

Ive said for a fair few weeks (and have been wrong!) that I think London will struggle in the run in, I'm not sure they have the squad to see them through, endeavour and spirit will only get you so far. Having said that Wakefield look absolutely shot to pieces and they may struggle to get a win out of their last 5.

I am just hoping we win our next 2 which should see us safe.