I know its fashionable to claim to be the underdogs but if Warrington fans had come on here bragging with confidence that they were going to beat Leeds, they would have been laughed off the board. Leeds are the reigning three times in a row Super League champions.

I don't think there is masses in it but I do think Leeds are distinct favourites. If it came down to betting the mortgage I bet most neutrals would put it on Leeds, when it counts (as in the last three Grand Finals) they deliver a performance. Warrington are a decent team, second in the league and Challenge Cup holders which makes us one of the top teams around at the moment but we do not have a good record against Leeds or Saints.

Warrington have been more consistent in the league than Leeds this season but Leeds have had worse problems with injuries and a full strength Leeds side should have enough to beat a full strength Warrington side, they have got a lot of experience of winning big games and the fact that this is the one trophy which has eluded them, will only make them want it more.

I would estimate the probabilities as about 65% likelihood of a Leeds win and 35% likelihood of a Warrington win, ie if I was a neutral I would bet on Leeds but I would be nervous about Warrington winning.

Before the semi final I remember saying that if it came to us v Leeds in the final, then I thought it would be a close game as it often is between the two teams, and that because a lot of these Leeds players haven't won the Challenge Cup, that if we made Leeds face losing (ie had them behind on the scoreboard in the final 15 minutes) then they would become tetchy and panicky and we would go on to win. However that is exactly what Saints did in the semi and Leeds had the mental togetherness to come through and win it so I've re-evaluated my guess more in Leeds favour, as I can't see Warrington whacking Leeds out of sight, it will probably be quite a close final. Leeds have been relentless in being able to bear down strong Saints sides in big games so the task facing Warrington is massive.

Overall to give an analogy I would say this is similar to if Roger Federer had been out for a while through injury and his world ranking had slipped to 5th, and Andy Murray was in good form and was 2nd in the world rankings, then they met in a final. Murray might be seeded higher....but would you regard him as favourite, I wouldn't.

Ok, I am convinced. We will d1ck Warrington easily.

Happy?

we
could be and if we are you will probably win. But I think if Leeds play well we will win. If both sides play well we will still win.

I have forgiven Tony Smith his brain fart in Cardiff 5 years ago, and suspect that he knows a tad more about the game than most. So I reckon that he is basing his thoughts on that rugby knowledge, whereas some of our more big girlly posters are simply offering up their opinions.

Which are like assholes....we all have one.

I am more than happy to agree with Mr Smith, and the massed ranks of very rich bookies who have made us favourites to win this game.

Warrington will be a mere footnote at the bottom of the page, in another glorious chapter in the History of Leeds Rhinos!

Ey up Klunk, apt name. You may wish to look up Leeds appearances in Challenge Cup Finals and semi finals. I'll give you, it's fairly impressive. You might also want to look at the amount of times they've reached the semis.

I'll give yuo a clue, it's many, many more times than Warrington.

I reckon Bang's favourite.

Ryan Atkins seems to be quite confident, or should that be over confident? Quote: My family will support me, even though they are more or less all Leeds fans. ""My family will support me, even though they are more or less all Leeds fans. "Once they see their cousin or brother or son lifting the trophy, that will outweigh the disappointment of seeing their favourite team lose."'" www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 35,00.html

Ryan Atkins seems to be quite confident, or should that be over confident? Quote: My family will support me, even though they are more or less all Leeds fans. ""My family will support me, even though they are more or less all Leeds fans. "Once they see their cousin or brother or son lifting the trophy, that will outweigh the disappointment of seeing their favourite team lose."'" www.skysports.com/story/0,19528, ... 35,00.html

Did you see the Boots 'N All experts last night?




Leeds missed out on a good local lad there, not once but twice by the sounds of it.

Warrington are confident.

We're confident.

Players and fans.

Normally one team is 'hopeful', the other favourites. But this year both are very confident of winning.

Warrington have a tendency to throw the ball round too much at times and can come up with stupid errors.

For me, leeds win.