Yeah I would, considering we drew with one of them 2 weeks ago and beat the champions very easily 4 weeks ago. In fact we've beaten all but one of them already this season.

With Briscoe, Hall, Kylie and Sinfield to come back i'm backing Leeds to go on and finish top quite easily, especially with the number of home games we've got to play. Whether we can go on and win the GF is another matter but it really wouldn't be a shock, would it?

The difference is some teams are getting stronger - Wigan, Huddersfield and Warrington whilst some appear to be weakening Leeds & Saints - there is a long way to go yet. I can't see Leeds finishing top - even before the break never mind after the split. The way the season is now configured doesn't help an ageing team like Leeds at all. Can they win the GF yes, it would be a major shock if they did.

Well there's no surprise in you being negative and writing Leeds off, again..... But how are Leeds weakening? We're top of the league despite losing Hall, Briscoe, Kylie and Sinfield.

Leeds have lost 2 and drawn 1 of their last 6 games.
Huddersfield have lost 3 and drawn 1 of their last 6 games.
Wire have lost 3 of their last 6 games
Saints have lost 3 of their last 6 games.
Wigan have won 5 of their last 6 games, most of which were at home against mid-lower table clubs.

Yeah they're all massively outplaying the "weakening" Leeds & Saints.

Or to spin that another way:

Leeds have won 1, lost 2 and drawn 1 of their last 4 games and have no wins in their last 3.
Huddersfield have won 3 and drawn 1 of their last 4 games
Wigan have won all their last 4 games
Saints have won 2 and lost 2 of their last 4 games
Warrington have won 2 and lost 2 of their last 4 games

Now can you see how those teams are outperforming Leeds?

Factor in that over their last four games Leeds have only really looked in decent form for two spells of forty minutes (the opening halves at Huddersfield & Saints) and otherwise have been on the back foot, and can you see now how difficult it looks to see them holding on to top spot over the next 9 rounds?

Every team in the competition have injuries. Pointing to losing your first choice wingers, an over the hill prop and a player who has been left out for non-injury related matters is grasping at straws. Saints won the Grand Final last year despite being in a much worse position injury wise.

And got their s handed to them on a plate on more than one occasion too.

Because four is more recent than six, and one would be unrepresentative.

Going back six instead means you include scratchy wins against a depleted Salford and the worst team in the competition (who still managed to put 22 points on us at home). Something you were quick to dismiss when interpreting Wigan's recent run of wins. If you're going to attach weight to particular wins or losses, at least do it consistently across all teams.

Would you say Leeds' form is improving or getting worse? Would you say Wigan, Warrington & Huddersfield are improving or getting worse?

The key personnel are getting older the side has been strengthen significantly so unless the quality of the league is regressing quicker than Leeds are I am unsure how logically you can be so confident of them achieving something they haven't done since 2012?

I said it is possible but there will be very few people expecting it to happen

I would say we have hit the predictable mid season flat spot. No team will go through a season theses days hitting top form in every match. Certain of the old guard and some of the young ones have lost a bit of early season edge. Add to that injuries to key personnel and that can make the difference. We need to struggle through the lost form and hope that the return of Hall, JJB, Kylie and eventually Briscoe will kick start the season in time for a strong finish. In a way we could do without an extended Cup run this season.

Oh. So it has to be 4 then because it helps to back up your point, I get it now. What about the last 3, is that allowed? Obviously it can't be 6 because we played Wakefield and no one else (Saints & Wire) have played them in the last 6 weeks and Wigan didn't play a depleted and totally uninterested Hull KR a couple of weeks ago...

Cannot it not be 1 because we all know you're only ever as good as your last game - apparently.

What about......



Or doesn't that count because Leeds have lost 1 more game than their closest rivals recently?

I'd say Leeds have started to struggle without the 2 wingers, Kylie & their leader in recent weeks. That's plain for all to see but 3 of those 4 are in the squad for Saturday and we've got one of the best league run-ins we've had for years this season. Unless we really get ravaged by injury then top 2 is pretty much nailed on IMO, giving us a home tie in the semis when anything can heppen, but i'm an optimist and always have been. Unlike yourself who's done nothing but be negative all season.

Struggling without Kylie?
Come on mate he's been a reasonable 10 minute spell prop for over a year ,as for Sinfield we may miss his leadership and GK but form? Not imo.
Agree we miss Hall and Briscoe but lets be honest thats only in part because the Coach use them as extra forwards because he's flogged most of ours or refuses to give the younger lads longer minutes.

Briscoe was the best winger in the comp before his injury and with Hall missing too it's forced us into playing the comp's best centre on the wing.
We've had Watkins on the wing, Keinhorst getting game time... And so what if they're used as extra forwards, they're more than up to the task and do an outstanding job of it.

"we may miss his leadership and goal kicking" - Indeed and it probably cost us a point v Hudds. We were a different side when he came on vs Wire too but it was too late.

Kylie hasn't been doing 10 mins for over a year either.

Did you see Sinfields defence v Wire?
Kylie hasn't been doing 10 minute spells but certainly only effective for 10 minutes and virtually a passenger the rest.

Some on here simply have a blank where Sinfield is concerned. I would still pick him in my 17 though