Looking at the table and the fixtures of Huddersfield, Catalans and ourselves I think it is still very possible.
We play:
Cas (H)
Quins (A)
Wakefield (H)
Hudds (A)

Hudds play:
Saints (A)
Salford (A)
Quins (H)
Leeds (H)

Catalans play:
Hull (A)
Warrington (H)
Hull KR (H)
Salford (A)

With Huddersfield we need them to lose two of those first 3 games, St Helens is likely to be one of them and with Salford still pushing for play offs then going to the Willows will be difficult for them as well, we win our first 3 and then go into the game at the Galpharm a point behind them.

Considering we have to win all 4 games and hope Catalans lose two to be level on points with them then I guess it's likely our points difference would be better than theirs.
Fourth spot is unlikely, especially with the Challenge Cup games which will be priority but it is still possible.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=503052 Not going to happen. 6th at best.

viewtopic.php?f=17&t=503052 Not going to happen. 6th at best.

I already started this topic after the Salford victory, but the error of my thoughts was pointed out , so to speak! As others pointed out, we would need a whole stack of other results to go our way, all the way to the end of the season, and we would probably need to win all our remaining fixtures, but the thing is we have a major distraction in place called the Challenge Cup!
Conclusion:- 5th possible, 6th more likely, 4th a minor miracle!

Keep the faith. Its within reach

BELIEVE!

More chance of tad's hair growing

Although i can see Leeds finishing the season very strongly i think the fact that we'll be in the Challenge cup final will prevent us from finishing any higher than 6th realistically. I know the players and coach say we're still in with a massive shout come the play-offs, but even they must know that the Cup represents our biggest chance of winning anything this season.

cant see us making the top 4

It would be a travesty and an indication of the poor quality in SL if we did.

I think 6th...and an early exit from the play offs due to the fall out from winning the CC - the one that the club and players really want to complete their collection of medals.

CC final loss to wigan and 2nd round playoff exit is where my money is.

No chance of us making the top 4, we'll probably finish 6th and will then face the never been done before scenario of winning a GF from such a lowly position

The CC is our most realistic aim of silverware this season, although some side will possibly win the GF from our current position eventually

For a side to win the GF from such a lowly position a number of factors needs to be in play.

They need to be in awesome form, have the ability to win it in the first place get some luck in the tight playoff games and have a few teams above them self destruct in some way.

When bradford won it in 2005, the only team to win from outside the top 2, they finished 3rd and they had everything going in their favour. They pretty much had a first choice 17 fully fit, all their key players were fireing, they had the coach and the players that had won it before, they had new players added to the team (an already strong squad) before the playoffs and the 2 teams above them self destructed. Both got injuries to key players - saints more than leeds, and leeds burnt out.

When you consider all the factors that fell into place it wasn't even a shock when you look back with hindsight.

And all this was in place for a team that finished 3rd and had made tghe previous 4 grand finals winning 2!!!!

Leeds have no chance of a grand final win this year because they aren't good enough, let alone having everything going in their favour at the right time.

I hope the teams finishing 1 and 2 always contest the Grand Final and then it's all on the night. If 1 or 2 fails to make the final I hope the other still takes out the prize over the team finishing third or lower.

Having a winner from outside the top two devalues the league campaign and harms the credibility of the comp IMO.

I see your point, but I think the play-off system has been quite successful in creating interest (and income) in the end of the season, sometimes long after the title would have been decided the old fashioned way, and for more teams. RL needs the money, in my opinion.

If nobody outside the top 2, or even 3, ever wins it, sooner or later it will dawn on the great unwashed below those positions that actually their season is over and the magic will be gone. A winner from 5th or 6th would do the play-off concept a world of good.

Still can't see it happening. There were times earlier this year when it looked like a 4 horse race, but I think we're down to 3 at best again now.

Hasn't the all conquering NRL had a winner from 8th before? Wests I think...