Title says it all. If we have any chance at all of getting to Old Trafford we need to finish top. The top 3 is looking fairly settled as it stands. If we can finish top and let Leeds and Wigan knock the hell out of each other twice whilst (with no disrespect) being able to play Castleford at home and then be able to choose who we play the week after, we may have a small chance.

Saints v Cas
Leeds v Wigan
Wire v Widnes
Hudds v Cats

Cas v Wire
Leeds v Hudds

Saints v Cas
Wigan v Leeds

Saints v Wigan

Optimistic?

Very optimistic

IF (and its a relatively big if) we can stay top, I would fancy our chances vs Cas, it usually takes new teams a couple of games to get used to the playoffs, and the home advantage might actually mean something to us this year! Beyond that its difficult to tell, no one team has really stood above the rest, and a fortified performance like the one vs Leeds at LP could see us through to the big stage.

The difficulty is staying top. I reckon wins vs Hull and vs Wakefield will secure us a top 4 spot. But after that who knows. Huddersfield are almost as jekyll and hyde as we are, Warrington were playing great, but seem to have hit a road block, which if it turns into a full blown drop in form could be disasterous for them, and Leeds are just Leeds. We'd need 1/2 wins from those 3 games to stand a chance of securing top (depending on how other results go) - which is doable, if not unlikely.

Putting both together though will be a very big ask. The problem with so many playmakers out is we will become predictable, and in turn the plan might work for the play offs, but be too late as we surrendered the easier run, or work in securing top but mean teams know how to play us in the playoffs.

If we win tonight we could give the League Leaders Shield a good shot, I think the play offs towards a final might be too tough with all our playmakers sat in the stands.
We would need some teams to pick up injuries to like wise players then we might stand a change with our pack that has toughened up these past few weeks.

I could see us taking out the league leaders shield, partly through a backs-to-the-wall attitude, but also partly because there's every chance our rivals will slip up in the coming weeks. I can't see us winning against Wigan, Wire or Leeds in the playoffs, though.

We have

Hull
Wakey
Leeds
Warrington
Huddersfield

Unless we can fluke some serious points I can't see us getting a better points difference than Leeds or Wigan. So if we lose our game advantage we drop a place.

Hull I think is winnable, they have their issues at halfback too. But the rest of the games should go true to form this week.

Wakey at home, I'd hope we win. Only Hull KR away seems to be dodgy that week for Wigan.

Leeds Away is tough, but it's after the CC final so who knows. If Leeds get to the final will they all play again and be up to it on the Friday??

The Week we play Warrington it's at home and they have had a dip in form recently. Also Wigan and Leeds play each other so someone is going to lose a point.

I'd give us 50/50 of getting top spot. 2nd is no better than 3rd really as it's a tough draw.

If you get top spot, you have to be favourites to make the final, but in our case probably not win it.

If we beat Hull and Wakey, our chances go up a hell of a lot. If there are any shocks and Leeds lose one. Then I would put us as favourites.

Out of play offs without a win. Even with the good player we'd have struggled. With Walsh, Lomax and Wilkin all out, we simply don't have chance.

I'll take that bet.

If I win you have to refrain from bashing Wello till March 2015.

If I win I will stop posting entirely till March 2015.

I don't think any of us fancy us winning the GF.
The league leader's shield is a trophy, it may the 3rd in the pile, but its more than we've won in a few years.
Get it in the cabinet.

I'll say that won't happen. £100 to Steve Prescott Charity from the loser.

Nah! That wont happen. Saints will get to the last four along with Wire, Wigan & Leeds.

wigan warrington final.

Wigan win.

Leeds and saints will both lose in the GF semi against either wigan or warrington.

Obviously I'm biased, but even with my level head on, I'd agree with this, except if Wire make the Final we will win regardless of who we play. Not being big headed about this, because I've been watching RL for 32 years and I know when we have been poop beyond belief & I know when we've been brill (2011). We are not as good as 2011, but this Saturday against Leeds we will have a virtual full strength squad to choose from apart from Ben Evans who is no more than 3 weeks away. TS has managed his squad to perfection so that all our players are fit and ready for the big games to come ( I know luck does play some part in this).

I have been saying since February that the G/F will be a repeat, my belief has been blown off course a few times, particularly early season when Wire were 3rd from bottom & playing awful Rugby. If Walsh, Lomax & Roby had all been fit now, then it would be any 2 from Us, Saints or Wigan for the G/F. Leeds have never been in my serious reckoning.

St Helens (34 - 236) - Wakefield, Leeds, Warrington, Huddersfield
Wigan (32 - 400) - Hull KR, Widnes, Leeds, Warrington.
Leeds (32 - 289) - London, St Helens, Wigan, Hull FC.
Castleford (32 - 273) - Warrington, Bradford, Wakefield, Catalan.
Warrington (30 - 217) - Castleford, Huddersfield, St Helens, Wigan.
Huddersfield (30 - 134) - Widnes, Warrington, Hull FC, St Helens.

Castleford have the best run in, play today vs London. They'll be two points behind providing they win today, you'd expect vs London a big points for too.
Not sure how they'll do it for final game of season when Wigan play Thursday, Leeds play Friday, Castleford play Saturday and St Helens play Sunday.

EDITED - after Castleford, Huddersfield played Today.

Usually very optimistic but if we win any of our remaining games I'll be surprised.