Agreed. I think he has used the RFL rules & regulations on salary cap control to the maximum.

As I understand it, a player needs to have played a competitive game for us in the season for his salary to count. (I don't know if this is the meaning of players being registered/not registered - but seems likely)

There are a few players who are on our books but don't count under the cap then with that.

Loaning people out helps as well.

And any new recruits in the last 2weeks, are only counting for 3 months or so of the "cap year" as contracts finish at the beginning of preseason generally.

It's not easy having a bet to just be promoted. Only ones I have found are Sky Bet and that is a miserly 5/2 (and 13/10 with Paddy Power. That would be bad enough except we are 6TH FAVOURITES at that price!!

Sky Bet odds for promotion
Hull KR 1/25
Widnes 1/12
Salford 1/6
Wakefield 8/15
Leigh 1/1
Bradford 5/2
Sheffield 16/1
Halifax 25/1

Paddy Power has
Hull Kingston Rovers 1/8
Widnes Vikings 1/6
Salford Red Devils 3/10
Wakefield Wildcats 8/13
Leigh Centurions 8/13
Bradford Bulls 13/10
Sheffield Eagles 15/2
Halifax 11/1

I'm particularly loving it how Paddy Power has FIVE teams odds-on to get promoted!

Lee Gaskell's thoughts on the upcoming Super 8s - The Qualifiers: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02ybcz2

Lee Gaskell's thoughts on the upcoming Super 8s - The Qualifiers: www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02ybcz2

Happy enough with way fixtures have worked out. Good opportunity to put points on board early before a tough Middle period followed by a winnable couple to end.

Widnes stand out at 1/3 for the top 3 with Skybet. They're a stable club with 4 home games. They haven't conceded 40 points in a game all year and if Brown is back I can see them topping the table.

If our price was based on form so far, you'd say it was very skinny. However, with the new guys we've brought in and Gaskell, Mullaney and to a lesser extent Siejka to come back I'd say 5/2 stands favourably against Leigh at levels and Wakey at 8/15 which looks ridiculous.

I think Salford will get by as they have enough senior pros who will pull the squad together. Hull KR have looked like they don't have enough players all year and it remains to be seen what emerges from a CC semi with Wire. With Leigh first up that looks a huge game for both sides.

Fax and Sheff will start well and I don't think it's an advantage to play Sheff first up. Fax have two killer ties to start with which is a shame for them.

Gonna be brutal on the finger nails! COYB

Do people expect it to be as clear cut as the bookies think?

I don't think there is a gulf between the division as those odds would seem to suggest.....?!

If you analyse it a little, if I multiply the odds of the 4 SL clubs each being promoted, it totals up as Evens.

Looked at that way, it means the bookies think it is as likely that one will drop as it is that all four will stay up.

One of them will almost certainly be in the playoff game, whatever they do, so I suppose as a SL group, evens is about right.

If a Championship club gets the miracle of automatic promotion then that can only be Leigh, and if they don't then they will certainly be in the playoff, so Evens sounds about right to me.

Thinking about it, I don't think the overall picture of the odds is showing a huge gulf at all, it is reflecting that there is a very real chance that Leigh will oust a SL team and at the start of the season, I would not have said that would be an even money shot. But with the demise of Wakey and Salford it is at least genuinely on the cards.

Player for player I think Leigh are a tad stronger than Wakey, we're 5-10 points weaker.

The first two games are incredibly important. Its entirely plausible that Leigh could lose both of their opening games or win them both.

Having said that, I'm hoping that Salford beat both Wakey and Leigh before collapsing.

Can anyone clarify where the "million pound" game is played?? Neutral ground or higher placed finished at home?

At the home of the 4th placed team.

Thanks... I find that an odd one as there is a strong possibility that could be a super league side at home to a championship side. So not only is there a huge salary cap difference, there could be home advantage as well! I think a neutral ground would be best call for all concerned. Anyone agree or am I being picky??

I agree, unless of course we are at home. In which case I don't agree.

You are hoping and expecting a lot for the coming 8s , the Bulls days of dominance are over, Fax will finish above you , BE AFRAID.