With any format you get close seasons and not so close ones. Someone (May have been that idiot Rod Studd) was going on about this Premiership title race between Man City and Liverpool and saying this is proof that we should have a first past the post system in RL, whilst ignoring that 12 months prior Man City we’re out of sight by December and the whole second half of the season was a stroll.

Next year we could have 1st and 2nd neck and neck all the way to Round 29 but a team cut adrift at the bottom by about 8-10 points. Just how it goes buybacks first sight of unclose race and people start skating the system. One of the issues many had with the 8’s is that the teams placed 6th-8th at the start of the Super 8’s were too far adrift and people were trying to come up with solutions to solve this instead of the obvious ones that teams there should’ve done better to be closer to 4th....a number of clubs had a poor mindset of “we need to be in the top 8 after 23 rounds” instead of thinking they should be top 4 after 23 rounds. An attitude/approach of just doing enough to survive but then blame it on others when you can’t thrive....as is so often the way with too many SL clubs.

Wouldn't be surprised to see Wigan at Old Trafford again this year

Saying this Catalans have now lost Sam Moa and Baitieri for the remainder of the season so makes their life harder.

Most teams talking about getting this or that player back from injury soon but reality is at least one or two clubs in the fight are going to suffer some more injuries in the remaining games and they could be crucial losses.

I was thinking the same.....they've quietly crept up the table and seem to be in a bit of form.....I can see them winning all but 1 of their remaining fixtures.....HKR twice and Wakefield Twice as well as Catalans, FC, Castleford and wire.....only Saint's will beat them IMHO.
The fact they have HKR and Wakey Twice in such a short space of time shows the lunacy of these loop fixtures.......HR both in Wigan on a Friday night does nobody any favours!

4 points off Hull in 3rd, if Hull get to Wembley (and losing a few league games either side of that that often happens to teams) then Wigan could only have to go from 3rd which is definitely doable. They might not look as strong on paper as previous years but their players know how to win at Old Trafford which we’ve seen is important over the years.

FC? They play them once...it's KR they play twice and Wakey. I can see them 3rd.....and as you say, they know how to get there and win, but I haven't seen a better side this year than Saints

No I meant as in 4 points behind (off) Hull in 3rd

Talk of Wigan getting to the Grand Final is very premature. Yes they’ve won 4 in a row but look at who those wins have come against, Kr, Leeds, Huddersfield and Salford. It’s hardly a list of great sides and some of those wins haven’t been that convincing. There’s certainly nothing to suggest they’re capable of beating Warrington or Saints.

I'd reckon Wire are not the best side at the DW.......

Talk of any side getting to Old Trafford is premature really until they actually get there....as Saints found out last year.

The 5 teams have the potential to get to Old Trafford, Saints look almost certain to be there, but it only takes a few injuries and upsets with results. (stating the obvious, I know!)

So....another weekend of results that impact and coming up, another.
Wigan v Wakey. Hosts need to win to consolidate a top 5 spot, whilst the "we're a top 5 side" Wakey need to halt the fall...Wigan by a fair few
HKR v Hudds. Have to say if HKR win this then they are looking safe...Hudds are safe already....or are they?
Leeds v FC. Depends on which FC turn up...no joy for Leeds here
Broncos v Saints......Broncos wont catch 'em cold again, so saints by a few
Salford Catalans......Salford by plenty for me and Jean to vanish for 6 days or so....
Castleford v Wire. Cas need this more than Wire, who must now have given up on the hubcap....hard to call

Why are Wakefield in trouble and Giants safe when Giants are two points behind them?

All to play for as all bottom 5 play each other.

Not now Saints are to rest 10 or so !!

I would guess that Hull may rest a few against Leeds but the way they've played the last few weeks it maybe difficult to notice the difference