I think this is why this format works. Cas are getting rewarded for their season by having a home semi final to get to old Trafford. The rest of the top 8 I think is pretty even and it's completely up in the air with lots to play for.

I think it will be interesting to see what happens to Wakefield and Salford. Whether they will fall away like a lot of people expect or if they can maintain what they have done.

I think Cas, Leeds and Hull will finish in the top 3. 4th is between Salford, Wakefield and saints. I think Hudds are too far adrift and I'm really unconvinced by Wigan, but it would not surprise me if they turn it around.

1. Cas
2. Leeds
3. Hull
4. Saints
5. Wakefield
6. Salford
7. Wigan
8. Huddersfield

I think it was be a Castleford v Hull final.

Saints finished 10 points above Bradford in 2005 but Bradford won the SL.
And in 2012 we finished 10 points above Leeds and they won SL.

Also Cas can't do the double because they're not in the CC Semi Finals.

l think if Wigan squeeze into 4th the team that misses out (except Salford ) should be well miffed, Salford and Leeds put out weakened teams, especially Leeds, and please don,t tell me dispite what the MO said they were all unfit to play, Wigan (no fault of theirs) were handed 2 pts on a plate.
I am sure if this had happened in the NRL there would have been a heavy price to pay, just brings the game and the RFL into further disrepute, it really is bad form.

If Saints play like they did at Belle Vue on Sunday then I think they'd beat Cas.

Also Warrington finished 13 points above Leeds in 2011 but we all know who won the semi final at the Haliwell Jones.

Potential problem for Cas is taking momentum and form into the playoff semi final. 4 or 5 dead rubbers isn't ideal preparation and how they manage that period (presumably some key players will be rested) is crucial. Seen it plenty of times in sport that keeping form and performances up when uour league position is settled is a struggle.

Saints played well but some iffy defence from Wakey led to a number of the tries. Cas won't defend like Wakey.

Then on the flip side there's the whole burnt out scenario, we will avoid that this year which we couldn't in 2014.

If only this was true I'd be relatively happy, but just to correct your post we actually put a full strength team out as we needed the win to guarantee top four. The four or so missing have been missing for a while in fact pretty much as long as our dip in form.

You mean League Leaders and Grand Final? They can't be CC finalists. We saw to that.

We can't win, if we were in a challenge
To win the cup or the LLS it would be that we would suffer from burn out. Now we're out of the cup and have smashed the league we won't be battle hardened. The only genuine concern I have is we haven't been in the grand final before and the occlusion could get to us if we get there. Do I think it will ??? Not personally, as I said if we're at our best we blow anyne away but it gives the newly formed cas haters club some straws to grasp at until October I suppose.

It's not really clutching at straws though is it, especially as you even acknowledge it as a concern yourself. Teams getting to the big stage and not being able to handle it happens quite often.

Bang on, like Wakey on Sunday. I was in Llorett and even heard the choking from over there

for huddersfield i feel it will be plenty of dead rubber games for us pretty soon, objective for 2017 has already been acheived and im happy with that from where we have come from.

as for the middle 8's... will it really matter if someone goes down... the rfl seem to be heading towards 13 teams for 2018 season so may just offer the team that goes 'down' a place?!

If they go to 13 clubs in SL, does that mean they are scrapping the Magic Weekend ?
They will either go to 14 clubs or amend the criteria to accommodate Toronto and/or Toulouse ??