One of the league's hardy perennials is that every year, someone connected to the team finishing top after the weekly rounds, will claim that achievement is more important than winning the grand final. They'll usually use words like 'consistency' and 'endurance'.

Tragically, I see Darryl Powell hasn't been able to resist that siren call. The problem for him is that in making this laughable claim, he's sending out a huge signal to the other clubs that he doesn't think Cas are going to be able to stand the pressure of the finals series.

Because that's the reason our champions are crowned at the Grand Final. The regular season puts clubs in contention. All qualifying clubs have to demonstrate a degree of consistency and endurance in order to be in the hunt. But the finals series also demonstrates an ability to compete when the pressure is on, when there are no easy games against weaker clubs, and when all professional coaches - hopefully including Powell - have prepared their teams to peak.

To state that the hubcapis more important than the grand final is an admission of defeat. Getting ones excuses in early in case it all collapses when the pressure is really on.

I have enormous respect for Powell's talent spotting and development skills. He's done a great job at Castleford. But you don't get to decide you've won when the competition isn't over. We all knew the score when the season started. If he wants to be coach of a champion side, he needs to win at Old Trafford. Anything less, and his protestations will just be the sour grapes of a defeated man.

Certainly I imagine the coaches of the other competing clubs have taken great heart from his comments today.

One of the league's hardy perennials is that every year, someone connected to the team finishing top after the weekly rounds, will claim that achievement is more important than winning the grand final. They'll usually use words like 'consistency' and 'endurance'.

Tragically, I see Darryl Powell hasn't been able to resist that siren call. The problem for him is that in making this laughable claim, he's sending out a huge signal to the other clubs that he doesn't think Cas are going to be able to stand the pressure of the finals series.

Because that's the reason our champions are crowned at the Grand Final. The regular season puts clubs in contention. All qualifying clubs have to demonstrate a degree of consistency and endurance in order to be in the hunt. But the finals series also demonstrates an ability to compete when the pressure is on, when there are no easy games against weaker clubs, and when all professional coaches - hopefully including Powell - have prepared their teams to peak.

To state that the hubcapis more important than the grand final is an admission of defeat. Getting ones excuses in early in case it all collapses when the pressure is really on.

I have enormous respect for Powell's talent spotting and development skills. He's done a great job at Castleford. But you don't get to decide you've won when the competition isn't over. We all knew the score when the season started. If he wants to be coach of a champion side, he needs to win at Old Trafford. Anything less, and his protestations will just be the sour grapes of a defeated man.

Certainly I imagine the coaches of the other competing clubs have taken great heart from his comments today.

I would find it interesting to see from which examples you can show that DP is good at getting his excuses in early Roy.

His statement today - if quoted accurately - on the BBC website. To suggest that the hubcap is a greater achievement than the Grand Final is risible.

What I'd expect of a confident coach is more like 'Finishing at the top of the table is an impressive achievement, and one of our goals, but we want to be champions, and that's where our focus is'.

Not 'we've done the hardest job now, the rest doesn't mean as much'.

Whether the hubcap is more important or not (and it clearly isn't), surely any coach wanting to go on and win the GF should be talking it down, just to keep his players focused on the "big" prize.
IF his players actually believe that they already have the most important trophy, there is a risk, however small, that they may go a little bit soft.
Having said that, for Cas to finish top of the pile for the first time in their history, is a big deal for them and no doubt, sales of KFC and Pomagne will go through the roof if they are presented with the Hubcap tomorrow.

Apologies Roy, i didn't make my question clear enough.

When i said examples, what i meant was an example of where DP's representation of his thoughts has been questionable in the past.

There is a case for the argument that the "hubcap" is a greater achievement than winning the Grand Final, as used to be the case in our sport for many, many years, and is so in many other professional sports to this day.

I think the issue may be that people do not like change generally, in whatever way it presents itself.

You are,of course, assuming that DP delivers his tactics to the team via the BBC website! What a coach says publicly & what he says to the team are worlds apart; but I'm sure you know that & can empty your net now!

Mountain out of a molehill. I suspect a tinge of jealousy.

I would agree if all the sides went in at the start of the season with that attitude, and the champions were actually the team that finished top after 30 games and not the team that wins the GF.

Look, i'm not saying cas Wouldn't have finished top even if that were the case, they have cantered home this year and it will mean a lot to them i get it and am happy for them. Still doesn't change the fact it will mean nowt if his side doesn't win at OT..... he states in his quote that Warrington finishing top of the pile last year means they were the best team of 2016 but in all honesty i had already forgotten who finished top last year, but can remember Wigan celebrating lifting the trophy infront of 75k last October. I can barely recall a handful of LLS winners over the last 20 years but i could reel of every GF winner from 98 to last year without missing a beat.

My team (Tigers) have never won it so I'm quite happy to be seeing them on the verge of something truly historic. I'd love them to go on and win at OT as well but even if they didn't get to the final I would still be content with the season we have had.
The prize money for the LLS (100K) now means is is well worth winning as well so that is not to be sniffed at either.
I wouldn't take to heart too much either what coach Powell says to the press.

There is an argument that the LLS is awarded to the best team over the course of the season.
However, in RL the Grand Final is the real prize. Grand Final winners have beaten their closest rivals when it really matters.
I hope Cas win the GF this year. Not just because they are my team, but because otherwise 2017 will be remembered as the year that Castleford were by far the best team but didn't win the GF.
I have never been a fan of the GF 'sudden death' concept when it comes to crowing a team as the 'champions'. For me, this should be the team who finish top after the full season.
However, it's the system we have and I'll enjoy the home semi-final and (hopefully) the grand final.

It will be a disappointment but I very much doubt it counts as nothing.

Sorry wrongly worded in this case, as i have said it will mean a lot to cas, as it did Hudds a few years back it has been many years since they got to the summit so it will be special for the club and fans. If you were a regular contender though LLS doesn't mean much, it is nice n all, but just a box ticked on the way to the big prize.

Anyway, good luck to Cas if they play like they have all year in the play offs i don't see too many problems and they will be one of the most deserved winners ever.

What a tiring thread. No doubt if/when Cas win the LLS we'll see the fans crawling out and telling the club shhhhh cos they haven't won anything yet, when it's 1 of 3 you can win. Let us little clubs have some fun for once, eh?

There is literally no worse feeling than winning the LLS and not converting it into a GF win. People can kid themselves all they want, it is a truly rotten feeling and the hubcap is no consolation at all.

I do hope Cas win it though, good for SL.