Agree it's a stupid gimmick but you just have to get on with it. I don't think smith does you any favours by griping about it so much. In 2009 and 2010 leeds and saints didn't bat an eyelid, they got on with it, picked their oponents and made the final.

Smith's eagerness to condemn it gives out negative vibes.

Npt really. Mcguire has stated leeds have already started prepping for warrington and they are 99% sure they will pick them.

Spot on - If we are fully prepared and at our best then this Leeds side does not worry me.... They remind me of a latter-career Mike Tyson, who only carried any threat through the reputation he had built years earlier, when, in fact, he was a shot at, pale shadow of his former self, fighter.

I certainly don't think they are a walkover, but we would have to seriously under-perform to get beat by them (as we have managed to do in the previous 2 play off games we have played them in).....I think the 2010 and 2012 Challenge cup finals and last week's meeting are a more realistic guide to the qualities of the two sides and would expect a similar outcome next week if we play close to our potential.

I bet Wigan are hoping and praying that we pick Leeds.

What an intriguing perspective - when Warrington win it's because they're a vastly superior side to Leeds, but when Leeds win it's down to Warrington underperforming. If you genuinely think that the only threat Leeds carry is through reputation then I can say with some confidence that you know nothing at all about rugby league.

I've had a cracking idea and would like to go a step further, how's about the team finishing top win the league and are Champions, what a novelty

I admit that half of the task of a successful side is to stop the opposition being able to perform to their best and Leeds have done that well in the 2 previous victories over Wire - However, both these victories were close ones.

When Wire do break the Leeds shackles (2010 and 2012 Cup finals and last week), then they normally run out very comfortable victors....It plainly indicates that if Wire perform then they are better than Leeds.

I don't think beating Leeds is a formality, far from it, but my view is simple - Play to our best and we won't get beaten.... I'm not dissing Leeds, I just have a belief that this Wire team is as good as any in the league and rather than fearing who we choose for this play off game, we should simply prepare correctly and let our quality on the pitch do its talking.

Which could suggest that it's two very good teams performing close to their best and Leeds being slightly the better/smarter on the day, but no, to you it can only indicate that Warrington under performed.


It's not a plain indication of superiority whatsoever, other than on that particular day. It could equally indicate that on those days Warrington were running hot and Leeds had a bad day at the office, but you want to have it both ways - Leeds are always at their best and it's good enough to beat Wire on a bad day, but way way short if Warrington play anything close to their potential.



You're not dissing Leeds when you say that they're like Tyson in his later days and are merely living on reputation? That's a pretty comprehensive 'dissing' if you ask me, and of the team that's won the last two Grand Finals (beating the unbelievably talented Warrington either on the way or at the main event both years)? A team with arguably the best backline in the competition (and mostly under 25 so hardly a shadow)?

Having belief in your team is great, and Warrington are as good as anyone in the league, but so are Leeds, and they've proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that they can beat anyone and everyone.

it`ll be intersting to see what the handicap is off the bookies who gave leeds a 2 point start last time out.and we all know what happened there..give leeds a similar start and i`ll be all over the wire like a cheap fitting suit...wire by a country mile

God, I HATE this gimmick 5h1te.
As someone on this site uses as his signature "RL is a simple game", why do we allow ourselves to be manipulated by Sky (yes, I know it's Sky who pay our wages, I've said it often enough), but this takes the urine. We are the laughing stock of sports. Every time the play-offs come round, sports desks on the radio and telly just laugh at our expense. I pray this is the last season of this joke.

Anyway, back to thread.

It's Huddersfield for me, every time.
They're our beeatches. Bar that little streak they had against us (play offs 2010, and first game at Cardiff 4 months later, where we lost 5 players with injury), they freeze against us.
Just look at some of the results against them

47-0 in the first round of the play-offs, after we'd won the LLS
60odd put past them (at their place) in 2010 (with Brett in their side, who won MoS 6 months previously).
We kept them to one try at their place this season, while we score 30 points.
We "tear them a new one" in the cup
We thrash them in that fiasco in the snow in March
They are pooh scared of us.

Leeds on the other hand, I just don't like playing them.
Yes, we've stolen a march on them in a couple of CCF's, but this is later in the season, and as many have said previously, they are BATTLEHARDENED at this stage, We're still a little "wet behind the ears" at this stage of the season.

I fully expect us to beat Hudds at home
Let Wigan and Leeds knock seven shades of 5h1te out of each other (not that I expect a game against Hudds not to be physical), just a week after Leeds have been in another physical battle against Stains. We need to make this as easy for ourselves as we can.

Just as a side point, much as I hate clubcall, I hate it even more because we can't pick Wigan. Again, they have a major problem coming to the HJ, and, much to Mr Broomhead's delight, we'd have a full house, so more money in the coffers. SKY, much as I thank you for pumping much needed money into our game in the mid 90's, I DETEST your cup at the end of the season, and all the gimmickary that goes with it.

ONWARDS WIRE.

Earlier in the week it was Hudds or Hull for me but after watching Leeds last night I'm inclined as difficult as it seems but Leeds looked out on their feet and looked like they picked up injuries to Delaney & JJB. McGuire looked like he was carrying a knock too.
It's a damed if you do, damed if you don't moment. Can't wait till it's over and we know who it is.

I'll go with that. JJB is almost certainly out and Delaney certainly wasn't fit.

Get the Vaseline out, Yed
I've heard a certain Mr Aki has expressed an interest

Whoops, if we get to the GF, it will be a bitter sweet game Lefty