I think Leeds will win it again and I reckon if you can get 9/2 on that right now, it's an absolute steal.

I dread playing Saints at home in any game of rugby league - regular season or play-offs. They have won 14/15 games against us at the HJ since we moved there and we always seem to stink the place out when they come to town. I'd rather play them at Langtree, which can't happen.

I'd also hate to have to play Leeds in an elimination semi home or away, or, for that matter, at OT.

I am a natural pessimist, but I think the only way we can win it this year is to avoid playing Leeds at any knockout stage and probably Saints, too.

I want to win this trophy more than any other across any of my favourite sports, but with the way we've been shaping up in the last few weeks, even on the back of 10 straight league wins, I just can't see it.

At the start of the season I was very confident about Wire winning the grand final, on the basis that you have to learn how to lose before you learn how to win. But, I've not been too impressed this season for various reasons.

If the OP is correct in his predictions, then anyone taking the 7/4 should be put in a straight jacket and medicated. I rate Wire and Wigan exactly the same, this being so, and if they did meet twice, then it's 2 games at 10/11. Win both of those and it is Saints in the final, you're looking at 1/2. Which works out at roughly 9/2, which is a lot better than 7/4 on offer. Just roll the winning bet up on the next game.

Of the prices, the top 4 are underpriced using the roll up system. The OP is correct, the value does lie with Saints at 12/1, who on face value, have a better chance of winning the grand final than the 3 teams priced below them, who, incidently, are also value prices.

gotta a feeling itll be the same as last years final..wigan are on a wobble..sts are inconsistant..cats no chance as have hull hull kr..hudds seem to be going ok and have beaten all the top sides except wire but im expecting them to have 1 bad game.leaving wire and leeds..all depends on the final placings as to who plays who...

Can't see us doing it this year, just got a feeling we'll have one of those off days we have occasionally, the games we lead, then go behind then play the harlem globetrotters stuff that doesn't work.

Interesting that the team that looks likely to win the LLS as the most consistent (you can argue whether they are the best) team aren't favourites - that gives you a little sideways look at how the tournament is perceived by the bookies as well as the fans.

That said, I don't think Huddersfield will win - they have a habit of bottling it when it counts and if it comes to knockout rugby I'll think they'll lose against any other top 5 team. Wires? I wouldn't have us down as favourites based on current form and fitness but then everyone seems to be struggling for form, except Saints, and in their case the fixture list has been kind to them of late.

I don't think it matters so much who finishes where, within reason, more which team builds momentum,establishes form and gets momentum in the next few weeks.

Does winning the last 9 league games not constitute as good form?

With Leeds looking certain to finish fourth I was quite happy to see Wigan win the league leaving us with the likelihood of two playoff games versus Huddersfield. But it would seem that you simply can't trust the Pies, and it looks increasingly likely that we will be hosting Leeds in the first round of the playoffs.

I'm not sure that any team (or rather their fans) can be truly confident of beating Leeds twice in the playoffs. This opens an interesting possibility. What if (assuming top four is Huddersfield, Wire, Leeds and Wigan in that order) we beat Leeds and Wigan beat Huddersfield - we would then get to choose our next opponents. IF Huddersfield and Leeds both win their second round games, do we pick the lowest placed team, and playoff masters, Leeds or Huddersfield in the semi-final?

Putting all the issues with league structure etc aside. Is this not what we wanted? A competition that is more level that nobody knows or expects to win!!!! What a fantastic end to the season?

No, our form nine league games ago has no bearing on our current form or our form going forward, only game that counts form-wise is the last one. The weather was great in July but it doesn't mean it will be in August.

Well said !

So 1 off game constitutes as poor form regardless of result? Which would mean then that according to the last round Huddersfield should be favourites for GF as their performance was good.
Not being argumentative, just curious as what people define as good form. For me a good run of form is winning games.... consistent performances are important and there is no reason to suspect that we will play as we played in the last game.

Too right fella , I should think any of the top four and probably Saints will fancy their chances , on any given day any of them are capable , could be the best play-offs ever .

I can't see us winning it without Myler and Atkins.

This regular season has been the best across the league for a while. We appear to have ten decent teams in the comp this year. There have been many really exciting and close games (still the odd massive score line that brings the game down a bit but they're always going to happen). Going into the play-offs I don't see much difference in quality between the top four teams. I'm hoping for an even more exciting play-offs to the regular season.