There's some cracking posts on redvee including this one which I think's my favourite:

I can imagine the conversation during last week:

Frayssinous: "Paul I have a brilliant plan for the game against Warrington"
Wellens: "Go on""
Frayssinous: "How about we utilise five one-up drives and a crap kick on every set?"
Wellens: "But we've tried that every game so far this season and it's failed miserably?"
Frayssinous: "Exactly, Warrington won't expect us to be using it again"
Wellens: "Great thinking, let's go with that"

We should mock St Helens at our peril. Even if this is one of their worst seasons they are likely to finish in the top 6. wasnt so long ago we were sweating on beating tolouse at home to stay in the league.

Agree. May as well send them off for 10 mins, than let them lie down for ten while we have to endure 10 mins of the same replay.

I agree it’s not wise to mock Saints…..bloody fun though !

That couldn't be more untrue.

The team finishing 3rd has to play one more game than the teams 1st and 2nd - By definition, it will therefore be harder to win it. In theory, Warrington could have to go through St Helens, Hull KR and Wigan to win it...

Additionally, one of the top 2 could get an easier run dependent on how the first round of play offs go.

Would have preferred to play the Pies in the semi-finals and get that game out of the way, win or lose.

Hull KR losing on Friday night now means that it is highly unlikely we will play Wigan until the Final (If we get there)

A Wire v Hull KR final would have much better for the games` profile with the current monopoly of only a few clubs winning the Grand Final.

With both clubs odds on to finish 2nd & 3rd, they are destined to play each other in the semi-finals unfortunately.

“Untrue”?
Or not in your opinion!

The key word in your reply is “could” x2, and the phrase “in theory” which indicates you have nothing to prove it’s untrue.

While the key acronym in my post is “imo” which means, I never said it was a fact or truth, but my opinion.

And I stand by my “imo” because your post ‘couldn't be more untrue’ or farther from my changing my mind.

It's clearly statistically more unlikely to win 3 games in a row than two so long as the chance of winning the 1st game is < 100%. We had a real chance at top 2 and, unfortunately for us, we didn't take it. Being honest I think Wigan and Hull KR are the stronger sides over the course of the season.

Two years or so ago (11/8/2022) we were tussling for 11th in the league. That is one turnaround.

If we can win ONE playoff game that is more than we have done since 2018.

Really?

How will the games profile improve in that scenario?

Here's an example for you, 'it would change the narrative'...how the sport reflects on that and uses it is a different matter.

I understand that Wigan are the world's biggest club but taking us out of the equation, a win for Hull KR might incentivise others to have a real 'go' in future on the basis that their renaissance is well earned and come no too long after O'Brien's boot consigned them to lower league rugby.

They'd be worthy winners this year I'd also suggest that IF we got there folk couldn't cock a snoot at us and the work that Burgess and Co have put in.

It may suit my narrative but IMO the sport needs the monopoly to broken by having a selection of stronger, capable teams and well run clubs that succeed on merit rather than the familiar accusation of the lower level clubs dragging everyone down to their level. A couple of thousand on each gate, more TV viewing, pushing revenue streams instead of it (us) being pushed around.

A pipe dream perhaps but a GF of Wigan v Saints won't deliver anything for the game as a whole

I can see you’re taking offence but I can’t make ou why.

If anything I think the bookies are overly generous to Warrington. Implied probability in %.

Wigan 10/11 52.4%
Hull KR 11/4 26.7%
Warrington 4/1 20.0%

Exactly the sport is crying out for a new name on the title. It's been a 3 horse race for 20 years.

Plenty of outsiders have gotten to grand finals, albeit not won it, and that hasn't achieved what you are saying. Surely based on your theory Hull, Salford, Catalans, Warrington and Castleford should have upped their game and won it by now? Or does it only apply once you have won it?