Looks like that's where we'll end up in the table.

I'll be surprised (and delighted) if Saints lose two more of the final games than we do, for us to pinch second place, and more so for us to lose the last four games.

Think it was really important we finished second, need a second chance and 3rd is a horror place to finish. I'd rather be playing Saints or Catalans away than Castleford/Leeds/Either Hulls at home. Certainly wouldn't fancy us in a one off against Cas again. Losing to Wakefield scuppered any chance of second.

Not sure that the second chance applies this year, as I believe 3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th, with the winners going to 1st and 2nd in the semis.

Correct

A third placed finish means we have to win 3 knockout games on the bounce. I hope I am wrong but I just can't see us doing that.
We would end up playing Cas, Saints and then Catalan in the final.
Based on play off and Cup semi final games over the last 2 years we would struggle to get past the first game.
Unless the mentality has changed within the squad recently. For some of the players that are moving on (Hill, Mamo, Lineham etc) and the coach this could be the best chance they will ever get.
It will be interesting to see over the next few weeks how much Williams can influence the mentality of the rest of the squad.

Tbh I don't think finishing position will make a difference, if we turn up in our most recent play off/big game form, kr would turn us over

True, whereas if we end up playing Wigan, Catalans and St Helens and repeat our recent form against them, then we win the title.

Saints and Catalans will not want us the semis, that first play off game is mentally the hardest one to negotiate.

I thought it didn't really matter, teams just coast through the regular season because they know all they need to do is make the playoffs and the season starts there?

If it was first past the post for the championship imagine how fiercely everyone would be playing now as they would be chasing that top spot.

Hahahahahahahahaha

Well said..put an end to a team finishing 5th and then ending up as champions...

The fact that only one team has done it shows how hard it is to do. Winning a series of knock out games against the best teams away from home is going to exhaust all but the elite.

As for Warrington, isn't it essentially that the team needs the comfort blanket of underdogdom to win? In which case yes the first round is the one to really worry about.