Fevgrinder, you are absolutely correct. In the play off final, its down to 80 minutes of rugby, two teams of 13 on the pitch, one against the other. One team wins by a point and promotion is theirs. For all Leigh's dominance against Fev this season no one on this site can guarantee the result and that it will be Leigh that is promoted.

Yet, the position is more nuanced than that.

Points difference counts for everything or, rather, it could have counted for an awful lot. It has been a close affair for most of the season for the top spot in the Championship. It is only in the last few weeks that Leigh have opened a gap over Fev that I cannot see Fev closing. Top spot guarantees home venue for the play-off final for the winners of the semi's.

Let's just imagine that it is Leigh and Fev in the final. As things stand the final is at LSV rather than at Fev's quaint ground where they are masters of the surface, slope, elements etc. I was there in February when we got trounced. I have been there numerous times in the past when the same thing has happened. To be quite frank, I would not like the final, with everything at stake, to be anywhere near Fev's ground.

Given the final is to be played at a time of year when the weather cannot be guaranteed it is, in my opinion, crucial that Leigh play that game at the LSV since the superb ground will take some of the weather vagaries ie mud, wind, out of the equation. It will be its usual billiard table quality. Its flat and big and suits fast, top of the ground rugby - it suits Leigh's style of play. It also takes away any advantage that Fev would have enjoyed had they played it at their ground. This is why the points difference was so crucial. As it is, it will not matter because Leigh have pulled away and the teams will not finish the regular season on the same number of points but had they done so ,as it seemed to be be the case for so long, then it would have been very important indeed.

Secondly, the final will not be won simply because Leigh have beaten Fev 3 times already this season. Yet it is wrong to think that Leigh's dominance over Fev doesn't count in a one off game. Of course it does. It counts for a lot. Why, because Fev players know, from those defeats, that they have been second best. Lots of rubbish is spoken about 'learning from defeats' and 'taking positives from defeats' but, I think that is just sports psychobabble (can I say on this site because that is more accurately the word that I wanted to use to make the point).

Fev players will go in to this, imagined for one moment, play-off final knowing, deep deep down in the recesses of their minds that the same thing is likely to happen again. Sure, it does not guarantee that the same result will happen but being second best does not inspire a confidence and self belief in a player that previous results mean, in reality, that you are actually better than the team that has been beating you in the past 3 outings.

Sporting history is full of red hot favourites that did not win. The contributors and Leigh Fans on this site are not stupid. We know that Leigh are only one really bad game, one sending off, one bad refereeing decision, one cruel bounce of the ball from everything that has gone before this season counting for nowt. But Leigh will be playing at the LSV and will have a psychological advantage. Usually, usually, red hot favourites win and for my money Leigh this season are as near as damn it red hot favourites and, they will beat Fev, if both teams get to the final.

Fev fans, and I have seen and read their arguments on their site, are holding out for key players returning from injury, the weather/pitch being more of a leveller, the games against Leigh being closer in reality than scorelines have suggested (I'm tempted to use a previous word again!) and the shaman like quality and winning history of their coach in a one off, winner takes all game, means that Fev have every chance of success in a final against Leigh.

If I was a Fev fan i would probably be saying this as well but, if I was, then I would also know that I was clutching at straws. Everything that I have seen this season about the development of the Leigh squad and the steady progression of style of play and the obvious camaraderie amongst a tight knit squad and coaching team points to only one winner in the play-off final.

Let's not be shy about saying what we think! It is not tempting fate to say that Leigh will win.

Sendhimoffref - yes, The Great John Woods

Bongser, according to Lam senior in the York pre-match interview, Aekins is back in contention for selection this weekend along with Fergie.

If you are hinting at another story, then sorry, I'm not up to speed on anything else.

Quote: Bent&Bongser "Jack, Bongser will give you no argument on Joe Mellor, MUST start if fit. As to stand off, would be equally happy to see Ben or Lachlan depending on whether Ben has had some game time in the interim. If he has, well, a stinker for a Dad but Adrian seems the ultimate pro and will play the one that best fits the game plan for whoever the opposition turn out to be ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQk_T1lQrR8

Quote: Bent&Bongser "Jack, Bongser will give you no argument on Joe Mellor, MUST start if fit. As to stand off, would be equally happy to see Ben or Lachlan depending on whether Ben has had some game time in the interim. If he has, well, a stinker for a Dad but Adrian seems the ultimate pro and will play the one that best fits the game plan for whoever the opposition turn out to be ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQk_T1lQrR8

The smoke signals emanating from the Leigh area, are that Aekins and O'Donnell are both homesick and wish to return home. Certainly backed up by the Bevan French (At Fullback attempt) or Gareth O'Brien rumours.

Sad to see a chunk of these players disappearing, not for once because they are no longer required, but to meet the Super League criteria.

Just listened to the Lammy pre-match interview, and would like to concur with the James McDonnell comments made by Jack G.

- Mellor, first on the sheet at halfback.
- I am indeed a Lachlan Lam fan, but he needs to be at his best and fully up to speed, or Ben is the man. Funny thing about the John Woods comparison, I was in The Hawk pub 2 nights ago off Poolstock Lane, talking with an old Pie Eater about rugby and he asked me about LL. My comparison for him was JW, in his ability to subtly change direction and speed, and ghost through a gap that didn’t seem to be there.
- I also agree that we need 3 forwards and a hooker on the bench.
- All the above is said with the proviso that the only thing I truly know about rugby is, I’m no coach, so all of it could be total b@llocks, as you will find out very soon Bongser !