Stats are history, it's what happens from now on in. Any team who finishes in the play off position has a chance at the GF. There is no rule that a team outside of the top two/three can't win it.
The business end of the season is in September/October and that is when the team needs to perform.
Wigan have always done 'Firsts', and i wouldn't put it past them to finish eighth and still win it.

That's the least of their worries.

They can't spell you're

True. But you've a bigger smile on your face if you actually win it!......

Exactly. Leeds went from being in a play-off for 4th in Round 27 to the comfort of a week off and a home Semi Final in a very short space of time.

The playoffs as they are now make it a lot easier to have a sloppy start and still finish well - and a playoff tie away from home holds no fears for me.

Well Leeds spent just three rounds (incl. the last two) in the top 4 all last season at the expense of Hull who spent 14 rounds in the top 4 and finished 6th right at the death.

Its so difficult to maintain consistency from week to week this year that whichever team finishes top this year after 8 months and 27 games would fully deserve to be champions. I could easily see Wigan finishing 4th/5th and still winning the GF.