Hudds are certain to win their next 3 games IMO meaning they will finish top.

I think we'll lose to Catalans.

Leeds will win thier next 2 league games.

This will set up a final game of the season showdown with us and Leeds at the DW for who finishes 3rd/4th.

If we win, we are likely to play Wire away, lose and it Hudds away.

I think we'll rest players, lose the game, finish 4th and play Hudds away in week 1 with the winners of that going straight through to a home semi final.

With a bit of clever thinking and tinkering we can take advantage of the shocking playoff system.

We could have the Challenge Cup in the cabinet and have a home semi final coming up with all our best players having had a nice rest in the final 6 weeks or so of the system.

IMO it's wrong that this could happen but this is the system that the RFL have given us. I'm glad it's top 6 or top 4 again from 2015.

Pity we can't finish fifth but I agree with you. Definitely seems like a good plan.

Said at the end of the game on Friday that I'd rather finish 4th now then 2nd or 3rd (if Huddersfield finish top).

Strange situation that the modern day set up of superleague throws up!

I'd rather play Wigan than Leeds kings of playoff rugby, they have strike players who could do us damage and capitalise on our mistakes and have players who are capable of płaying off the cuff-we've beat Leeds because mcdummy has insisted on playing burrow at 9! we have struggled with teams who play like that such as hobson at kr, Gaskell when he was at half back at Salford, rangi gave us a scare a couple of weeks ago, briers at wire. Structured teams we defend well against as we play a very structured defence - so suits us down to the ground!

Please DON'T think this an excuse, because Hudds have been playing well all season, the table shows this to be a fact. Now i know you have long term injury, but the player has been absent all season, so he can't really be factored in. We were without our first choice 1, 7, and 13. These are facts, and all would agree that these are key positions. One of these is arguably the most talented player of his generation, another who has been touted as a possible MOS, our club captain, and a vital link twixt forwards and backs. Whether these players playing would have made a difference to the result is pure conjecture, but before you get too confident, take it into account. And yes you did beat us early in the season, but these things happen at the start of a season....

Just food for thought, i'm not wishing to burst your "Happy place balloon".

Im just pointing out that hudds have performed least well against teams who play a less structured game! God forbid we should talk a bit of rugby!

Yeah, when wigan were 5 points clear at the top i'm sure they thought, let's start losing games so we can finish 4th.

The moment you start trying to get too clever and thinking we'll try and finish lower as we fancy our chances against x team more, it will only blow up in your face. This isn't the CC where you can win it without playing a single top 4 team (what wigan may do this season). You're going to have to beat some good teams to win it regardless.

Let's say wigan lose to leeds and get the 4th place finish. Hudds lose to bradford who are battling to get into the playoffs, wolves steal top spot and whoops....wigan are playing warrington, the team they wanted to avoid.

Resting players in the run in isn't a beneficial thing either like you suggest. If possible going into the playoffs the team needs to be finely tuned to each other and battle hardened. So the best 17 should play together as much as possible in the final months of the season. Wigan have rested their players god knows how many times this season. They should be going with the top 17 week in week out from here on in.

Considering how good wigan were in the early season and how they've dropped off somewhat now, it's natural to think it's some kind of plan, but the reality is that so far, wigan have made a bit of a pigs ear of the run in.

What [ishould[/i have happened is that they should have had top spot pretty much sewn up now, so their big guns could avoid a bruising encounter in france the week before the final, win the CC, have a rest against hull then bring them all back for a nice battle hardner against leeds, the week before the playoffs, 2 home games away from old trafford.

If there ever was a ''plan'' for the run in, that would have been it.

That's just down to your personal preference for teams though, it's not like the system puts a crap team at the top, hudds are there on merit but because they have no proven record in the playoffs oppo fans 'fancy it'. But could easily have alot of egg on their collective faces if huddersifled fail to bottle and simply perform as they have all season.

Huddersfield are at the top because teams aren't putting their all in to the weekly rounds IMO. If it was a first past the post system do people think Huddersfield would be top? Not a chance IMO.

Some people may say the same of ourselves last year to be fair.

Its a very sad situation.

How strange was the Huddersfield defeat? As much as I don't like to see Wigan lose the defeat just did not hurt as much as it should of done.

Wonder how many more people would buy a season ticket if these games meant more?

We will beat Catalans away and finish third our 1,7,13 will play, then we should go all out to beat Leeds last match at home and then go to Warrington and win there for a good run in for Old Trafford. Think positive.

Well said .I agree%100

The only team Hudd have struggled with is Wire ....... but we've struggled to contain both Wigan & Leeds ...... yet Hudds haven't.

add to the mix that any team thinking of throwing the first playoff game to avoid injuries best beware that those bleedin' nuisances down the road at Langtree have remembered how to play just when we could do without them getting involved ........ this could actually be a very entertaining set of playoffs, especially once it gets to semi-final time.

Things must be bad at Wigan if you are thinking of throwing games just to avoid facing Warrington. I wonder what Edwards or Hanley would think of that.