We are pretty much confirmed as finishing 2nd or 3rd for the regular season. If the format follows last season, this gives us home games against the sides who finish 3rd, 4th, 6th & 7th or 4th, 5th, 7th & 8th.

I think it is important to finish above Cas, so we get a home game against them, as we never seem to win at their place. The gap is so large between 1st & 2nd that I think Saints already have the hubcap wrapped up, and the top four now will be the top four come the end of the season, as Hull are too far adrift to break into it. Its already a three way battle for a home semi final against whoever finishes 3rd.

So much for the Super 8's keeping the competition alive!

Seems like everyone outside the Top 4 has had a shocking run at one stage and then they keep beating each other cutting themselves off.
Agreed about finishing above Cas, vital if we want to get to OT. If not then I'd sooner we finished fourth, rather go to Saints than Cas.

At this stage you’d have to put money on a Saints v Cas final. Cas looking like finishing 2nd before the split and that’s with a load of injured players to come back at some point.

Hopefully Saints go into next weeks match in 2nd gear

Fixture Grid for Super 8s

1st plays 2356 at home 478 away
2nd plays 3467 at home 158 away
3rd plays 4578 at home 126 away
4th plays 5681 at home 237 away
5th plays 672 at home 1348 away
6th plays 783 at home 1245 away
7th plays 814 at home 2356 away
8th plays 125 at home 3467 away

I wouldn't agree that the top four is wrapped up just yet. Wire are in a strong position obviously, but Hull getting three more wins than them in the next nine games is hardly out of the question, particularly given that Wire play Saints in a fortnight, then all the strongest teams (including Saints again) in the super 8s.

Fixtures as they stand right now.
Home: Castleford, Warrington, Wakefield, Catalans
Away: St Helens, Hull FC, Huddersfield

As long as Leeds finish outside the top 8 then I'm not really bothered where we finish in the top 4

I think that's pretty much nailed on now that Leeds will be playing in the qualifiers. I suspect Saints & Catalan may rest a few players next week. I see wins for 2nd-5th next weekend, which should give us home games against Cas, Wire, Cats & Wakey.

Leeds will definitely be finishing outside the 8. Hull are 72-0 down at Wakey with 15 minutes left! That is a crazy result and I’m sure questions will be getting asked over in Hull after that.

Just listening to it, the radio humberside commentary team are baffled by the showing.

We all know we are ready for changes at Wigan. but I’d say our position is excellent all things considered, particularly when many on here had us finishing outside the top 4 and some even had us. down for bottom 4.

We’ve got 8 games left before the semi finals and we’re 8 points clear of 5th. I’d be stunned not to make the top 4 from here. A win next week against Catalan gives us 4 homes games in the Super 8s with key players just about ready to come back. Williams has a chance this week as does Lockers. Sutton isn’t far away and Manfredi won’t be far off. Gildart has a few more weeks but the addition of Hankinson off sets that slightly.

My glass is half full, how’s yours?

I always feel it’s better to wait a few days after a game before posting and let the emotion die down. After the game Thursday I said it was look increasingly difficult to see us pulling a Grand Final win out the bag but after this weekends results there is no reason why can’t raise ourselves to get through two games. There isn’t a team in the league who scares the life out of you other then ‘at times’ this Saints side. If we got to an 80 minute shoot out with them at Old Trafford our experience would put us in a strong position and I only need to think back to Good Friday to see that they’re not unbeatable even at full strength. We should’ve beat them that day minus our most creative player in Tomkins and we would be playing with a lot of emotion. You also don’t know what shape a Saints side would be in come that point, after what you’d imagine will be a Cup Final appearance.

We need a change of luck on the injury front and we’ll need to build some momentum at some point but I’ve seem far bigger shocks in sport.

Like the way that the BBC describe it as a ‘big win’ and not the absolute thrashing that it was.

Hull brough Shaul, Sneyd, Talanoa and Westerman back today
You just wonder if they brought those players back a week or so too soon. If so it's backfired big style as now it looks like the top four is sorted already, which can't be good for the "Super 8's competition as a whole. It's something Ian Lenagan and Eamonn McManus were very critical of.
Over to you Mr. Hetherington.