It also means Cas's slim chance of a top 4 finish will be even slimmer if they don't win tomorrow.

reckon the top 4 will be the current ones, positions the only thing to be decided

Massive opportunity for us tomorrow night now

Wire's carpark scum on top form tonight according to social media, giving the game a bad name.

Interesting comments from Tony Smith after the game. Sounds like they will be resting quite a few over the next couple of games.

I think Wigan will probably edge the league leaders, especially given that the week after Wembley, you travel to saints and wire travel catalan

Judging by the post final performances of the last three cup winners, I would say that the best advice would be to just rest all your players the week after and come into the game after that all refreshed
If you look back further, Wigan (2011), Warrington(2012) and especially Saints (2007-icon_cool.gif burnt themselves out going for the CC and LLS and ended up missing out on the big prize

Agree. This is completely unchartered territory for our club - in my 27 years as a fan I think we've only had both campaigns alive at this point in 2005 but think we went into the play-offs in 5th. Radford's strategy will be seen as a gamble either way - putting all eggs in one basket or spreading energy too thin. Sneyd and Houghton, and maybe Ellis, are irreplaceable so would be sorely tempted to rest them the week before Wembley.

Clearly the players want to go for everything so I would be generally against resting anyone except the week after the CC final (regardless of result). It is uncharted territory but if you want to win things it's best to play your best players. Players get hurt in training so do you stop training to protect them ? With the exception of Saints away (where I would make changes) we should play our best players in the main whilst using our squad depth as normal as we have all season. If you're fit you play but obviously there's no need to play players carrying more serious knocks. Mucking about with the team at this stage of the season risks destroying the continuity that has, due to fortune with injuries, been one of the main reasons why we are where we are this year. Crack on and deal with injuries if/when they happen.

I agree interesting comments indeed. Why say it?. Is he playing mind games with us suggesting Warrington will be fresh for Wembley with less chance of injuries.

I honestly couldn't believe Smith's comments. One game down, they are still only 1 point behind us and yet he seems to have writen off their chances of the hub cap. I do though believe that Wire should not have played last night. I don't have much sympathy when coaches whinge (especially Aussies) but there are 4 super 8 games and while last nights was probably the pick of the week it could have been delayed until tonight or Saturday to give Wire some rest. Or have the 4 semi finalists play each other this week.

I would like to think that we will head to Wembley undefeated in the super 8s which would enable us to lose one after Wembley without too much damage to our top two hopes. Certainly appears to be the aim of the squad if the comments coming from the club is anything to go by.

The way this season has panned out, even if we have "rested" players, their deputies have stepped up to the plate and done a great job. So it's not surprising that the players holding positions at the moment don't want to be rested.
It's also I believe significant that we play Catalans on the thursday of the week before Wembley. This will give the squad plenty of recovery time. I'm sure Adam will have a treat or two up his sleave to aid that recovery as well.

Lets keep things progressing steadily. No getting carried away. One week at a time. Reading some of the comments on here it is obvious that we are all suffering alittle bit with absolute disbelief at what is happening to us. Many cautious words, probably with us thinking this is all going to go mammaries up soon. Lets hold our nerve and try and enjoy the next two months.

I think if we can win our home games (and that is no foregone conclusion), we will be in the top 2. A win for us and defeat for catalans this week, leaves us 10 pts ahead of 5th with 6 to play - Beat cats at home and we are in the 4.

As Graham says, we need to focus on a week at a time.

A win tonight and the lowest we can finish is 5th.

Providing we win our home games and at least one away game, we will finish top. We can afford to lose 2 games, providing the ones we win include the games against Wigan and Wire. If this scenario transpires and we go into the last 2 games knowing that one win against wire (the last game) I'd be tempted to rest many in that penultimate game.

You can still go for the two major trophies if you are smart in the league, you are 8 points clear of 5th and shouldn't have to worry if you drop a few points by resting players, I imagine that is what Tony Smith will do with wire.
If you go all out for the LLS and CC, I predict you will burnout by the semis.

Best example of how to play it is Wigan in 2013, rested a load of players who had even a niggle after their CC semi, with SOL and Tomkins playing under 20 games all year. Their league form dropped dramatically but still managed to win the big 2 trophies.

I'll be confident from anywhere in the top 4,we can do it. We need to pick up 2 wins then concentrate on Wembley and take it from there. We really don't need to fear anyone,they'll be fearing us. How good does that sound and feel? lol.

it feels good besty