I think a derby play-off would be a sell-out but Leeds have a few out, if Long and Hall are back surely you can have a good chance of beating Leeds and finishing 4th? Don't be wasting that point you had of us

You think a weakened Saints team will beat you by more than 80 points

I've no doubt whatsoever that Cas will lose in the 1st round of the playoffs if we make it, but making the playoffs in the last 2 yrs makes a much more compelling case when it comes to the franchises than not making them.

Imagine the furore if a team that has made the playoffs in the last 2 seasons and is on with building a new stadium was kicked out of superleague.

Yeah spot on, we need to make the play offs. I suppose it would also help sell the club to sponsors and future signings also.

We will have nothing to play for gainst cru cru crusaders apart from a derby play off match if Leeds beat fc which i expect they will so i think a rovers win in wales is a long shot.

A wakey fan hoping you make the 8. No doubt who the RFL are rooting for. This scenario stinks though as think you will get beat but will KR are good enough to beat crusaders any day of the week.

Make your mind up then

Clarke tips Cas and One-Blank tips Crusaders, even Sky can't make their minds up.
Eddie and Stevo are locked in a quiet room with their predictions and plenty of kleenex.

A weakened Saints side ? Nothing surprises me with Saints.

Walker on Cunningham a'la Sampson on Skerrit...

Will Saints risk a Leeds Job, I certainly wouldnt, there's no real advantage for them (ok a home tie, maybe, if / buts) They will want to play their last game at home and leave with a win, but in third place isnt it possible for them to play at home again ? Im unsure about this one

The only difference between 2nd and 3rd for us is where we play Warrington. Since we have now secured third, and third plays second in the playoffs, we know it's Warrington one way or another. If we're 2nd, we play them at KR; if 3rd we play them at the HJ. However, if we lose that match then we will play a home game against whoever is the loser between Wigan and Leeds. We would also get a home game if we won our first playoff match.

Feck. What a mare. We could lose our very last game at KR to Wigan, Leeds or Wire.

We could lose our very last [ileague[/i game at KR to you.

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Thing is though mate Saints couldnt lose against Cas at KR if they put the blind school out, the only team who has as bad a record against you as us is the wire so i think whatever happens it will be a happy ending for you lot

I thought that this wouldnt be the last game at home for you. Dilema do you risk players with us ?

With HKR nothing to play for and the RFL desperate for the Welsh to get in I think Noble will be laughing all the way into the playoffs.

Don't agree with you Riggins no way will Rovers want to go into the play offs on the back of two losses, Morgan wants the two points we have players coming back he will field the strongest side possible, we want to be psyched up ready for the ultimate Derby play off the week later, that's what i feel will happen. As for Cas would love them to take 8th spot, and believe Rovers will beat them.

I can't deny that our record against you is good. For us, obviously! But Saints are not what they used to be, in spite of the league position, so I really wouldn't put a win for you in the realms of impossibility.


Good question. I'm half of a mind to think 'sod it' and rest our key players but (a) that is not respectful to Cas, and (b) the fans still have some pride! But it's a tricky one because we haven't been lucky on the injuries front this year and we do still have a chance of Old Trafford given that we're in the playoffs. I don't know what Slick will do although he will probably field his strongest team. And we can watch them limp off one by one!

We don't care about you respecting us, go on, rest your players for the play offs. We don't mind honest!

In all seriousness, we'd still get beat if you rested some players.

I hope so mate.

Alas, it seems that quite the opposite is in store. Presumably because it is the final league game, and is being promoted as such (unfortunately slightly spoiled by the change in date meaning a lot of fans can't now go), we are going all out it would seem. Maurie, who has been missing injured for three months, is due to return; Kyle Eastmond will be playing (only a bruised hip in the end); Keiron Cunningham will be playing (swollen jaw but not fractured) and Paul Clough returns after his three week absence with a shoulder injury. In short, it looks like we will have the strongest team we have put out since the first match of the season! Just three missing players who would be regular first teamers: Soliola (missing all season), Matty Ashurst (medial ligament damage; maybe back for the playoffs) and Leon Pryce (massive, massive miss - he has been a genius this year; absolutely brilliant).

The last time we only had three or fewer players missing, spring was just around the corner.

So it looks like Saints want to throw it all at you a week on Saturday.

bring it on dude

I feel that our only real chance of making the playoffs is for us to play the game of our lives against Saints. I guess they do have some key players out so whilst our record against them at KR is really shocking, there's probably never been a better time for us to play them. Now I am certainly not saying that we are favourites (far from it), but if Saints have an off day and we put in an inspired performance then there is a chance.

I feel that the Crusaders will win easily against an understrength HKR side as the only reason they have to win the game is to go into the playoffs on winning form. I would say that resting players and psychologically counting the game as a friendly would be more beneficial than risking players just to get a win that isn't needed.

For me Crusaders will win and whilst I feel that Saints will almost certainly win...there is just that smallest of chances. Roll on Saturday and fingers crossed!

1 week off for CC final = a rest for players. Rest them against Crusaders and they may regret it. 2 weeks in a row and players can lose their edge. I really hope they don't rest Dobson. He was the difference when they played us.

The official R/L line is , and I quote "Clubs are required to field full strength teams for all matches under the Operational Rules. " So Wrighty and his merry men need to keep an eye on HKR just in case of any shenanigins to accomodate the Crusaders

Rovers squad on website and back to full strength, no excuse we need to beat Crusaders and go into the play offs on a positive note, be grt weekend for rugby fans all over..