after reading keith senior's book he mentions that when Mcdermott left leeds to take over at quins some fans questioned smith and how he was coaching the team and that it was brian doing all the coaching all along, i'm not brians biggest fan but it's amazing how fans can change their minds about a coach in three short years. i'm not going to say he's the next wayne bennett but i suppose he deserves some credit for getting us to the 2 major finals on offer with the so called "worst" leeds squad in quite a while?

Bradford were awful for the first half of 2005, no-one questioned their right to win it from 3rd (apart from the salary cap breach

)

So, they have a home game against a team below them. Win it and the reward is a week off and another home game against a team below them. Not forgetting the luxury of a 2nd chance.

Had to is the correct phrase. Because there was no second chance. The reward for a win, an away trip to a team above them.

It's OK. Could be better but not as bad as some think. I have much less sympathy with Wigan and Warrington than most. To be fair to Warrington fans, unlike a large majority of silly Wigan fans, they didn't cry and whine about it either.

Bradford were really bad at start 2005 but timed there run well and peaked at right time

Edited for accuracy!