Should St Helens now accidentally lose to Les Catalans to keep the charging Bulls out of the play offs?

And what if they did and news came from The Willows that we were getting beaten?

I think a lot depends on whether either of the two teams you have to pick from is a team you would rather not have to play. If it was two teams that you wouldn't be too bothered about playing, I'd draw it out of a hat and try get it televised or put the video up on the club website. That way you're not choosing your opponents, and therefore not giving their coach an easy teamtalk. Obviously, the opposition you picked could always claim the draw was fixed - but hey - who would EVER believe there was foul play involved in the draw for a knockout competition??



Of course, if there was a team you wanted to avoid, you'd either have to warm one of the balls up a bit, as per BBC cup draws (allegedly....

), or just go down the route of picking the team you'd have been drawn against normally. Half of me thinks the whole concept is a really dumb idea, the other half of me is quite interested in seeing how it all pans out.....

I honestly don't think Leeds should fear playing anyone at Headingley though. You'd think that with a crowd like we had on Friday, matched with a similar performance, we should be able to take anyone out at home. Emphasis obviously on "should".....

It'd be too late by then and I've cut the piece of string connecting the two bean cans anyway.

Just to clarify, you can only select from the two winners from week 2? And its the highest ranked team to win week 1 play off's who decide who they play or the highest ranked team in the semi finals?

If at all possible I'd pick Saints in the semis. Would be a sweet way to dislodge them.

I'd choose based on whoever is best placed yo kock Saints out, and that could be us, btw.

I fancy us to beat Saints in the GF again, but I also think it would be easier to beat anyone else...

wouldn't shock me either

But then you also have the opposite problem of would it be such a sweet way to be dislodged? In that sense I am quite glad that Saints are highly unlikely to be in a position to have to pick the opposition because it is a decision that (whoever is picked) could easily come back to bite Leeds.

McClennan wil choose the side that he thinks have weaknesses to our strength's. Fired up or not those weaknesses wil still be there.

Money men at the club would never let it happen.

The GF appearance is worth much more to them, than an 'easier' GF game.

I really have no idea what happens in the play-offs, all I need to know is who will Leeds play and when.

Do Leeds play in week 1?

I'm confused, I have read above that Leeds can choose their opponents? If thats the case why not go for Gateshead?

Not if you pick the way mick potter had intended to, go back through his interviews, you'll find it

I heard you can pick your opponents this year.

Will a big play off crowd have an effect, if so Leeds would choose HKR because they will bring 6 million more fans to headingley than anyone else

I agree tvoc, if we beat Hudds (assuming all things stay same, as likely), Saints beat Hull KR and Hudds and Hull KR do come though to week 3 the long way round, you have got to pick to play Hudds again and send Hull KR back to Saints haven't you. It has to be the most likley way to go!

I think you are right about the RFL and possibly Sky praying for an upset in Week 1 or 2! Can you also imagine how much is going to hit the fan is Leeds and/or Saints win week 1 and then loose in week 3 to the same side/sides they played in week 1 to miss out on the Grand Final!

Thats my worry. Not keen on this new system at all. It's like handing even more motivation to the side that you choose to play.



I'd have been very happy for us not to be the 'choosers', but that would have been at the expense of winning the hubcap. But saying that, even if we finish 2nd, and Saints lost in week 1 and we won, we'd have still been the team to pick...

Well, this assume that you are picking the side you want to play rather the picking a side for the other week 3 qualifying you want them to play!!!

Lets say Saints loose to Hull KR at home week 1 and Saints come the long way round to week 3! Bugger who we would play, I would send Saints away to Hull KR in a heartbeat and then proceed to tell anyone that would listen that is exactly why we did it!

But in that scenario isnt that sending out a message that we are scared of playing Saints?

Who cares, if they loose we play Hull KR in the final?

Quote ="Richie Ramrod"I really have no idea what happens in the play-offs, all I need to know is who will Leeds play and when. Do Leeds play in week 1? I'm confused, I have read above that Leeds can choose their opponents? If thats the case why not go for Gateshead?'" wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/in ... age_id=878 Thats rather useful and helped me get my head round this wonderful play off system!

Quote ="Richie Ramrod"I really have no idea what happens in the play-offs, all I need to know is who will Leeds play and when. Do Leeds play in week 1? I'm confused, I have read above that Leeds can choose their opponents? If thats the case why not go for Gateshead?'" wigan.rlfans.com/fusion_pages/in ... age_id=878 Thats rather useful and helped me get my head round this wonderful play off system!

But they might not lose



I think Loop, earlier on in this thread, suggested we should make it known early that we will select whoever is the lowest-ranked team.

Might not be a bad way to go that...that way the opposition cant use it as extra motivation

Listen, I do think the system is rubbish but for me while we have the option we have to make the decision once we know who the 2 options are (of course this all assume we win at home in week 1). The reason I disagree is that I still might want the option to send the lower placed team to play someone else... maybe Wigan to Saints, or Saints to Wigan?

See what you are saying.

Wigan would definately have to go to Saints if those two teams were to meet, theres no scenario where Saints would have to play at the DW

Sorry, you are right about Saints going to B&Q Stadium but glad I have convinced you otherwise!

I would choose KR