Spot on - you've absolutely nailed it!!!

Great post Marty.

I think pretty much everybody knows and accepts that. If Castleford play as they have all year in SL so far during the play offs then they will beat anyone, never mind us. If they do that they will be more than worthy of it and probably the most dominant post to post winners i could think of since Saints in 2006 led by Jamie Lyon.

Sadly we have to rely on them freezing on the big stage, but the reality is they very well may do so and we have to be ready with our best if they do choke. That's assuming we get there or even they do.

We including Webb, Senior and Ali now, even though we've gone on to win a couple of GF's after they've left.

Which brings the point back to Sinfield and Peacock. They were not only our captain and vice captain (these roles are replaceable) but they were our go to players. When we were in trouble it would be one of those two who would take up the mantle and drag us back into games. See Sinfield's tackle on Eastmond as an example. I don't see McGuire making that tackle, and it's likely that he will be defending in the same position should we get to OT. We also don't have the mobility in the back row that we used to do when the same players (JJB and Ablett) were that bit younger.

I'd love it (in a Kevin Keegan stylee) for us to win at OT, but I honestly think with this bunch of players, this coach, and this form & tactics, we are a country mile away. I'd worry about us being able to see Wigan off at Headingley should that be the semi.

I think the point Printer makes is valid and Cas with their lack of big game experience could indeed not perform when it counts. I just dont see us being the team to capitilise on it this year.

I think Wigan could and would beat Cas on the big stage.

Were in transition and will be for a few years and while 2nd is a decent effort for a rebuilding team i just dont see a trophy winning team at this stage.

Personally ive nothing against McDermott, we have had success under him and regardless of what people think i believe he has played a big part in that. I just feel we need a new voice and ideas now.

If we somehow bumble our way to the gf cacky classy cocky cass will kick the sh#t out of us.

It'll then give us a complex and well start losing gfs when we make them, like saints after 2007.

Both Hull and Wigan would fancy their chances against Cas far more than we would. Oddly enough if we were to get to OT against one of them, I'd give us a chance. I just don't buy Cas somehow collapsing against us though (complacency? nerves? which is it?).

What is patently clear is that even if we assume Myler goes well, our pack really looks poor and we currently have 5 over 30s in there who are only going to get worse with age, not better. I'd argue that apart from the likes of Ellis and Lauti'iti our overall forward shortcomings in the golden decade were hidden by having an immense player in Peacock and a rock-solid second prop in Leuluai. I've been saying for years that we have far too many average forwards, and I think that's part of it as well - ageing players, some of whom were never that good in the first place being exposed for how ordinary and old they are. Experience is all well and good, but it can't cover a gulf in ability.

You keep mentioning collapse even though it's not been said. Just look at Warrington they haven't collapsed in GF's and their first one in 2012 against us wasn't a collapse but they've failed to quite match their performance in the regular season.

Best post I've read for a long time. Spot on.

Spot on post.

Said more or less the same thing earlier this season after we were walloped by Cas.

There has been a sea change and we are still out there heads in the sand to it.

I don't buy the Cas will try ensure Leeds play Wigan theory as that will probably leave them playing Hull who they have struggled against all year.
I think they'd rather play Wigan with home advantage as they've done well against them, knowing that Leeds go well generally against Hull (semi-final apart).
They'd then fancy their chances of putting a big score on us at OT or a weary Hull either way.
That's what I'd go for if I was them anyway.

Personally I'd rather avoid Wigan, but that's because I dislike losing to them so much. Conversely, there is no-one I like beating more.

Leeds have been pedestrian for a long time with ball in hand and if you look carefully it's not a recent thing. For years we have relied on scoring in open play. As soon as we get the ball within 30 meters of the line we struggle to come up with anything imaginative. When Cuthbertson came on board it was a breath of fresh air but other teams have quickly cottoned on. We are also slow react when the tide turns against us and become our own worst enemy. We are also very clueless when it comes to a game plan against an organised team with stand out players who can control games.

Agree with that matey.

How about this for opening up the end of the season? https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5645

How about this for opening up the end of the season? https://www.castlefordtigers.com/article.php?id=5645

Can Cas still win the GF without Gale then?

I'd say yes, but any RL fan should hope he makes it back for the end of the year.

Probably the most shocking thing for me about our 'attack' is just how dreadful we are at setting up our threequarters. We've got Hall on one wing who just needs half a yard near the line, and Watkins on the other who needs the ball in space. Do that and our wingers should score a shedload of tries. As it is for two years running all our wingers combined have scored way less than one Cas winger. Its not the only measure, but for me its an indicator of how we aren't even playing to what should be relative strengths.

I think Gale will likely be back for the play offs and i hope he is TBH. That said i think it would be unlikely they win it without him.The aren't a one man team but he is so important to everything they do, it's like taking Parcell out of our side right now.

Obviously they can, but it's less likely. Fortunately Roberts is playing the best rugby of his time here at the moment.

While they would rather have Gale available, if he isn't they'll do what all the best coached sides do - use it as additional motivation and crack on without him.

The problem is our style of attack has both been an advantage and disadvantage over the years.

The improvised style, with some of the players we've had has been difficult to read, which has allowed us to score seemingly random off the cuff tries to win grand finals.

We still have some that can pull it off, but not as well.

Wigan to win the gf for me.

Correct. We might use flooded changing rooms as an excuse if we don't win the GF though...

not winning the GF because of flooded changing rooms would have been fine for us , but it was a case of almost getting relegated. Of course you had a perfectly legitimate excuse for getting relegated Wigan cheating the cap by signing a player oh and your playing them next too

Whilst I'm sure someone will reply saying we won't even make the GF so doesn't matter, which ends each set of fans are in at Old Trafford have already been decided.

Winner of Cas' SF are in the Stretford End
Winner of Leeds' SF are in the East Stand