...but it is NOT obviously how the players, GH and the club all feel.

I don't know why but the Challenge Cup is very undervalued by some, but still the 2nd biggest prize in rugby, would prefer a GF but would take a cup win. The Micky mouse prize for me is the hub cap

And that is what is so ridiculous. The "hub cap" as you put it is far far harder to win than that joke cup. If only you had to win 4 matches to win the league leaders and have the chance to play lower league opposition to win it. That is why it is and should be undervalued. That "hub cap" you speak of you have to win more matches out of 30 matches against teams in your own league.

The cup may not be quite what it once was but is far from a mickey mouse cup Gotcha.GF has super seeded it fair enough but to win a CC is still a great achievment and represents a successful season imo.

But it's a meaningless cup. If you were crowns SL champions then fair enough but it doesn't. It's kind of like getting into the Olympic final as fastest seed. The GF is the prize

I am in agreement the GF is the prize, I like the concept. To get to the GF however, you first have to have that gruelling league season and finish high enough to give yourself a chance.

To win a Challenge cup you have to win 4 matches which could include lower division. How can a cup win like that be deemed higher than a 30 game league season where you finish the higher of the rest? Just because it is played at Wembley shouldn't make it any more desired.

The Hubcap has been devalued by those who run the game and in devaluing the hubcap they have devalued the regular rounds of the competition. Whilst there is undoubted skill in getting a team to peak at what most regard as the business end of the season. Getting the best out of a squad of players over a whole regular season is, to my mind, the greater achievement. As far as I can see the play off's and GF are primarily about extending the revenue stream and adding some US style glitz.

Of course I have loved it as a spectacle and it does give the feeling of an anything can happen end to the season. It also felt great when we won it from 5th. But if I'm honest I would like to see the Top placed club at the end of the regular season crowned as champions. If we then want to extend the season with a knock out comp, perhaps V the top NRL clubs, so much the better.

I think that doing away with the play off's would, in the long term promote a stronger more competitive Super league as teams would have to deliver week in, week out if they wanted to be champions.

I'm sure that there would be many drawbacks if we adopted this approach and I'm sure that they will be pointed out in short order.

Begin

Think our own club proved it meaningless by winning from 5th twice. All you get is let's face it a tacky looking shield and the poison challis of picking your opponent.

Gotta just love that don't ya.......super silly us are we

Yet how many wins did they have to get to finish 5th? How many wins will they need to win the CC this year.? It's like having a sevens tournament, and winning the plate Bowl at the end, there is the next losers with a better trophy, and the actual winners with a better trophy still

can we have the challenge cup please,

Top 4 and then as I've said all along the playoffs in such a short form is a toss of a coin.

The hub cap has a lot more to it now than it has ever.

The amount of money is now exactly the same as winning the challenge cup, you also gaurentee yourself a place in the world club series the season after which in turn also confirms more money into the club, it gaurentees you a home play off, you get a trophy and it confirms you as the most consistent team over the season.

I would love for this generation of players to win the treble, however I do doubt this will happen.

before the season had started i would have gladly accepted the clubs current position on the ladder

i am optimistic that we can make the top 4 play offs and other than having home advantage i don't see any sides quaking in their boots at having to face any side either home or away in a sudden death game

i still believe that saints are the best side in the comp and will clearly be the side to beat for any side wishing to win the grand final

All good for the club but doubt the average fan is too bothered by the money. It guarantees a world club friendly. U have to win the GF to be in the world club championship. I grew up with the traditional trip out to Wembley it's always gonna mean more than winning the hub cap

I'd be surprised if winning everything wasn't the aim. However, given the 'retirements' of Sinfield, JP and Leuluai I expect us to go all out for the CC first, with the hope of refocussing on the league etc afterwards. I doubt a CC win/loss will have anywhere near as draining effect mentally as it did last year when clearly a number of senior players put their cues back on the rack after Wembley. In fact I'd argue that they'll bust a gut in the play offs at least.

Whether we're good enough to win one or all comps is another matter entirely.

Still too early but with our remaining fixtures set as they are we should comfortably be in the top 3/4.
Getting Briscoe Delaney and Moon back will be crucial and also dare i say it keeping Kylie going the Coach has clearly struggled to utilise the squad in their absence reverting to his "run em into the ground & 2 man bench" approach.
No doubts our best 17 on form is capable of beating anyone and winning the lot but i don't think we will.
The CC imo is still a cracking Trophy to win but i'm glad more reward has been added to winning the HC our problem will be how quick we can get our injuries back and up to form whilst the team are struggling for form.

I'd start Sinfield and McGuire in the halves for control with Sutcliffe on the bench allowing Sinfield to spell Aiton (if required) then either Sutcliffe/Sinfield play stand off/loose when Aiton returns. The other bench spots go to foraards.

Leeds are still more than capable of winning any game they're in, unfortunately they are almost equally as capable of doing the opposite and that's (IMO) the root of the frustration.

I would start Sinfield and Sutcliffe in the halves, if it is deemed to be that McGuire and Sutcliffe are next years halves. That way Sutcliffe can learn off the right player. Bringing McGuire off the bench will have a much bigger effect on the team than brining Burrow on.

Were you all saying that 24th August 2014?

I was yes. But this year it is different again, as you only have to win 3 matches to be in the final, and 4 will see you CC winners. The league however you can no longer win from 5th, It now has an additional 3 matches, and the last seven matches are much harder than you would probably have seen previously. To finish top is quite an achievement, and to win the GF is a greater achievement still.

Just watched second half of Hull game on 5th March again......eeeeh those were the days



Burrow scored a lovely individual try at the end, but oh if only he had taken that sublime Cuthberston pass just a couple of minutes beforehand? Lovely stuff.

The SL standards are poor this season and I can't say any side has really consistently shown their superiority.

Once Leeds get back Briscoe and if they manage to keep their first 17 free of injury (especially our back 5) then I believe they will raise their games sufficiently to win the CC [uand[/u have a good shot at the GF. They could also still win the league leaders shield....it really is all down to who gets injured - in all challenging teams - from now until season's end.

Sutcliffe and McGuire at halves for me wherever possible in the league matches; Sinfield always to start ...either as dummy half (Aiton on bench) LF (if against a lighter pack) or maybe SO for CC matches. He deserves one last medal in that final arena for sure. Sentimental maybe....but of course if he shows no form then he should be dropped - as should anybody else.

The new format is getting close to that - you won't win it from 5th - I would suggest unless you are in the top 2 you won't win it either. The game has always had a play off to decide the champions - long may it continue.

Firstly people said that last year (and the year before) and said we'll be found out this year when standards improve. A MAJOR reason why I'm not writing off Leeds' chances this year isn't actually because we are so good (because we aren't) but I really haven't seen enough in the rivals to make me concerned. People keep saying they have/will up their game.....well their's a reason every team barring Saints is below us and that's because they can't find any consistancy to their game. If anything I think Leeds still have a chance because I don't rate the other teams as highly as others do.



This for me is key and what the last few weeks have proved (not even the most positive poster would've thought we'd have won stuff with a back line that consisted of Sutcliffe, Handley and Keinhorst, even though they have done a respectable job when called upon). We are still good enough to compete if we can roll out the first choice 17 (or close to it). The CC last year. The semi and Final McDermott had his best 17 available, no one was missing who would have played ahead of them. And to be fair, no one has bigged up our reserves as good enough, apart from GH at the start of the year but he HAS to do that as a salesman to try sell Season Tickets. (Why people get worked up at that every year is bafferling).



Those four of Sinfield, McGuire, Aiton and Sutcliffe definately for me. The Hudds cup (I know I go on about the cup games but surely you can't ignore their significance whether people think its Mickey Mouse or not) showed what Sinfield can do when push comes to shove. Aiton I think too deserves a starting spot so perhaps a case of Sutxliffe coming off the bench. Regardless of how you line up with those four, I think most (apart from one poster) would agree that Burrow shouldn't be in the starting 17 when everyone is fit.