Is it 6/11 so far?

IMO it will be the first season in a while that you should be able to judge the top of the league team as being the best in the league, due to the fact that everyone only plays each other twice in the whole season (Magic weekend added extra game).

I think we will be top or second - but have a funny feeling we won't be in the GF - (hope we are) but think Hudds could pip us to the post this year

Got to disagree. Every team plans for winning the GF (well okay, maybe not Bradford these days), league points are always important, but to a team like Leeds finishing top 2 has always been the major goal. The last two years there has been a point or two between us and Saints and a gap down to the rest - that's fine for us - and it's worked out pretty well. When you get to end of season fixtures the plan is always to prepare best for the playoffs and the GF, not battle to finish 1 or 2. When we finished top in 2004 setting all sorts of records and when Saints blew everyone away in 2006 it meant something (especially as both teams went on to take the big one), but the odd league point over a season when finishing 1 or 2 makes very little difference to GF winning hopes and really doesn't say that much.

I think that Wigan and Warrington will be the teams to watch come play-offs. Hudds and KR are having a great season, but when faced with it the likes of Leeds and Saints should have too much for them come play-off football, with the experience and quality they have

Take your pick here's the fixtures

Leeds

Wigan a
Warrington h
Cas h
Celtic a
Saints h
salford a

St Helens

Harlequins a
wigan h
Hull KR a
Hudds H
Leeds a
Catalans h

Think we could possibly lose 2 (wigan & saints), think the saints game will decide top spot

I think Wakefield will do well in the play-offs this year. I'm still reckoning that Saints V Leeds Grand Final is the most likely though (as long as Saints get some players back come play-off time)

Think your right about the saints game going to decide top spot. Think we could possibly lose this weekend, however, Saints have the hardest possible run of games there IMO.

Quins Away (Still fighting for that play off spot), Wigan Home (playing Saints at the best possible time with all the injuries), Hull KR Away (4th place and will want to secure that spot and go into the play offs with a bang), Huddersfield Home (3rd place and tough team this season), Leeds away (the big one that should be the decider for top place). Catalans home (Not a easy game to have for last game of the season as this could be make or break for Catalans play off hopes).

Not forgetting that Saints have potentially 8 weeks with a game against Huddersfield in the semis of Challenge Cup with possibility of the Final also.

We are now big favourites with the bookies to finish top

Leeds (4/6)
Saint (5/4)

"IF" we finish top and get to choose our qualifying semi opponent I'd announce before the preliminary semis that we will play whoever the lowest ranked team is to keep it low key and not to antagonise any potential opponent.

I don't think there's any doubt whatsoever that Leeds will finish top and 4/6 is very good odds IMO - may have a punt.

If Saints finish top - do you think they will choose us as given the last 2 years we've beaten them in the GF so if they could knock us out early it would be a bonus for them

I had a thread on this yesterday, apparently the top team can't choose the other team who wins on the first week.

Have Saint Helens ever won a GF after meeting us in the playoffs at any stage?

No, because we have never got near them in the years they have won it.

They've won plenty of Challenge Cups after knocking us out along the way, does that count?

....as a consolation prize yes.

If we win Friday table topping is ours to lose with the two clubs respective August fixtures and Saints to come to us.

So that's a no then to Stains ever winning a GF after meeting us in the playoffs.

Interesting.

smart rule

Yeah, 1999.

No.

It's a yes.

1999

Yes.

It happened in 1999.

1999 Play Offs:

17-Sep-99 ..... SL 4 - QPO ..... St Helens 38 ..... Leeds 14
19-Sep-99 ..... SL 4 - EPO ..... Wigan 10 ..... Castleford 14
24-Sep-99 ..... SL 4 - ESF ..... Leeds 16 ..... Castleford 23
26-Sep-99 ..... SL 4 - QSF ..... Bradford 40 ..... St Helens 4
03-Oct-99 ..... SL 4 - FE ..... St Helens 36 ..... Castleford 6
09-Oct-99 ..... SL 4 - GF ..... Bradford 6 ..... St Helens 8

Also the same series that saw Wigan lose their inaugural match at the JJB Stadium and St Helens turn a 40 - 4 loss to Bradford into a GF win against the same opponents two weeks later.

leeds fans are scum and arrogant

You are too kind young sir.