Nothing to stop the current highly talented Leeds squad from going on to win their 4th consecutive title. I also suspect that their closest rivals will once again be Saint Helens - both Leeds and Saints really know how to get up for big games. This is an astonishing prospect given that this is the era of the salary cap and unlike the cheats from Melbourne both sides have got to a position of strength and pre-eminence without breaking the rules. Something they both can be proud of.

Other real contenders this year for the first time include Wigan, Warrington, Hull and to some extent at least Bradford (with a fully fit squad). Huddersfield have been pathetic when the chips are down, Wakefield have peaked and are in terminal decline as are Castleford (time to get rid and replace with Widnes or Leigh) and Hull KR.

Salford, Quins and Crusaders are currently in their own mini league with Quins clearly on the up along with (to a lesser extent) Crusaders. Catalns continue to have the season from Hell and are in desperate need of a coach and some leadership.

For the younger Leeds Rhinos fan...this is a truly golden era and something you may not see again for another 30 plus years - enjoy every second of every game these are remarkable times not to be taken lightly.

Who ever ends up as NRL Premiers this year cos that's who we'll be playing in next years WCC

the games I've seen! They are a good workman like side. Who wrestle and spoil the best. They move the ball quick without been spectacular. they have some average talent playing awesome, which is helping the quality they have. if their average talent keep the level needed they could be champs. if those average players can't deliver in the big games it could be over pretty quick! they won't be underdogs all the expectation of the media and there fans will be massive! let's see if they can cope or will the wheels drop off? As you have Leeds and saints who are the masters of the play offs and TS who is a great leader come play off time.

Wigan will likely be the next team to take the big step. Whether that will be this year or next i dont know, but they strike me as having a big dip left in them.

I would also look at whether they have the attacking skills to do it. Leeds and Saints will take it up a notch in the play-offs, and play-off intensity will mean they defend as well as Wigan have so far this season, and this has been their greatest asset this year. When the going gets tough do they have the gamebreakers to make that difference? the CC game would say not.

I look at their squad and i dont see a gamebreaker like Mcguire Sinfield or Ali, or Cunningham and Gidley.

What makes you think they can take it up a notch in the play-offs? They havn't really done that all season.

People are blinded IMO by the fact that Leeds and Saints have been the best teams in previous seasons and are not recognising that Wire and Wigan have been the best sides this year. It's as if Saints and Leeds fans have the opinion that they no longer need to win the league as they can just win the play-offs instead.

Saints and Leeds have little or no experience of playing away from home in the play-offs.

Wigan have been the best attacking team so far this year, what makes you think we can't 'take it up a notch'?

Interesting debate though.

Your challenge cup game this year against us perhaps?

It was one of the tightest games I have ever seen. We threw it away really you guys were there for the taking. I don't think one game is a fair indication of a teams attack though. It's not like our attack was poor we still created stuff. On the flip side I could say the so called champions could only score one try at home, but thats not a fair reflection is it.

Leeds will be there for the taking in the play offs and you’ll just threw it away. In fact the only Games that Wigan have lost this season have been thrown away in the second half. I’m Talking about the loses to Bradford and Harlequins.

If anything Wigan have already shown signs of choking.

For me it's a case of can your average players keep this level and then go up the next 2 or 3 gears needed to get the job done when it's big game time? no doubt the guys who are average have upped their game big time to het you in the good position your in(Prescott, ocarrol, goulding, mcallorum, pryce, coley, phelps) and those players like riddel, fielden, bailey, gleeson and roborts who failed to fire have got back to something like the form that should be expected of them.

Richards, tommy the tomkin bros, hansen, Todd flanders have it in them to go through the gears. the big question can the rest follow. It just takes one week link. eg Francis Meli!

But every other game we have won

that doesn't count though, only take notice of the choking.

Each time we have lost a game we then kick on and learn from it, those losses will be a blessing come the end of the season.

Every team has average players not just Wigan.

To be able to win the super league you have to have average players who perform above what they would normally, thats how it works under the cap.

Most of the players you have named are also squad players and not first teamers. As squad players they are very much above average from the kind of players other have to bring in.

Also, a couple of the players you mention have been poor and can't get a game.

Coley has been our best prop this year and one of the best in super league!

I honestly don't think you have seen enough of Wigan really with comments like that.

For the Mouth Of Your Great Coach -

[iWe set a high standard over the last four or five weeks but unfortunately that slipped in the second half.[/i
Michael Maguire [size=85after your game against the Bulls[/size

[iWe're going to have to utilise the disappointment in the Super League competition. We are in a good position in the League and we now need to put our focus towards that.[/i
Michael Maguire [size=85after your game against us in the challenge cup[/size

I’m Afraid that Mr sgtwilko stands correct that its average players playing at a better level. Heck your coach even agrees with him going by these quotes!

You amaze me sometimes. It does not say anywhere in there that we have average players.

It's like you are trying to make out our majority of wins just does not matter.

I'm pretty sure those quotes go along with what I said that the losses will be a blessing come the play-offs, we have learnt from them.

You are placing your opinion upon small foundations based on a couple of results which were hardly poor, we just lost concentration, hardly been a disaster. Leeds on the other hand......

no! a fair reflection would be in a knock out football style game you couldnt breach our try line, we could breach yours and you got knocked out of the cup by the champions!

I agree we were their for the taking as we had burrow,Webb,Ali and burgess out with peacock on one leg. But to be honest your coaches choice of negative tactics when we were their for the taking on reflection were nieve to say the least. agreed?

Think it's a fight between Leeds, Wigan, Saints and Wire for the title this year.

I think Leeds' biggest ask will be winning away in playoffs. Home advantage seems to be a massive influence on which team goes on to Old Trafford. Have the Rhinos had to win away in the past 3 years in playoffs?

No you get me wrong! I totally agree with this post! Leeds have a proven track record of stepping it up as do saints. Do Wigan have the extra gears? This is unknown. we just have to wait and see. that's all I'm saying really.

This being one of my main points.

The track record of the top two teams getting to the GF and away games in the play-offs does not change just because last years finalists are not on top.

Firstly, you point about the GF never being won outside of the top 2 is correct BUT we have only had one year of the new 8 team, club call play-off system! The 8 team system does and will make it easier for any of the top 4 teams to get to the GF as it favours the top 2 slightly less than the old 6 team system. All you get in the top two is to play at home in the first week, if you actual lose that game from 1st or 2nd you get to stay at home in week 2 BUT will be away for the third week (if you win) having lost!

As you have to play and win at least two games to get to the GF now, if Wigan stay in 1st and play Leeds (who are in 4th) and you lose at home, the club call is lost, you get to stay at home in week 2 but are then faced with coming to Leeds and having to beat us again, this time away!!!

How confident are you about it now? If you screw up week 1 against the 3 times Champions you have to beat them away to even get to the GF!

The first quote does indirectly. Michael Maguire indicates that Wigan have set a high standard. Now Wigan are more a less the same team as last year bar a few signings and a new coach.

No way would this lot be at the top of the table if Brian Nobel was in charge. The last few season have proven that. But Brian Nobel did bring the best out of Wigan when it was needed. Unfortunately you wasn’t good enough to reach the Grand Final.

The only difference this year is Michael Maguire is bringing the best out of the Wigan players on a weekly basis. We haven’t seen the best what this Wigan side have had to offer as yet.

However the last few years will show that your not good enough when it comes to the business end and likewise this year with Leeds beating you in the Challenge Cup.

The same will happen in the play offs as it did in the challenge cup.

Your nailed on for the league leaders but not for the super league championship.

Hell No.



I’m placing my opinion based on my viewing experience of top flight rugby league in this country over these last few years. A majority of Leeds fans accept that we have had a poor start to the season. But our form now, place in the table and the beating you in the challenge cup proves to us that Leeds are going to end this season like the last few.

If Wigan win the Super League Championship then well done. However so far this season you just look like a poor version of that St Helens side who finished at the top of the league above us in 2007 and 2008.

Three Words: Flat Track Bullies

well they have done it. Both Leeds and Saints have been very good. They have also played rugby a notch above anything i have seen this season, in each of the last three play offs. They have also played their best rugby in the playoffs.

they dont, leeds have won the last three grand finals and only won the LLS once in that time. In fact since the 04 the League League leaders have only won the GF half the time.

And dont forget the league isnt finished quite yet.

they have plenty.

you havent done it. You havent done it for years. What makes you think you have even more improvement in you?

I am just looking forward to the play-offs to be honest. If you were to beat us in that first game though I would definantly fancy our chances at your place really.

Only time will tell, so much can change.

I'm pretty confident that if we finish top we will be good enough to make the final.

There are enough "aren't Wigan brilliant" threads on the VT and on your own board, dont think we need one here too

You really shouldn’t be. In fact start shaking in fear that its all going to go wrong

I think you are right, only time will tell. I think you will finish top but only because you are way out in front, but it will be interesting to see whether you can keep up the form? Leeds have had a very poor start to the season, Saints a little poor and Wire average, Wigan have played very well, but I would argue that the reason they are so far in front is more to do with the form of the teams below them and not Wigan being a far superior team than the chasing pack!

Given the new 8 team format form, from here towards the play-offs, will count more and league position less given last years Grand Finalists acknowledged poor starts to the season. You could lose your last three games of the season and still finish top!

Lets see how you feel come September!

The Bulls won it from 3rd.

You can't discount the importance being in the top 2. Only two teams have ever secured a Grand final place from outside top two. Wigan from a great Carney try after Leeds had some chances to win if i recall and Bradford when lets be honest, St Helens just had an awful injury crisis and were never going to get to Old Trafford.

If anyone can make it a third team it's this Leeds side though. Best team on paper in SL.