In the opening 1st v 4th playoff game they'll be like a well oiled machine. Whoever they play, they'll beat comfortably.

But when it comes to that final 80 minutes, the last hurdle before old trafford, providing they play one of wigan, leeds or warrington they'll falter. I guarantee it.

I think Huddersfield have as good a chance as any. Bar their shocking game in the Cup against the Wire, they've looked the part all year.

It's easy to dismiss them given what's happened in the past, but there has to come a time when someone new breaks the glass ceiling.

Finishing third means if we lost we are more likely to play the lowest ranked team which would likely mean avoiding St Helens. Although obviously if Wigan beat Hudds, then that changes it!

the one thing hudds have over everybody else is momentum.
nobody else has any

After the remainder of round 26 we can now add Castleford's 6% decrease, Huddersfield's 17% decrease and Widnes' 1% increase.

(It looks like Wigan are now going to have to post a crowd well in excess of 23,000 for the visit of Leeds on Thursday to retain their highest average home following for a fourth consecutive season. Given their previous highest mark for this particular fixture during the SL Era was 20,295 in 2009, that looks highly unlikely even if we were in a season of growing attendances - and we're not - Wigan's are also following the downward trend.)

Add in consistency and virtualy full strength all year it makes them a tough opposition.
The bigger question is have they "peaked" already because as we know at this time of year the likes of us Pies and Wire will go up in intensity and perfromance?
Makes it a bit more interesting anyway.

With the season they have had that is appalling. Of course, I don't expect them to attain Leeds attendances but a decrease on their own attendances of 17% is shocking. If I were Ken Davy I really don't think I'd bother. What more can he do?

Season ticket prices were massively increased from last year. Better than flogging them cheap and going bust.

Given Hudds' form over recent years I don't blame their fans for being sceptical regarding their ability to perform right through the season. Hopefully, now that their scepticism has been proved to be misplaced for once, their ticket sales will increase. Should they not, then delivering a trophy-winning team will have failed and in that instance there really is little else that Davy can do.

Leaving working at 4.30 from leeds, looking forward to this.

I'm sure this is right. The ability of Huddersfield to win big games in knockout football is still a fundamental doubt. How many here honestly think they're the best team in the comp?

Which is why we have play-offs.

Wasn't the CC match - that Leeds lost massively - a knockout match?

Lunt and Brough are more than enough to defeat Leeds again: the coaching staff have no idea how to combat Brough and will no doubt select Burrow a starting hooker against Lunt

This match really typifies SL this season: a waste of time. Does it really matter whether either team finishes 3rd or 4th?
The Leeds' performances this season have probably been the [ileast convincing[/i and [imost boring [/ifor many a season....yet will still finish in their highest position under McDerrmott's tenure !! A sign of things to come?



The likes of Watkins, Hardaker and Hall might as well find employment in the NRL: their talents are wasted at Leeds and in SL

Ref BJB...I have often said he is the type of player that can do something brilliantly, but also just as likely do something the complete opposite of this with a bad fumble or pathetic tackle.
The potential signing of Briscoe failed to excite only because RW is still not in any way a priority. I think ALL agree that is hooker (and re-signing Ali

)
The young kid, Duckworth, looked good enough to be given another opportunity in what is after all a meaningless match.

Only you could compare Leeds and Huddersfield and end up questioning our team's pedigree in knock-out football. I'm sure you see this as a special insight. I just see it as.... special.

Pedigree! Once upon time yes.......this is the present though - with pensionable more knackered and easily dominated forwards and yet an inability of others to get the ball out quickly to its young exciting outside backs

Less than 12 months ago = once upon a time?

Troll is weak.

So how long does it have to be to be considered 'history' ?

How old and how good does Jamie Peacock have to be to prove you are wrong about our forwards? How many Grand Finals does McDermott have to win before you consider him competent? Why am I apportioning this part of my life to responding to your nonsense??

Just as a side note fetlar who is actually questioning JP individually?
There's obvious need for at least 1 impact FR and even more so a regular natural 9 if Mcshane isnt to get the gig week in week out = need for Forwards??

I agree rhinoms, but Peacock proves that age is not the issue.

Fetlar-Absolutely mate but not every 32+ forward has JP's impact ,desire and more importantly quality.
I personally think IF we dont get our recruitment/junior intergration right in the pack asap then when the sad day does come and JP hangs up his boots we will be in a lot of the brown and smelly stuff or be chasing big money signings.

It's definitely a potential headache: the types of player we're talking about are a rare species anyway. Importing replacements from Down Under is increasingly difficult and U19 is very often too young to determine if a player will make the grade in the front row.

Hence our policy of retaining experienced front rowers well into their 30s, graduating existing second-rowers to the front row and occasional recruitment from the Championship...

I am certain neither Wigan or Leeds want this game this week.
Going into the play-offs we probably look the least prepared of all the top four teams . This because of injury to key players. Huddersfield look fresh, and the wire and Wigan have been resting players. One can live in hope but it looks like a bigger task than recent years.

I agree. An exact JP replacement is nigh on impossible. With very few top props about explains our policy to extend the contracts of experienced members of the squad. I think Delaney will be next in line to move up front and will become a very good prop. He could well be followed by Ablett in the future as this route often produces the best props.