Meaningless for Leeds and Leigh but for the integrity of the competition they are not. Certainly not meaningless for HKR and The Giants and financially not for others as the difference in funding between 6th and 7th is around 300k. I understand in a way what people are saying but come on, there are only 2 games left of the season. The only game at this moment in time that is meaningless is Leeds v Leigh in week 7.

The middle eights are over for us now, we should take the opportunity to send as many players away for a long pre-season as possible.

I agree.
If we deliberately field a weakened team it makes the competition a farce as we could be the one who decides who goes down
I am sure if we were in the same position as Salford, Huddersfield and HKR and one of them did the same to us there be uproar and outrage on this board.

We would play the same way whether we put the same team as last week, or make half a dozen changes. The only thing that would change would be the enthusiasm from those looking to stake a claim. That can only be for the benefit of those teams who haven't warranted the right to rest players.

The point I am making is not whether the first team will be ars*d to play, but we should be seen to do the right thing for the sake of the competition and not give an unfair advantage to another team.

We will play a full team, or as close as damn it, but the first teamers heads will be 'on the beach' so to speak. So Gotcha has a point, it would be likely far harder for Hudds facing a set of young players hungry to stake a claim and impress than a set of players who realise the season is pretty much done and are going through the motions.

The dead rubber is against Leigh in the final week.
However there might be a hefty difference in cash paid to the winner of the qualifiers compared to the runner up so still something to play for.
As far as resting players goes I would imagine Watkins, Hall and possibly Ferres will make the Engalnd side so maybe give them a week off at the end.
Give two or three fringe players a run against Leigh but I would resist wholesale changes against Huddersfield.
I am sure given the chance Leigh would love to rough up our young inexperienced pack if we opted to promote the U19`s for this game.

Correct me if i'm wrong but I think it's the same prize money for the top 3 or 4?

your prize money is your SL tv money.

5-8 get prize money because they miss out on the SL money.

From a giants fans perspective I'd like only to play the strongest Leeds team available. We are in a mess and we ourselves need to learn to put it right without the help from anyone. It would be unfair to the entire system.

Why wouldn't you want your strongest team out. From the shambles you've had to watch for most of the season, you're loyalty is owed every good game they can give you. They don't deserve an early break.

It's not about them deserving a break, it's about I'm more interested in us doing well in 2017 than these two games. Sooner some players get themselves fixed and rested up the sooner they can get back for pre-season.

We had an early exit from the 2014 playoffs and a losing run in the league and look how we came back in 2015
We had a very long season in 2015 and spent several weeks patting ourselves on our backs and look how 2016 went.
Look at Hull and Warrington, they stopped caring about the 2015 season from the first week of the Top 8's and look at them now.

Putting on a performance against Hudds isn't going to polish what's happened this year so why even pretend. All thought should be on 2017 now, that gives us several weeks head start on the likes of the current Top 4 who still have to focus on this year.

Leeds will play a full strength team for the remaining 2 games no doubt about it.

I think they probably will.....don't think it's the right idea though.

If JJB is going round again then he should be feet up for the next 2 weeks. probably Watkins and Hall too as they will likely figure until back end of november for England. I would probably look at keeping McGuire in cotton wool and give a couple of the props like Galloway and Cuthbertson an extended rest. The rest probably play.

I would guess we will go out to win with the best side available. There certainly is a case for resting JJB and Watkins because of their high workload but with the latter having taken so long to find his best form may he well want to enjoy it for a bit longer. I would be disappointed if the fit players didn't want to keep winning for the fans sake.

You still talking poop Smokey? All 8 qualifiers monies for next season are decided by their position...it's not prize money. I am sure you will have a comeback (usually contradicting what you originally said but purporting to be the same)

This is the right sentiment.

We shouldn't make wholesale changes but where players ate carrying injuries or need a rest we can now do this.

It's also an opportunity for fringe players to get game time and experience.

For me its a no brainer .

If they are injured (McGuire, delaney) I agree they should not and I think will not play. However, if they are just a tad tired, they should still be playing at full tilt for mine.

3 reasons. Firstly, they need confidence going into next year, playing a makeshift side and getting stuffed by hudds and Leigh will be a poor way to end a very poor season.

Secondly, they have had challenge cup rest weeks already plus for cuthbertson and others he will finish about 4 weeks earlier than last season as he played v New Zealand.

Finally, the u18's got over 50 points put through them v Salford u19's at the weekend. Filling the team with them and fringe players will not beat Huddersfield. They would get slaughtered.

So you are saying that the top 4 dont get the SL tv funding and positions 5-8 dont win money based on their finishing position? Interesting...

Just as I thought, a little twist from you. 1-4 get there share of the TV monies for 2017. 5-8 get a position related share of the TV monies for 2017. See ya ya argumentative bugger.

Im genuinely interested in what on earth you think the twist is here?

No mention of 'prize money'

Ahh the ever important distinction between money won on the basis of success and prize money.

Great contribution there...

You are extremely boring Smokey, so by your definition then 1-4 get prize money too. You didn't say that the first time either. So I gauge my contribution as being more factually correct than yours

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No, by my definition the clubs in positions 1-4 get nothing in monetary terms for their position in the middle 8s. Because they don't. Next season they will be due their 1/14th share of SLE revenue for participating in SL for the year 2017.

Clubs 5-8 however will not be members of SL next year and so wont be due that money. They will instead receive the standard funding from the RFL for the year 2017 plus a payment based upon their finishing position for the year 2016. That will be money won on the basis of success, or in common parlance, prize money.