I agree - should be a cracker if Hull can avoid any more injuries.

Maybe the wheels aren't falling off but if I were a Wigan fan I wouldn't be so dismissive of our recent form at home to playoff teams.

To be fair, Leeds lost to Wigan at home recently and would have lost to Saints (IMHO of course!) had Saints not lost both halves in-game.

I certainly see your point though.

To be fair Leeds would have beaten Wigan (IMHO) had they retained the ball each time they got into the Wigan twenty.

But, in reality, handling errors are, like injuries, part and parcel of Rugby League and not a valid excuse for losing a game.

Why you opening this can of worms and why the love for Wigan. Has our domination over the "mighty" S blurred the lines when it comes to who to hate?

No doubt our home form is pretty poor, our away form is fantastic though, shame we had to finish top! Id much rather have hull in the first playoff game, even though your playing nowhere near as well as you did this time last year.

More than anything i just think last night proves the playoffs are wide open, form, injuries and squad depth are all crucial IMO

As for handling errors being akin to injuries, well . . . . .

Before Wigan saw fit to lose, just to spite us last night, Leeds needed to beat Les Catalans next week at Headingley to secure a minimum of 5th, leaving a potential winner takes 4th game at the KC post Wembley.

Last night brings Huddersfield (with an almost uncatchable points difference for Leeds) right into the reckoning with two rounds to go. I'm looking at 4th, 5th or 6th now for Leeds and (with Wembley muddying the waters) I wouldn't rule any of those finishes out.

Except that is clearly not what I said is it now. I said they both happen during the course of all Rugby matches.

I still think you'll take 4th.

You'll have enough to beat Catalans at home, even with Wembley on the horizon, and I just can't see Hull troubling Leeds in a "do or die".

One within a team's control, the other not.

Make a handling error and you can negate the matter by defending well for an extra set. Defending well won't give you back a kicking game or two extra subs on the bench when you lose both halves mid-game.

I'm sure if Leeds lose McGuire and Sinfield mid-game whilst in front at Wembley and Leeds go on to lose the match, you might think it had an teeny weeny impact on the game. Heck, it may even be a valid reason for a loss.

Except that it's not strictly a do or die. And it's immediately after Wembley. I think it's going to be one tough game.

I know it's not do or die, guess I should have said a game with something at stake.

Agree it won't be a walkover, but I just think Leeds have too much class, especially with Hull light in the halves.

Leeds should beat Catalan but I still think Hull arent a top 4 team. I seriously believe Hull KR and Hudds are better than them. That being said, they are 4th though and if they win their last 2 games will finish there.

As for Wigan, nothing I have seen in the last 3 weeks actually worries me about them. As said earlier in this thread when the intense games come around it wont suit their style. They will struggle to break decent defences down in big games and when the bad weather comes they wont have as much success throwing the ball around like they do.

I think 4th or 5th.

Next week's foreplay ahead of the final is a massive game which we need to win to fend off Huddersfield and the possibility of finishing 6th. Huddersfield have on paper the easiest run in.

However I expect us to overcome the French and secure 5th. No disrespect to Catalans but they have been very poor this season. They had everything to play for at Widnes last week and they put in the worst TV performance I've seen this year.

Leeds on the other hand will be holding the 'boot camp' stage of the 'Leeds' Got Talent' comp (apologies for developing this cringeworthy SKY soundbite) and I fully expect every player to do everything they can to get their name on the Wembley teamsheet. There will be some interesting internal battles including Donald/Smith, Clarkson/Lauititi/Eastwood/Ambler.

We can still finish 6th even if we win next week though.

After last night at Wigan, two points V Les Catalans (on its own) doesn't secure 5th spot for Leeds though.

If Huddersfield win both their remaining games and Leeds only win one, Huddersfield go above Leeds on points difference short of a miracle blow-out in our favour.

Leaving Leeds having to win at the KC for probably 4th but if they lose perhaps only collecting 6th.

Not sure where that leaves the play-off permutations other than a likely home game V Hull KR instead of Crusaders or Castleford. Beyond that lord knows for now.

I think 5th is pretty unlikely. 4th or 6th for me

True, just had a proper look at the table. If we lose and Hull win we're up against it, given Huddersfield's remaining fixtures.

Definitely going to be crunch time at the KC (and I'm not talking about the residents of Borstal Corner's Monster Munch......)

What is in a team's control is having players within your team and squad who can multi task. We have used 6 different players at half back this year.

Having other players that can do those things will though and that is within your control.

It would and I would. Dominating the game territorially and in terms of possession but failing to complete every set would ALSO have a very large impact on the game would it not?

Why are you so precious about your excuse for losing being the only valid reason a team can lose? There are lots of reasons a team can lose. Rain, cameras in dressing rooms, opposition players whooping etc etc,

At least its interesting!! I can see Huddersfield losing against Salford next week esp if Mason and Griffin get a ban!! From our point of view I hope you need to go into the Hull game to win meaning that we will either get you coming off the back of 2 big games or Hull coming off the back of having played you in a big game! Dont think Hull have it in them to beat you then us on the bounce

That would compensate for last night but I really don't see it happening.

I'm not being precious, nor have I ever said that.

If I was being precious I'd probably respond to an innoccuous post such as:



with something childish like:

Why would you respond to your own post?

You're very defensive about ensuring your excuses for losing are more valid than ours.

Touche!

Well played sir.



I may have to change my prediction to a Wire/Saints final because yesterday we looked as threatening as you