the loss of aiton still bothers me . We had a very particular plan against wigan tailored to the conditions which worked well. Its hard to tell how well we have adapted since as the team against Hull was understandably at half pace and resting key players. The pessimist in me worries that we could see another repeat of the performance against Hull, but form and cup final experience coupled with a determination to see a number of players go our on a high mean logically Leeds should be strong favourites. I was equally worried against saints in the semi but I've never seen us come out as fired up as then and we blew them away. Hopefully that type of high octane performance is coming again.

I would agree with this. But I can see the scoreline 32 - 14 Leeds.

Leeds 20
Hull KR 0

The loss of Aiton is very significant for the playoffs. For this match though I don't think it's make or break for our chances that's he's absent.

Leeds by at least 30 clear points and possibly a record margin.

Leeds strike power is just too great and hkr's defence is far too ropey.

When we lost to hull, they finished 4th in league and made the grand final the year after. Hull were a considerably better side than hull kr are now.

Well, you rhino fans are gonna have a great day out watching your team have a points fest... A few salford fans thought the same last week against Bradford...food for thought.

No bites at thought food cast your net when we're hungry

Leeds 37-10 Rovers. Although that doesn't mean I'm not nervous as anything.

Hull KR cannot beat us in 'finals football'. That is they don't have it in them to grind out a result in the type of games where neither defence nor attack make many mistakes, they score too much from deep and aren't good enough in defence.

I think for them to beat us, they need to control the ball. Leeds were happy last year to complete sets and confident they could get over the line in enough times in 80 mins. Hull KR will need to push it. That kind of battle doesn't suit them. So you would expect they need to put some early points on the board. If Hull KR can get a score or two ahead it will give them confidence, allow them to settle and force Leeds to push it and that's when mistakes happen and there is no doubt they can get enough points on the board to win. Conversely I think if they come out and try things and they don't come off, they will give away far too much possession and far too much position and the game will get away from them early.

I feel like a should be confident and we should win by a couple of scores and with a little to spare. But im not. I was more confident last year even though Cas were consistently a better side. I dont think we will lose, but Hull KR are far likelier to win than people think imo

In fairness the kind of game you are describing there is exactly the way we beat Wigan and Wire, albeit in poor conditions.

The Wigan game was down to conditions, I don't think either side intended a game like that.

Warrington was a pretty open game, there were 44 points in it and could have been a few more. Contrasted with say the Leeds v Cas final last year where there were only 33 points and not a lot of other chances.

Comparing Leeds to Salford.....always a wise move.

KR have scored quite a few points against us this year, and Wembley is a huge (wide) pitch. Rhinos by 13 but it will be high scoring.

Our defence has upped its performances when it's come to the cup games though. Also 16 at Headingley is ok but nothing special and the 30 points at their place did happen opening day.....this year's team has found its feet a lot since those first few weeks when we won games in just 20 minutes bursts and our new style of play in 2015 has had time to gel and become stronger and more consistent.

Well of course there is never less than a few Salford fans thinking things like that

I remember 2005 in Cardiff and Leeds thought the same then but hey ho may the best team win

See you could take that as a troll but that was 10 years ago. The game (I'm mean the sport) was very different. This Leeds team is different, the players who still play for the club who lost that day are the champions they are because of that day and other major losses and victories.

It's 05 and other losses that make this champion team better prepaired for what is to come tomoz.

In a funny way FC have helped those Leeds players become the success they are.

I wasn't trolling at all I was just saying that because you are a good team and favourites means that you are going to win. It depends which team comes out on the day. We had our best FB out in the last 24 hrs which was a big loss in 2005. I also remember that great win for Sheffield a few years back now. Just because I am a Hull fan dosent mean I don't have an opinion and why does everyone think you are trolling just because we don't think what you do.

Have to admit that is more or less what usually happens when we play you.

Last year at your place 0-0 after 60 minutes we still lose 30-6.This year at our place we were 18-4 in the first half and then 30-16 well into the second half.......lost 30-40. Always there seems to be a couple of tries right at the death to make it look worse than it was.

Shows the scale of our task, even when we play really really well you still find a way to turn things round Leeds never give up and have the quality to score at any time.

Obviously I'm hoping we can last the pace this time and spring a surprise. I wouldn't put my mortgage on it but maybe Leeds will have a blip sometime this season you have been pretty well untroubled for ages and that can't last forever.

I think people consistanly forget how good that Hull team was around at time. Yeah Leeds were favourites but Hull were 3rd in the table before the Semi final (after that they lost 4 of their last 6 to finish 5th), finished 3rd in 2004 and 2nd in 2006 and GF runners up.

Now, not to disrespect HKR but they've clearly been a 7th-9th placed kinda team for a few years now. Their's a significant difference in our opposition this year compared to 2005.

Also significantly the coach is different. Tony Smith has a habit of losing cup games to underdogs

2015 Semi vs HKR
2013 Semi vs HFC
2006 Semi vs Hudds
2005 Final vs HFC
2003 4th vs Hunslet (whilst coach at Hudds)

I'm going 34-18 to Leeds for the record.

Not a million miles away

b
I think I got this one about right