If we won this week but lost to them in the GF i would be gutted. Really not fussed this week and thats the truth it means little.

A Challenge Cup winning smirk you mean?

Yeah I bet Burrow is well jealous of Connor's medal haul

Because it is basically a loose loose for Leeds
If we loose then everyone will bang on about how we cant beat Cas and it could knock our confidence
If we win then it will eliminate any complacency Cas would have if we meet them in the GF

We will probably beat Salford and/or Huds so this game isnt crucial at all

It could be a repeat of this years CC Final quite easily imo.
As for Burrow it seems Connor wound him up as that`s what he does and Burrow fell for it.
The fact there was quite alot of head high hits that went unoticed by the panel says alot really.
The same 2 points are on offer against Cas this week as they are against Salford the following week.
But realistically we have more chance of getting them against Salford.
I also feel we might rest the likes of McGuire, Parcell, Watkins and Cuthbertson against Huddersfield the week before the semi.

The odds on us not getting 2nd now must be massive. Even if we lose at Cas we have a Salford team in free fall at home and a Hudds team probably on the beach by the final week.

Even if we somehow don't manage to pick up a single point, Hull and Wakey need to go 3 from 3 and that's going to be tough given their fixtures including facing each other where one is guaranteed to drop points.

There's even a real possibility that Leeds lose on Friday yet walk off the pitch with 2nd spot guaranteed if Saints beat Wakey and Wigan beat Hull which I wouldn't be surprised to see play out that way. So whilst it's not a dead rubber for us, the race for 2nd is pretty much non existent.

oh you'll have to win a few more before you come in with that one

What happened to Darren Turner - another wind up merchant - will happen to Connor.

Odd as it sounds to write, there is virtually no benefit to winning this game.

Both teams at full strength. Moon back for Leeds, McMeeeken & Millington back in for Cas.

Same squad as last week with Lilley replacing Burrow in the 19.
I would leave out Moon for this one and give him time to recover.
With Walker or Golding missing out.

Aye. Give Moon longer to recover.

Except that it makes certain of second place.

Why is a Hunslet fan so keen to offer advise or even show an interest in the Rhinos?
You lot hate us and always have,I'm not even sure that you pass the postcode test to be even posting on here

I don't buy the idea of it not mattering and that if we get to the GF we can somehow rely on Cas imploding through nerves or complacency. In a scenario where we get hammered again and then meet them in the GF I'd say our team is more likely to have mental issues. They might hope/believe Cas will implode, but its more likely that if we then went behind its Leeds that would fall apart as they'd have zero belief in being able to get back into the game.

In any event we've seen before its all about building form at the pointy end of the year. IMO we're far too close to the end to be throwing games away.

I'm here to extend a olive branch to all those who jumped on the Rhinos bandwagon from south of the river and welcome them home.

Are you one of those turncoats? Look you don't need to say. Just do the right thing.

Tons of GF wins in our squad. Really doubt they need to win at Cas on Friday to give them any belief they can win against anybody at Old Trafford. You don't win that many times at a venue/final in recent times especially being written off a few of those times and not think you can't win there.

Reality is some fans need us to beat Cas on Friday to give themselves any belief that we could beat them in a GF, the players don't.

This squad hasn't won an important game without Sinfield. Therefore not sure why people are so confident based on historical games with Sinfield.

That is it in a nutshell - nobody in this team has led a side to win a game that really matters since 2015

Harsh but true.

I take we're not counting our run in the qualifiers last year then?

The epitome of meaningless. And even then, without Segayaro signing would have meant Championship rugby. Says it all really.

How many big games have we actually played since Sinfield left? You make it sound like we've been losing big games for 5 years. We weren't involved in the playoffs last year and yes we lost to Hull in the CC but then again losing in the cup happened a lot under Sinfield:

Our performances in playoffs is a different kettle of fish and one we've not yet experienced post Sinfield but will in a few weeks. Maybe we won't win without him, but wouldn't rule out winning either.

Moon is out, Lilley comes in and starts. Walker v Golding for 18th man.

Walker/Golding
Briscoe Watkins Sutcliffe Hall
Lilley McGuire
Singleton Parcell Cuthbertson
Ablett Ward
JJB

Keinhorst Mullally Garbutt Delaney

I would agree but to automatically assume that what happened in other GF's when the players were younger and had an inspirational leader will definitely happen again is foolhardy IMO