I'd prefer to finish top but it's no 'biggy' if we don't. In 2004 I couldn't give an 'Eartha' about the League Leaders Shield after winning the Grand Final TBH. I think the secret is to back up winning it by winning the GF itself! That sort of diminishes it's significance somewhat. HTH

thankyou

Bless

You're correct. We are talking about now, not the years between '73 and '99. Now, the Champion team - the title everyone in SL is ultimately competing for - is decided by the Grand Final.

If you think that players and coaches (other than Jon Wilkin who seems to eat a different type of cake to everyone else judgeing by his comments on this subject), sit down at the start of the year and talk about how their number 1 objective for the whole season is to finish top after the regular rounds then you must also be eating or smoking something with hallucenagenic properties.

This is not an unfamiliar argument on this board, in the last couple of years (funnily enough), it happens around about now, and then usually around 8-10 weeks after the GF (when you lot ooze out from under the rock you've hidden under).

The only reason I want Leeds to finish top is because it gives us ever so slightly better odds of reaching the GF - the ultimate objective of every team competing in the competition.

There is something to be said for confidence in a player. I do respect the fact that he doesn't accept not being in the best team. I've seen far too many players in Blue and Ambern over the years who were far too happy to be in a team of losers. The Doug Laughton years geve us a team of high priced "professionals" who for the most part (and there were notable exceptions, eg. Lowes and Mercer come to mind) took defeat extremely comfortably.

Yeah, those damm Edwardian telegraphs and their reporting of events from beyond the next hill ... Apart from 73 to 99, when the league structure was different, when exactly has finishing top of the league been treated the same respect as winning the Challenge Cup or winning the Championship Final ?

The bottom line is, it never has and probably for the forseeable never will ...

I've read that timeframe twice now. I don't want to see it again.

Its' that time of the year for Super league's biggest



.....so the Saints fans and players start to whine again.

PMSL.

If all clubs all cared so so much about coming top of the table, then Leeds would almost certainly not have lost to the Bulls, Salford, Les Cats or Quins this season (maybe 1 or 2 of those but not all). I'm sure Sts supporters could also point to games this season where if they'd played close to their best they would not have lost. It's a nonsense argument.

I'm glad a trophy of sorts is awarded to the league leaders at the end of the season. It deserves some recognition. However, comparing it to winning the GF is a nonsense. Personally, I'd be about as pleased if the Academy win their competitions as Leeds finishing top of the table.

So you admit you are a Pedant then!



Well of course the question now Pedant is if Saints do lose to Leeds and Leeds then lose at Salford how many will you have to beat the Dragons by/Leeds to lose to Salford by for you to win the hub-cap?

One final thing... it is clear you are not a bookie!

We'll hear alot alot less of this now we're top.

If Leeds beat Saints, then Leeds lose to Salford and Saints beat Catalans which game was the REAL decider?

Are you really this much of a tool?

The one where Saints make up the points difference!

So you dont still think Leeds v Saints is the decider?

wouldn't shock me to see dragons beat saints.

i just started to follow a thread on Sts board it was called points difference i made the 3rd post and just went back to see how it was going and lo and behold its gone

christ you win a couple of cups and suddenly you are the greatest s.l team ever!

you may want to win that big silver shiny cup called the challenge cup once in a while if you can manage not to choke that is....

Yeah you are right. I wish we could be in the final this year like you.


Oh, hold on.............


So, this time next week you will be neither champions, or CC holders.

Emma, they haven't been champions for quite a while and only the once in about 9 years, though you wouldn't think so to listen to some of their supporters.

They're just fortunate they didn't have to play us in any of those Challenge Cup Finals.

and you want to try actually winning a title a little more often these days.

Only once in the last 6 years...wow, what a dominant team you are.

Well done on not slipping up and posting that while still logged on as halifaxxx

WTF are you on about chubby chops?

I think you know lycra back tickler boy.