There are a few teams who with a kind draw and lack of late season injuries are more than capable of doing both and we are one of them.
Going out of the CC early doesn't guarantee anything with regards the GF other than a couple of free weekends but a favourable draw can be counted in pretty much the same way.
Iirc no-one had won 3 GF's in a row,no coach had won back to back GF's nor had any team won a WCC and GF in the same season,this squad is full of history making players and staff like i said KEEP THE FAITH.

very poor attitude wanting to be knocked out of the challenge cup, or is it that you are very worried you are are going to be knocked out anyway. the great sides do not talk in that way, they just take it in their stride and do the business, no matter what is front of them. the thing is you have taken advantage over the last couple of seasons that certain sides have gone off the boil, but it seems things are changing again, and you are going to find it harder to achieve anything, so get ready to be disappointed. come on old faithful, stuff the whinos.

wi'll sither owld cock

Saints prove my reasoning.

They've gone all out for the CC in recent seasons, where did the titles go?

The nature of the CC being a knock-out competition some of the other GF contenders will also get breaks throughout the season as they can't all make the final, so how much Leeds' 'wished for' 5th round defeat (which I find bizarre) will gain in comparison to the other contenders is also not guaranteed.

The notion that it's impossible to complete for both is also false IMO. Not only has it been done successfully twice already in the SL Era, Leeds also reached both finals in 2005.

If Leeds really want to protect their SL title perhaps a logical starting point would be to attain a good finishing position on the table and to that end perhaps avoiding defeats at home to Castleford and Hull KR (first such loss in almost 25 years) and Wakefield away (likewise in 18 years) would have been a a more sensible approach.

The Challenge Cup may even prove to be Leeds' best opportunity for silverwear this year, so I'd hope they'd make every best effort to stay in the competition as long as possible.

Double post

Ja know what – I’ve always thought that Gareth was just being (or ‘been’ if Damo is reading this) a little extreme when he says we have the most fekkwitted fans in the Super League – after reading the OP I’m starting to think he’s right.

I for one hope we don't lose in the CC. It's an important competition and should be treated as such.
If we'd won it in the last 11 years I don't think there would be this attitude towards one of the few pieces of tradition rugby league has left.

0/10

A lame troll just got lamer.

Whilst I can understand where the OP is coming from, let's look at it from another angle.

Save Watkins, who is out of the season, all the other players are due back at some point over the next couple of months.

Whilst they are getting over their injuries / re-hab they are not taking the season-long hits that they would otherwise be taking as a top-flight SL player. This means that they should hit the squad on firming grounds and fully fit for the remaining two-thirds of the season.

So, just as some of the teams that have come out of the traps early are starting to tire, we'll be hitting our straps at top speed and with the striking ability to blow teams away.

Whilst we may not finish top of the pile in the regular season, there's nothing to say that with a run of wins we couldn't secure a top four spot AND sustain a Challenge Cup run and with fresher players right there at the business end of the season.

Totally agree.
In the long run these injuries could be a blessing in disguise regarding the GF. If we can get a fully fit, refreshed squad together for the 2nd half of the season, we are capable of reaching Old Trafford from 4th spot at least. The Hull CC game will come too soon for the long term injuries, but we may have a decent chance if we can avoid losing any more players and get the shorter term players back fit.

Agreed.

A win at Hull could be just what you need to kick start your season. Plus i cant believe anyone would really want to miss out on a trip to Wembley

For me, the rest the players get from no CC run is the silver lining to the cloud. Leeds should amke every effort to win every match and every trophy available to them. I think we'll see a big push for the CC this year, as its a competition that I think only Senior has won.

They wer'nt that far away from the titles, they did reach the last 3 grand finals, though thankfully you guys won it

What he said.

Agreed, the fact you get a rest is just consolation should you lose. Out of interest what is you injury situation at the moment, will any of your injured players be back by the the time you play us?

At the moment we have injuries to..
Peacock
Buderus
Hall
Beastwood
Donald
Bailey(illness)
Sinfield
Watkins
Ablett
Youngster Tom Bush who originally was called into the squad for Donald is also injured.

And by the time the Challenge cup match comes we will be missing.

Peacock
Eastwood
Donald
Watikins
Ablett
Webb
McGuire


JJB


Delaney


Senior



[size=50Assuming our current run of luck continues[/size

i cannot for one minute see the players and coaching staff at leeds wanting to get beat by the dullers and exit the c/c, these are professional sportsmen and have a win mentality. to want them to loose goes against everything they stand for

I'd rather win the CC this year than SL.

I'd always rather win the SL im afraid, but with our slow start to the season I'd take any tropy we can get our hands on

Last year the impact on the team when Stains beat us in the fourth round was noticeable. I believe many players are viewing this as their last chance to get to Wembley with Leeds. I cant see us surrendering at the KC but also hope we do get the spoils and progress. This would then tie in with players returning from injury and maybe, just maybe spring us into action for the business end of the season. We aint going to finish in the top two but hey - lets win it at Old Trafford from eighth! Then lets see who has the balls to pick us in the "Who do we want in the semis" selection!

WE ARE LEEDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So do I!

That would allow me to enjoy my annual week of mayhem at Leeds Festival in peace!