Anderson messed up playing a weakened team last week. Form is very easy to lose, and much harder to gain or keep. Doug Laughton did the very same before CC finals and 'resting' big names was as stupid then as it is now.

We should also remember though that Leeds lost their first playoff game several times in the years when we could afford to.

But apparently it's all because of the format and those two teams were innocent victims of the format. Are you now suggesting that flaws in the format depend solely on what teams finish in what places?

Because I could've sworn I'd said all year that its the teams and not the format that has lead to the results we've seen.

It's both.

And the format is flawed.

And it will be ditched.

Get over it!

Huddersfield do now face a home game against either Hull/Catalans/HKR which they should probably still win. But tonights result means they will have to go away to either Headingley, DW or HJ and win.....Leeds have managed to win at the latter two venues the last two years but it's taken incredible efforts both times.
I felt Hudds best chance was to stay at home during the playoffs, that's now gone.

Leeds won the last two playoffs because they were best team.

Not because of the format.

You started a year long thread about attendances with Leeds win from 5th proving the league is meaningless as your motivation and conclusion.

Leeds Rhinos Super League Champions
2004 - 2007 - 2008 - 2009 - 2011 - 2012

Get over it!

Leeds won the last two SL titles via their own superior experience of playing the bigger games better and by taking full advantage of the opportunities the format provides by finishing 5th. It is no accident that Huddersfield have only ever won play-off games when finishing 5th. The format is flawed in so many other ways and you really need to get over the likelihood that it will be ditched.


I started a thread on SL attendances this year in order to highlight all the bull with regard to SL attendances the previous season and I succeeded. Your contribution to that thread did you no favours... what was it? A contribution of around 70 bile-laden and bitter posts by you alone on that thread before you ran away with your tail between your legs.

Please desist from stalking my posts - you are neither interesting nor intelligent enough.

Meh. Leeds need to simply concentrate on the task in hand and winning on saturday. The best chance to get to old trafford is winning tomorrow and getting the home tie. Whatever happens after happens. We get club call then we simply pick the lowest ranked team left and get on with business. We aren't going to moan, if we are good enough we will beat who we have to.

Does last nights result change anything for anyone?

Certainly it looks likely wigan will be in the final now, though if we win tomorrow and hudds get knocked out we can pick the lowest ranked team (most likely the one knocking hudds out) sending warrington to wigan (providing warrington win) which will put a spanner in the works for wigan.

If hudds bottle it again a leeds wire final is on.

Quit bellyaching about the playoff system.

If you are good enough to be champions you will beat who you have to beat in the system provided.

Pahahahahahahahahahaha.

Pahahahahahahahahahaha.

I saw nothing last night to change my mind. Apart from the ever improving Flower there was no-one in the Wigan side who I would want if I were any of the top 3, other than those I have already mentioned. Wigan's defence has not been in question, their attack is predictable but clinical. They looked a threat every time they attacked, whereas Hudds seem to have adopted the Bulls inspired policy of trying to win by individual brilliance over team play.

Huddersfield not doing it in the play-offs. Surprise surprise.

Indeed - suddenly not so easy when the teams you're playing against decided to start giving a damn.

Do you think thats created enough wiggle room for your nonsense or would you like another go?

Applying 'Conker Rules' following last nights game
Leeds beat Wigan who beat Sheffhudders
Neither club will be at Old Trafford.

And what is equally as surprising is the lack of Hudds fans on this board today! Where are they now? Still celebrating their 'champion' team?

I said earlier in this thread that I thought it was a mistake for Hudds to rest players last week and lose all momentum. They should have used last weeks game against Bradford as a rehearsal for play off rugby - they should have forgot all about the result, and just gone out to practice high intensity/play-off rugby. I said at the time, I thought it was a weak attitude, and showed them up as the pretenders that they are.

Their season ended 2 weeks ago with the LLS, they spent a week or so patting themselves on the back for winning a prize that only they were ever really bothered about, and have not got the mentality for play-off rugby against the big boys who really mean it at this time of year.

I don't think Huddersfield have anything to worry about. Plenty of clubs finishing top have taken a defeat, been written off, and ended up winning the GF. Leeds did it in 2004 when the Bulls gave us a big scare, and Wigan did it in 2010 after the 'rugby gods' game.

That's not plenty, it all depends on how the giants react, I personally think losing will do them the world of good.

My issue with Hudds is I don't think they are as good a team as their season suggested, if Brough has a shocker like last night they fall to pieces, you could tell from 10mins on last night that they wouldn't put in a playoff performance.

Or quite easily the huge monkey they are carrying on their back suddenly got a whole lot bigger and heavier.

Well IF we lose on Saturday the immediate threat will more than likely come in the form of playing Saints at home to progress further

Only 3 times have teams finishing top lost the first game and go on to win the Grand final. Out of 14 play series. 2 of those were under the format weighted heavier in favour of the top team. (saints 2002, leeds 2004 and wigan 2010).

Its a bit early to be writing Huddersfield off, but it doesn't look good for them does it

Well the format may not please everyone but it certainly keeps people guessing! I personally don't see any benefit in having a week off unless it's before any involvement (ie let the rabble bash it out in the first week then introduce the top 2). For Wigan to produce such a good performance after so many average ones, I doubt they'll be entirely chuffed at having to wait 2 weeks before they play again. Leeds also seem to thrive on do or die rugby so I won't be too downbeat if we lose tomorrow.

I don't think the week off is a big problem when it's not before the final. If leeds win this week they'll get a home tie with choice of opponent before the final. Yes the odious club call. But think about it, we'll either be picking warrington, a team we have just beaten away from home, or the lower ranked team which has knocked hudds/warrington out.

I don't buy this whole thing about whoever loses this week has the best chance. Whoever wins this week puts themselves in a very strong position to make the grand final. With a home game and club call. I'm not sure where this whole week off is harmful to leeds has come from. On the contrary. I think a week off will do us quite nicely, at this stage.

if we lose our next game is no gimme.

The numbers don't agree with you.

In the three years since the 8-team format came in, only two out of the six winners in Week One who have then had Week Two off have been successful in Week 3 and made the Grand Final.