Given the next three week matches are likely to be fruitless in terms of points it could see the Rhinos down in 8th? Is there a real possibility of this side failing to make the play offs?

Yes, we have a fairly easy run in so we will make the 8, but we wont even make a dint in the play offs

We will finish 6th or 7th and go out in the first round of the playoffs. I am not particularly hopeful over the CC either.

I'm considering a name change to Marvin...

Yes, but only 6th or below. Then out Early. Unless a quality coach and 3 or 4 quality signings are brought in then next year we will struggle to make the 8

Chillax Bats

Leeds have had an unparalleled period of success in the salary cap era, it was never going to last forever and there's no reason to believe that it should (despite the number of posters on here who don't accept that success in sport is cyclical).

It was nice to enjoy it while it lasted, now it's time to return to our place back in the pack while others get their shot at glory.

Andy, I'm comfortable with a couple of season's that don't quite match up to where we have been of late, but I find the current malaise a bit difficult to stomach. GH has done some wonderful things for this club, but his last couple of major decisions (player and coach recruitment / retention) have gone badly wrong, and it's fair to say I'm disappointed with the speed of our fall from grace.

Given the above, I'm not actually bothered about the results much, but the general lack of organisation and development are more of a concern. Still I don't suppose that Wigan or Warrington will have too long in the sun given the age of some of their key players either.

think we will make top 8 but 6th place would be our very best finish

I can still see us beating Catalans and Hull tbh then go and lose to Salford.

Hull potentially but not sure on catalans

While I agree with the above sentiments , of equal concern to me is the entertainment factor, or rather the lack of it . What is been served up at times is dross and been asked to pay £20 a time to watch it is a little beyond the pale .

I fully expect to see the Rhinos go the same way as the Carnegie Union team with decreasing amounts of cash available for fees and wages and I suspect its been happening for a couple of seasons already based on the assumption that you used to be able to turn up at half of the SL grounds and still win with your players legs tied together like a three-legged race - this season (and last) has brought the chickens home to roost but as long as a profit is still turned over I don't see any need to do anything different.

Wire maybe with their Dad's Army....but wigan!?!?

Come on stop kidding yourself

Sam 22
Joel 24
Mossop 22
O'Loughlin 28
Hock 27
Richards 29
Charnley 20
Leuleui 26
Farrell 21
Hanson 25
Prescott 25
Tuson 21

Thats the spine of our team with an average age of just over 24!! All have at LEAST 5-6 top level years left in them, with some of the best youngsters in the country also waiting in the wings.

Unfortunately for the rest of the league, this is only the start of Wigan once again being a force in the game again and we'll only get better before we get worse.

We'll be at the top for possibly twice as long as your dominance from 2004-09 IMO.

Of course Leeds will make the 8 and to suggest otherwise is a kneejerk of the highest order.

Leeds will finish 5th at best... 6th at worst.

I still think they'll finish 5th.

And that's based on the fact that despite Leeds being sh[iy[/ite, they've still been good enough to beat most of the SL whipping boy rabble, as their 10 wins out of 13 this season testify.

You'll make the 8 but only just (can see you dropping out the 8 with some difficult fixtures in the next few weeks but I think you'll get back in there with your run in)

I'd call your remaining fixtures as follows;

Wigan a Loss
Catalan a Loss
Hull h Loss
Salford a Loss
Castleford h Narrow Win
Harlequins a Win
Wakefield h Win
Huddersfield a Loss

That will leave you with exactly a 50% record (13-1-13) which is usually about 7/8th place. It will be tight but I think you will make it. Problem is you'll probably end up going to Saints or Catalans week one in the p/offs which unless you get rid of your plonker of a coach, I cant see you winning!

Not a chance - Wolves, Wigan, Giants, Dragons and Saints will be the top 5 then it is between us Hull and Cas for the next 3 places.

We would have finished 5th or 6th last season had it not been for some outstanding performances from McGuire last year who was at the top of his game. It is too soon to expect DM to regain his speed and form this season.

The same applies to JP. So two positions are being taken by players who are under par. We also do not have a forward with the aggressive go forward that Eastwood gave us towards the end of last season.

Add to this the fact that several players who were past it last year are now another year older and slower etc. Therefore to expect a better than 5th place finish is unrealistic.

I still believe that if we can get our best players fit and in form for the playoffs then despite all that has happened we could cause some upsets from wherever we finish.

Reet good thread is this

I predict this.

Wigan
Warrington
Giants
Stains
Catalans
Leeds
Hull
Cas

And calm down boys we are just leading people into a false sense of security, We will win it from sixth, To be honest i would prefer us to finish 8th and win it from there but sixth will do,

I reckon we should just about scrape it into 7th/8th, and will simply be making up the numbers this, and possibly next season.

As for the CC? Gawd knows. There is enough talent in the squad to reach Wembley, just not sure there's a creditable PLan A.

We do have enough talent in the squad for the challenge cup, but we have had al year and it hasnt gone well. its the cup so anything can happen, IMO Leeds only chance (slim one) of silverwere is the CC

If, and it's looking like a big if, we beat Hull and get into the CC semi, then Brian has a chance to crew up the 'win two, lose two' sequence.

I think that the play-offs should be easily achievable, not because we're any good, but because there are at least 6 teams worse than us. I think we'll finish 5th or 6th. Doubt we'll make much progress in the play-offs, and the CC is a bit of a lottery, but we'd likely have to beat a top 4 team, not something we've excelled in this season

Still think we will finish 5th/6th?

5th is increasingly appearing to be a distant and unlikely prospect.

6th is easily achievable though. Leeds only have to finish ahead of SL rabble like Hull and Castleford.

The game against Hull will decide if Leeds finish above Hull - if they lose 7th is the best they can hope for

I don't agree with that because Hull define inconsistency, week in... week out.

The CC game will have a bigger bearing on who finishes above who in SL. I would suggest that the winner of the QF in two weeks time are more likely to finish below the loser of that CC game.