6. Wakefield (16 & +24) - WID H, STH A, CAT H, LEE A, HFC H, HUD A.
7. Leeds (15 & -34) - WIG A, CAS A, WAK H, WID H, SAL A.
8. Huddersfield (15 & -220) - HKR A, HFC H, WIG H, CAS A, WAK H.
9. Catalans (14 & -117) - CAS H, WAK A, WAR A, SAL H, WIG A.
10. Salford (12 & -131) - WAR A, HKR A, CAS H, CAT A, LEE H.

Going to be a very tough task to stay out of that bottom four. Eight losses in ten games and they were only slight wins too.

They were also only slight losses.

FWIW I think we will avoid the middle 8s but only just. I think we will beat Wakefield, widnes and salford which should just keep is in the top 8.

The Challenge Cup could be a major distraction though

After widnes at home, Saints away then Catalans at home for Wakefield
Still 6 games.

The remaining fixtures that count are

Leeds
Wigan A
Castleford A
Wakefield H
Widnes H
Salford A

Catalans
Castleford H
Wakefield A
WarringtonA
Salford H
Wigan A


Huddersfield
Hull KR A
Hull H
Wigan H
Castleford A
Wakefield H


Salford
WarringtonA
Hull KR A
Castleford H
Catalans A
Leeds H

Fair comment, actually looking at those fixtures we still have to be in the box seat to finish in the 8 but Wakey are no gimme, we have just lost to two sides that are weaker and they will be up for us no doubt as they always are at headingley.

I would say the winning post is the magic 20 points - as in previous years tables for a top 8

Based on the below we will finish 9th

Leeds - POINTS 15 + 2 = 17
Wigan A - LOSS
Castleford A - LOSS
Wakefield H - LOSS
Widnes H - WIN
Salford A - LOSS ?

Catalans POINTS 14 + 4 = 18
Castleford H - LOSS
Wakefield A - WIN
WarringtonA - LOSS
Salford H - WIN
Wigan A - LOSS


Huddersfield - POINTS 15 + 4 = 19
Hull KR A - WIN
Hull H - LOSS
Wigan H - LOSS
Castleford A - LOSS
Wakefield H - WIN


Salford POINTS 12 + 2 = 14
WarringtonA - LOSS
Hull KR A - LOSS
Castleford H - LOSS
Catalans A - LOSS
Leeds H - WIN

If Homer is right, we need to win at Salford to make it into the Top 8. I'd back us to do that.

If we can get Myler and Ward back (and maybe Singleton) I can see us winning at least 3 of the 5. the below side is easily god enough to win the majority of them.

Walker
Briscoe
Handley
Sutcliffe
Hall
Moon
Myler
Garbutt
Parcell
Singleton
Ward
Ferres
Cuthbertson

Oledski
Dwyer/Goulding
Mullally
Peteru/Delaney

that side ought to be pushing for top 4. But it's not played on paper.

Had we been able to have that side out more regularly I think we would be in the top 4

Pushing, but nowhere near good enough for that. Top three is your Saints, Wigan, Warrington, with Hull and Castleford competing for the fourth spot. That side is not good enough, forgetting currently points, to be above those five sides, so top 6 would be the limit of our aspirations anyway with that side.

With that centre pairing though, and the bench, it would still be a push for 6th if the sides below had full teams playing, which thankfully none of them do.

Weve beaten Saints and lost to them by a point, same for hull. Weve beaten Warrington and lost to Cas and Wigan by a point so I think the side I posted is more than capable of matching the top 4 sides.

Saints & Warrington have better teams & appear better coached. Hull are similar to Leeds, in that they have a cracking squad with a lot of injuries but poorly coached in attack. Wigan are not any better on paper. A full strength Cas is a better team but that is down to their coaching. Leeds should be around 4th, 5th or 6th.

And we have lost to Widnes, Huddersfield, and twice to Catalans, what's your point there?

Quite so though we're too inconsistent by far to be talking top 4 IMO. Injuries have probably ruled that out, given the lack of structure to the way we play; fair enough. However, I'm not convinced we have anyone capable of controlling games, whether they be one of our injured players or one of our fit ones, in the way stars of our recent past have done.

That would be a true coup de grace for 2018- Losing to Salford in a truly must-win game and heading to the middle 8s, where they have nothing to play for

I was thinking the same but when you have lost to Huddersfield and Catalans at home (midweek) anything is possible.

Points against Catalan 0/4
Points against huds 1/4
Points against Widnes 0/2

And? Did we have the side I posted in those games, which was my point.

would you expect to go unchanged all year? it's a squad game. you're as strong as your weakest player. and we know who that is!
but, like cas do, being highly organised can help massively when you have a depleted side. we look a shambles

GH comments in the Yorkshire Post - admits these are “tough times” for Leeds Rhinos.

If the results don't improve, what then ! middle 8's 4 home games and then we are in a battle to survive. Too many years of keeping an aging forward line !

And if they do improve and we go on a bit of a run we could win all 5 remaining fixtures and be in a CC final.

We do however need 2 second rowers signing for next year (or this tear if any become available)

Would love a 5 game winning streak. But not banking on it

The key game is Wakefield for me we won't beat Wigan or Cas if we was at full strength. We should have plenty back for Widnes and Salford who will probably be guaranteed middle 8s by then. 3 wins would make it hard for Hudds and Catalan to finish above us as they would need to win 4 out of 5.

Can't believe our goal is to scrape into 8 but that's the way season has gone unfortunately.

its funny that, I feel confident that we can turn you over