=#FF0040Thanks for bringing this back on topic - it was just in time. Can we keep it in line with the AUP and cut out the personal stuff or action will be taken

Thank you.

Mmmm yes please Bulliac, behind the bike sheds after school, you wear your 50 shades of latex and bring that big Bulliacwhip you wield with such affection and lets get on with some F & M! Don't be jealous PP!

Well tonight's fixtures have locked in 3 of the 4 SL clubs for the middle 8's. If Catalan can get a point against Huddersfield then that last spot will be taken by HKR.

So, as it stands the middle 8's will shape up like this

1.HKR
2.Widnes
3.Leigh
4.Bradford
5.Salford
6.Wakefield
7.Sheffield
8.Halifax

So, we play HKR, Salford, Sheffield and Halifax at home and Widnes, Leigh and Wakefield away. A few weeks ago, I'd have thought that was an achievable fixture list. Now, I'm not so sure.

Rovers, Widnes and Salford can all still switch places, so it's still too early to tell.
Rovers will lose next week for certain, they will have one eye on the semi finals. And if I'm not mistaken, Widnes and Salford play each other in the final game, so whoever wins that has a real chance of jumping up to 9th place in the league.

As you say KR will probably most definitely lose next week with the CC semi the week after. So unless by some miracle they beat saints at saints, then whatever the result between Widnes/Salford (even a draw) then Hull KR will finish 10th and we will play Widnes and Salford at home.
With Gaskell back I'd really fancy ourselves against both of those teams!

Widnes and Salford at home and Wakey away is fine with me ....had we been able to choose I'd have gone for that. Hull K R away could be a bit harder but they've a lot to do.

I'd much rather play Widnes at home than Salford or Hull KR. Widnes have a much stronger home advantage than the other two so given the choice I'd rather play them at Odsal to give us a better chance of winning, and hopefully early in the fixtures with Brown being injured.

Think you will be shocked Gilmore has been outstanding and we have not missed Brown. Bring it on.

Do season ticket holders get into the first home game for free? Or did I dream that?

Better than that my friend, season ticket holders get into all 4 games using your card.

That's good news.


Thank you for that.

Definitely the business end of the season now, Widnes with the artificial turf is a big ask so much rather play them at home

We've beaten them on that surface before.

Think Wakefield and Salford look most vulnerable from SL. Widnes are decent and HKR have proved they're good enough to beat us.

Kevin Locke apparently crocked for the season according to reports due to a torn pectoral. Bit of a blow for them, just pray we can get our key men fit and stay relatively injury free for the next 8 or so matches.

Huge blow for Wakey. They've rallied a little since Smith came in and were looking a slightly better side. He's a dangerous player and hasn't been there long so it's a big loss for them.

So the Middle 8s are virtually confirmed, and the fixtures are



I have done a quick prediction of each likely result, and the way it looks to me, Leigh are a banker to finish 3rd, and we are a banker to be in the playoff game against Salford.

I was surprised at how clear cut an end game my predictions produced, as I thought it would be much closer. Maybe some of you lot could try the same, and see how it ends up looking for you?

I think HKR and Widnes will be fairly comfortable in the top 2, Fax and Sheffield likely to be in the bottom 2.

I don't see much between us, Leigh, Wakey and Salford. With a fit squad we might finish 3rd but I could also see us in 6th

According to the T&A, noises coming out of Castleford, suggest we've sighed Clare their winger [on DR who has been out on loan elsewhere.

Strangely, before the game, we were [only half joking, that the three players Steve Ferres mentioned at the forum would be three props or three wingers..

How much have Wakey really improved? If we look at the games Smith has been in charge, away to Catalans, they put in a decent shift, but Catalans have been poor this season and you usually get an upturn in performances when a new coach comes in anyway (Look at last year with Webster)

Then Hull at home, Wakey had the weekend off. Hull had both HB's missing. Then Hull away. Hull's third game in a week, but still managed to beat them. They lost comfortably to Warrington, and have been hammered by Cas. Wakey fans can probably answer better than me. Still think they're the most vulnerable, along with Salford.

Problem Wakey have is they seem to have had a big turnover in players the last few week and mainly on short term deals. Ok some are better quality than the ones that left, but will their hearts really be in it to try and do everything possible to save Wakefield?

Look at a lot of our players, Gaskell, Sidlow, O'brien, you can tell they really care about the club, have a great rapport with fans and really want Bradford get promoted.

Can the same be said for Jordan Tansey, Ian Kirke, Craig Hall? Do they have the character to keep Wakey up?

I have a theory that Wakefield and Salford are more than vulnerable in these play offs....

Both clubs have turmoil off the field and I think both will be at psychological low.

Certainly at Salford where Brian Mac's comment about things he has heard "internally" spoke volumes for me.

I must be very difficult for the players there to focus on the job in hand?

Wakefield - I am hoping Brian Smith has lost his touch and their squad remain in the "losing habit"

Hull KR are far too good for any team in the playoffs.

Widnes - as above but less consistent - Leigh may well turn them over.

I have a hope we can make it back up to SL - but not a prediction

Interesting. On paper - I'd say we've got a good chance of winning 4 from 7 there which surely puts us in the mix. The big targets there are Salford at Home and Wakey away, personally I think we've a decent chance of beating Wakey home or away, but Salford at home is huge advantage for us.

After yesterday I'm a lot more confident we'll at least put in a good showing. Out of the big three tests of character in Super 8 like conditions - Leigh twice and Hull KR once - we've looked good, up for the fight and hungry - ie these games matter and the players know. On the down side of course, we've lost two and drawn one of those so we need to start going one better.

However, the banana skins are Sheff and Fax at home. To be honest I think our mindset hasn't been the greatest against a lot of champ clubs, and in that sense we have never properly adjusted to life in the comp. I think a lot depends on the timing on some of the fixtures as well. If we play Fax first up, they are always going to be bang up for it, if it's the last game and Fax are already safely 7th/8th and we need it to get in the million pound game then they will be two different intensities (although to be fair, there will never be a "good" time to play Fax, ie next week!)

Also worth bearing in mind, the middle 8s are televised and you'd imagine we'd get on a few times. Anybody know what day of the week these will be on? You'd think the fixtures vs Leigh and Wakey are absolute shoe-ins to be on.

I think the TV games for Middle 8's are on the Saturday. Sure I read that somewhere recently.

I don't think they're any worse than they were when Webster was in charge. I honestly couldn't see them beating anyone when he was in charge and even though they beat an understrength Hull, I couldn't see that happening with Webster at the helm.

I do agree with everything else though. Locke has real quality, and without him they look very ordinary indeed. Definitely the most vulnerable of the SL sides.