Salford v Bradford (KO 20.00) *
Bradford v Leeds (KO 16.00)
Bradford v Castleford (KO 20.00) *
St Helens v Bradford (KO 20.00)
Bradford v Wakefield (KO 15.00) *
Wigan v Bradford (KO 20.00)
Bradford v London Broncos (KO 15.00) *
Leeds v Bradford (KO 20.00)
Warrington v Bradford (KO 15.00)
Bradford v Widnes (KO 15.00) *
Bradford v Hull K R (KO 15.00) *
Huddersfield v Bradford (KO 15.00)
Bradford v Hull (KO 15.00)
Catalan Dragons v Bradford (KO 18.30)

All very simple really. Beat the teams below us, match the slip-ups with upsets against teams above us and we'll hit 50:50 and in all likelihood make the eight.

Weird fixture list this year - already played all the big guns at home, Hull excepted. Makes it harder to see us picking up many unexpected points so maintain consistency against the lower half is all the more crucial. Only picked up two wins in seven against teams above us, and all but one of those were at home.

you havent taken account of the full weirdness of the season, so I forecast we will get the 50:50 you forecast, but by beating all those top half teams away from home and losing to all those around and below us at home. Welcome Chris Coulby.

As an "interested neighbour" I would suggest you have a far better than 50/50 chance of making the play offs. Of the teams below you only HKR have a credible shot at overhauling you, even then they have to beat you at Odsal to make it a contest.

I would be quite surprised if you are not in the play offs this year, but likely a tough away tie (suspect you might fancy Leeds if they finish fifth again - I have a sneaky feeling that could come to pass).

Plus am I wrong in thinking that we have one of the best away records this season....Bring on the play-offs

I would be interested to see the pre-season predictions again. You've certainly exceeded my expectations, while London have disappointed. Saints currently a bit lower than predicted but I expect tham to climb.

To make the eight this year, considering the injuries, the finances, etc would be a phenominal acheivement.

After a quick search, I've found the [url=http://viewtopic.php?f=19&t=513925&tsmp=1336467507expectations thread[/url
If I get time I'll look for a league standings prediction thread, I'm sure there is one
[url=http://viewtopic.php?f=19&t=515210&tsmp=1336469611here[/url

Looking at the table right now, a 50:50 win loss record is only good enough for 9th/10th, due to the weakness of this year's bottom four. Just to hit that mark we're going to have to win an away game for every home game we drop. And looking at our fixture list, I wouldn't be shocked if we've won our last game on the road this year. Big effort needed to make the eight, regardless of the two points tonight. Three points dropped to Salford may well prove costly.

What may help is we play Rhinos on 18th 2 days after Exiles game. If they have a lot of players playing across both squads it might be a game we can pinch. 2 days rest and having to play again would be very difficult.

I'm suprised you made a prediction without showing some graphs to prove your point!

You have got to be joking. Have you seen Leeds play recently. We would be lucky to have anyone in the international team!!!

Maybe Macca owes the Bulls a favour so don't be suprised at 4-6 being in the Team!

In all honesty we probably will have some in the team, but not on current form. Past glories and reputation is the only thing getting some of our players into the league

My optimistic view was 6th, I then revised to 8th. Still think this is achievable

To be fair that has little to do with being picked. Maybe they feel they have to put a few Loiners in to get a crowd, I really don't know but they always seem to feel there [ihas[/i to be a few Leeds players in the team. Same with Wigan and Saints.

Wigan definitely should have a decent representation but you're correct, logically neither Leeds nor Saints [ishould[/i have many in, but I'd bet they do.

Bulliac - consider who is principally responsible for picking the England team, do you still wonder there are likely to be a few "strange" or illogical selections?

At least, this time, it might work to our advantage!!

I think if we can get the number of overseas players down in SL to the real quality, plus more Brits playing in Oz then the GB/England team should be more competitive - plus there might be more money left in the UK!

The only problem is if you get used to BBQ's on Bondi beach then a cold wet afternoon in Bradford doesn't have much attraction even if you don't have a film star cooking your burgers for you.

Still as Wigan showed so clearly before SL it isn't a strong team that will make the national team competitive, but a strong competition. Infact that is one of the key underlying answers to several of the current threads on the forum.

It depends whether the form players are currently shining due to them being the best players or whether they are currently being better coached. I wouldn't have McIllorum anywhere near an international jersey but he is currently fitting in extremely well to a brilliantly drilled Wigan side. Take Tomkins out of the Wigan side that thrashed Leeds & man for man Leeds are probably better. The fact that Leeds couldn't put together a decent backs' move was not down to the individual quality of their players.

Leeds have a strong squad and I'd have quite few of them if they were available, as I think would most sides, though I suggest that they are aging a bit in the halves and up front. Truth is though, the league table doesn't lie and, quality as many of them are, their form is rap (oops, did I do a typo..?).

Personally, for international football going with current form would be my default position. Disagree about Wigan, btw at full strength they are a super side whilst Leeds, good as many of their players are individually, are a fading team; fifth last year and struggling to make the eight this time round hardly qualifies as an outstanding team.

Losing the overseas input is fine so far as it goes but if it's not accompanied by increasing the footprint of the game (as we've done by bringing London in) it will only dilute the quality of SL imo. It's always been my belief that, with good coaching, talented players will always come through the system and won't be held back by imports, just like cream always rises to the top.

We really need increase the number of youngsters playing RL in more areas of the country, the more kids there are playing the game and the more quality players will come through and the stronger the England team will become and the import situation will largely end all by itself; at the end of the day it's only supply and demand and at the moment we don't have enough top British players to staff 14 league clubs whilst the antipodeans have a surplus.

But WIgan weren't at full strength, they had 5 forwards out, Leeds should have battered them. Leeds definitely have some problems, with coaching, morale & an ageing team. The latter applies more to the forwards than backs. A potential back line that could include Webb, Hall, Jones Bishop, Hardaker, Watkins, McGuire & Burrow is on paper as good as anything around, the three-quarters could be England’s for years to come. Unfortunately for Leeds, Webb is like a spoilt brat, Watkins is perennially injured, BJB is out of favour, McD insists on playing the now useless Smith, Hardaker won’t pass to Hall, God hasn’t forgiven McGuire & Burrow is at 9. Wigan’s backs, Tomkins aside, is functional but hardly earth-shattering.

disagree massively with that statement about wigans backs - carmont has shown to be a centre of massive class and accused of not having pace he always seems to get by. Look at Gelling outside him the amount of chances he has blown some wingers in super league wont get them all season let alone in a 5-6 game spell. And Charnley continues to impress me he has matured and just seems a world class finnisher but somone who can make hard yards as well. Charnley would be in for bjb or smith no questions and carmont would make leeds choose between hardaker and watkins (when both fit).

Would love to see tom briscoe playing in a fluent side like leeds or wigan as i think he would flourish but........ near mind

If you had taken time to read the thread properly you could have saved yourself a pair of Y-fronts. Apart from Richard Moore, I reckon every Leeds player must have been an international or in the current England/Knights squads. Whereas Wigan included those seasoned pro’s Dudson, Gelling, Hughes, Logan Tomkins, Crosby & Lloyd. Leeds should have slaughtered them. As it was, I cannot think of one Leeds player who outplayed his opposite number.
BTW, if you think Charnley, at this stage of his career, is a better winger than Ryan Hall then you really do have a pie for a brain.