As far as London's concerned, a problem could be the ground. Ealing Trailfinders were told that they couldn't be promoted to RU's top flight because the ground wasn't good enough and I suspect that we'd have the same trouble. Moving grounds AGAIN would be a very bad idea, if only because any prospective landlord would know that we were desperate and charge a probably unaffordable rent.

Don't think there'll be too many changes to the SL table in the regular rounds. At the bottom, I could see Hudds scraping into the super 8s at Wire's expense. Top 4 places are currently being contested by five sides. Dunno what the other clubs' fixtures are like but Leeds' remaining 6 are pretty tough so we might be the side slipping to fifth for the start of the 8s. Difficult to call beyond that, recent history suggests one or both cup finalists will hit a dip and there could well be more injury crises in store for some lucky side(s). Won't affect Wakey though, they're never injured

good summary, although hull have a tricky run in i think they'll probably win another couple which will be more than enough. the others below the current top 5 will of course all take points off each other and nobody is in form down there to suggest they will go on a run of victories, maybe with the exception of huddersfield. a few key players injured in any of these sides could spell trouble (wigan suffering at the moment of course). so its wigan, warrington, catalans, hudds and saints all in a battle for 3 places - a nice exciting finish in prospect, unless you support one of these teams. i agree with you that widnes and leigh have too much to do now.
overall this season has been probably the closest in terms of how any team can beat anyone else since the superleague began - you cannot really say any fixture is a foregone conclusion

What happens in the cup could have a massive bearing in the league and even cost a team a top 4 spot.

The top 5 are all still in the cup and two of them are guaranteed to go through and most likely 3 with Leeds playing Fev. Those who lose the Hull/Cas & Sal/Wakey games may well benefit with their league position. The ones in the semi final and potentially final could get distracted and drop league points. Any of them win then Leeds and Hull have shown in the last 2 years how tough it can be the following weeks to win league games.

Top 4
Castleford
Hull FC
Leeds
Salford

Bottom 4
Warrington
Catalans
Widnes
Leigh

All 4 to remain in SL following the middle 8s, Leigh to beat KR in the MPG.

Hull look like they are safely in there after tonight's result

26 points should be the qualifying total for the 8s after wigans' loss so another win for fc and we're there

Maths not your strong point then...?

At your best you beat anyone in the league.I personally think you'll be top 2.

I did say should be! Didn't say it will be!

I look forward to seeing our best, and our best 17. Defence good at times tonight, attack getting there.

26 points for the top 8?? Try 20 points pal.

Cas win on Sunday and we are 6 points clear with a far superior points difference too meaning teams will need 4 more wins than us to go above us. Very nice gap to have with what would be only 12 games of the 30 left.

YOu will win the LLS for sure IMO

That's after all 23 games

I was saying 26 points would confirm our top 8 spot

I may be being thick but im not sure I get you still get you. If you are in the top 8 after 23 games which will be around 20 points.... you are gauranteed top 8 if you lose all 7 super 8s. You cant drop out of the 8. So.... 20/22 points will gaurantee top 8. Not 26.

Probably should do but only takes a bad little run of games. LLS would be nice to finally get some silverware in the cabinet but would rather get a CC or GF trophy.

Salford looked average last 2 week. Hull look like they will be our closest challengers I think if they stop their silly games every now and then where they get hammered.

If Hull could ever get anything near a fit squad they will certainly be contenders but it doesn't really look very likely they will

22 points will almost certainly get you a top 8 place, more likely 20 would be fine.

33 would have gotten you top 4 for the past two years where we have seen what looks like a competitive top 5 have one team fall away pretty drastically coming in to the 8s. I think if Leeds or Wakefield get 7 more wins, Hull or Salford get 6, that will get them a top 4 spot. I dont think 5 sides will get 34 points or more.

Id also say that wins today for Cas and Les Catalans would make it unlikely the top 8 isnt decided.

I think when the League brought out this system of the bottom four having to play off against championship clubs most of us fans of the "bigger" clubs just assumed it would always be the "usual" clubs at the bottom and all we had to work on was the top four.
But the league is so even these days I think we all have to accept that a poor spell through injuries or complacency can drag any team into the bottom four.
Last year it was Leeds, this year most Likely Warrington and Catalan but Saints and Wigan aren't completely clear yet.

Due to the nature of the play offs teams 9 and 10 aren't really in danger of being relegated so, although it is disappointing to finish so low I think the fans have to accept that it can happen to any club.
The clubs just have to use it as a spur to do better next season.

If Huddersfield continue their much improved form I can see them making the 8 which means someone else finishing in the bottom 4 who maybe weren't expected to be there.

Isn't a more competitive League what we wanted ?

Competition at the expense of quality? No.

Some would prefer the usual three or four be at the top and in the finals. It's funny how the only fans talking about the lack of quality is fans from clubs who aren't getting their own way this year.

I dont mind the 8s but one tweak i would make to super 8s is to expand the play offs to the old top 5 format which we used when it all started in the late 90s. That way finishing top gets a real reward and expanding to 5 keeps it alive for longer for those in 6th 7th and 8th as we have seen the top 4 pretty much done and dusted before super 8s has begun last couple of years.

And how do you ' prove ' the reduction in quality ?

Or is that how you explain the ' bigger ' clubs aren't at the top ?