I genuinely think Leigh will get promoted but I think Bradford might actually struggle a bit, as long as there is a promotion though the rfl which see the system as a success

It would certainly add a bit of prestige to your fixture in the middle 8

Why so? When Leigh beat Bradford they only scored 1 more try. Bradford are currently the top attacking side in the Championship and their defence is one of the top one too.

However, I don't believe the Middle 8 idea actually has any real chance of promotion for Championship teams, just the illusion of the possibility. There's a gulf in the speed at the PTB as well as nearly double the salary cap allowance. But I suppose we'll see at the end of the season.

The thing is Leigh won't be playing a Wigan or a Leeds. They will be playing teams that are at the bottom of the league. Teams low on moral, possibly carrying injuries, possibly under pressure in terms of not having a contract for the next season.

Leeds in the cup is a game with passion, but it was still a long way from reaching the goal of winning the Cup.
A team in the league, is again a one off game, the week after they maybe up against Featherstone or Sheffield. It's not an impossibility. People are calling it an illusion, but seem to discount completely that actually there is a pathway in place and they can grasp it as can Bradford.

In a way, the "middle 8" system is the only way of ensuring that if a team is to drop out of the top division it is replaced by one of a similar standard.

Kicking teams out of the competition because they aren't competitive on the field, only to replace them with one of a similar or even smaller ability to be competitive, isn't going to help strengthen that competition.

Agreed. But I doubt any system is perfect. We will have to see if the crowds start to turn around. If in 3 years it has had no effect, I imagine they will look to change the system once more.

In the end there is a lack of cash and that can only grow through, corporate, crowds, chairmen or TV.

Last season, at the same point of the season that the Middle gets underway this year Wakefield went on a run of games which saw them win 7 from 8, beating Leeds, Wigan, Warrington and St Helens during that period, hardly demoralised and injury ridden despite fighting bottom spot for large parts of the year.

It's the intensity and speed which will make the difference.

And that will depend, in part at least, on which refs are assigned to the Middle 8. Will it be SL refs, Championship refs or a mixture as the difference in the way the PTB is policed in the two leagues is noticeably different

I think both Leigh and Bradford could get promoted this year. But easily neither could. If neither do, I think it could be curtains for both as their best players get picked off. And no club will get promoted after that.

Injuries will play a huge part for all the teams involved. Even though we've a big squad, keeping Gaskell and Adam O'brien fit for the super 8 is huge.

Stick to your frogs legs buddy..We'll repay the compliment next season..

Just to refresh your memory..Leigh were down 20-6 at h/t..

Wasn't that 3 years ago?

Last season, just after Webster took over

There is your key reason for the upturn in form from Wakefield at the end of last season. Getting rid of one failing coach and bringing in Webster boosted the poor morale and led to your players pulling away from the relegation fight. Many teams pick up after sacking a coach when the new man comes in. Without even thinking too hard two good examples spring to mind. London Broncos had a good end to the season a couple of years ago when Tony Rae replaced their sacked coach. About ten years ago Hull won something like 13 in a row and reached the GF after sacking the coach. There are other examples in RL and other sports. Hadn't you also got Tim Smith back (who works very well at your club) not long before as well.

You all seem to be a little edgy,with the middle 8's.....

Just remind us all where the ref came from ........you can't beat a good half time ' team talk'.

seeing as there are only 5 full time referees, you would assume they will be given the 4 top 8 games, with one of them dropping down into the middle 8's as required each week

When all else fails..Lets go back to the old chestnut, the ref..

Leigh prepped to be firing on all cylinders from the first match which is why everyone in Leigh is getting excited but will ultimately be dissapointed.

I've not seen anything that suggests to me anyone will get promoted yet.

Leigh's squad is pretty average looking tbh. Look past Hock and Moi Moi and there's nothing that will compete in superleague over the course of more than a one off game. An injury in the backs and they're down to picking players like Michael Platt. Half of the first 13 nobody following a superleague club will have heard of.

You don't win anything in march.

I'd prefer to see factual evidence to support your assumption. We must be doing something right to have you reply without even a word about the Bulls.
Shows to me your more concentrated on us than your own team.

There...

1 Gregg McNally
2 Adam Higson
3 Greg Worthington
4 Tom Armstrong
5 Liam Kay
6 Martyn Ridyard
7 Ryan Brierley
8 Fuifui Moimoi
9 Bob Beswick
10 Oliver Wilkes
11 Matthew Sarsfield
12 Tommy Goulden
13 Sam Barlow
14 Sean Penkywicz
15 Jonny Pownell
16 Michael Platt
17 Ben Reynolds
18 Tom Spencer
19 Kurt Haggerty
20 Sam Hopkins
21 Jamie Acton
22 Andrew Dixon
23 Martin Aspinwall
24 Jonny Walker
25 Cameron Pitman
26 Gareth Hock
27 Lewis Foster
28 Steve Maden
29 Jacob Emmitt
30 Jamie Tracey

Saints beat Wakefield twice last season,40 -16 at saints in August and 24 - 16 at Belle Vue in March.

I think you've got 2012 and 2014 mixed up.

You must mean 2012 because it wasn't last year or the year before.
Wakey results
2014:
Rd 24 - St Helens 40-16 Wakefield
Rd 25 - Wakefield 42-6 Salford
Rd 26 - Castleford 26-22 Wakefield
Rd 27 - Wakefield 18-42 Hull KR

2013:
Rd 24 - Warrington 26-14 Wakefield
Rd 25 - Wakefield 12-26 St Helens
Rd 26 - Huddersfield 40-0 Wakefield
Rd 27 - Wakefield 36-32 Castleford

2012:
Rd 24 - Wakefield 33-32 St Helens
Rd 25 - Hull KR 30-31 Wakefield
Rd 26 - Wakefield 22-18 Widnes
Rd 27 - Salford 34-42 Wakefield
PO - Leeds 42-20 Wakefield

Ah the mind does play good tricks.