Would Hull have rested players if finishing top meant you were champions?

Only really Radford could answer that honestly. But just because we rested players, don't think that means we aren't bothered about finishing top.

Before this weekends games we knew that the equation was, win our last three and we will be top. That is still the equation. So whilst a win on Friday would have allowed us one slip up against either Wigan or Wakefield, it wasn't vital.

Beat Wigan next week and a home playoff is safe (barring an extraordinary PD swing). Then in all likely hood when we play Wire again there will be one point separating the teams and it will be a showdown for the hubcap.

If they flogged their tired players straight after an emotional and intense cup final, do you think they'd have a better chance of finishing top? I think they'd have a better chance of risking injury to key players going into crucial games.

Hypothetical.

Any ways, if Hul win their final 3 super 8 games they will finish top. It's still in their own hands.

Hypothetical.

Any ways, if Hul win their final 3 super 8 games they will finish top. It's still in their own hands.

1. Player safety, a fatigued player is more likely to sustain injury
2. A fatigued player even if they are a 'name' is not necessarily going to perform better than a squad player, this was clearly highlighted in the poor display after the Wigan semi-final in which Radford decided to play the same pack of forwards and they were listless to say the least.
Similarly after Catalans at home and a long streak of most of the first 17 playing week in week out Radford only rested Ellis against bottom team Huddersfield. We'd already looked flat on occasion and this was an ideal time to rest more bodies. To lose to Hudds in those circumstances should show that fresher squad players are often better than fatigued big names/first 13 players

Agreed........the intensity of effort that some players put into winning the cup final would have left them mentally drained and they would have a struggled to get up for the next game.

Throughout a season I suspect it's very rare for a team to actually have their first choice thirteen available, I think St Helens had four missing on Friday, Wigan had a few out the night before and Warrington had a few youngsters in the team at Catalan.

It's all about managing your resources and having your good players available for the crucial games.........that's what coaches get paid for.

Cas would be comfortably in the four if they'd had a fitter squad this season. Their injury record has been appalling. They're easily a top 4 side. No secret to why the only side they've lost to since the first day of July has been Warrington - they've got some players back fit.

Cas aren't "easily a top 4 side" or they would be in the top 4.

No question that they have had a heap of injuries this season and would have won more games if they had been able to field their first 13/17 every week but, Wigan, Wire, Catalan, Hull, Saints etc could use the same argument. Michael Mcilorum has been a huge miss for Wigan this season.

Castlefords offence, on it's day is the best in SL but, their defence isn't.