I'm with Moving Forward and LOngbarn and think that we will be in the top 8 at 6th.

My concern is that I don't think that we will have enough to trouble 4th spot and we will playing dead rubber rugby as soon as we lose a top 8 game. Although that said it could be the closest 1-8 yet as teams are beating each other, or so it seems and it might provide a more interesting season finale than previous years with more teams in the mix.

I've said somewhere on the forum. We will go on to be team of the month this April. I also bet Wire at 28/1 to win the GF and 11/2 for the CC as a double. A
So I predict 4th at Rnd 30.

IMPROVMENT !!!

I would like to see us improve on a weekly basis not just the younger players gaining experience but as a team we must improve all aspects of our game starting with the basics !!!

It's crazy to think we will go from 0 points in league to all of a sudden playing free flowing unstoppable rugby I want us to end the season with more optimism going into next year now

I Think this team as they are currently playing does not look likely to win any silverware this year so I am now looking to next season

It's also very hard to judge based on our last two games As we're looking more shattered now than I can remember playing with two interchanges against Widnes then such a short turn around has had a big impact on the players I just hope that they can get some rest and be fit to go against Wakefield.

Ridiculously, after the start to the season that we had, we are still only 6 points off fourth spot. Wins can build confidence, confidence can build better performances, and I don't see any reason why we can't get to the split in 5th or 6th place. With everyone taking points off everyone else then there is no reason why we can't still make the top four and from there who knows. Having said that, and if I had to bet on it, I suspect we'll ultimately finish just outside the four.

I'm more of an ardent observer on this forum rather than a regular poster Sally, but I'd be really interested to hear your views on what steps we should take with Smith at the end of the season. I agree 7th - 10th seems likely and I've not seen anything in the improved performances that sets us apart from Hudds, Wakefield et al.

Would you consider a fresh start with a new coach? And if so, who would that be? Chester, Watson and Powell all tied down to their clubs with recent deals of course.

I'm a lot happier than I was a couple of weeks ago. Performances (Leeds aside) are not convincing but the run is what the doctor ordered. Win this weekend and we're a point off the 8, although a fair bit off 4th and with a tough run to come. We need some bodies back soon that's for sure. I think we will finish top 8. My expectation is that we up our performance level and given ourselves an outside chance of top 4, plus a good cup run would be very welcome this year.

Attempt to stay out of the middle 8's...

I'd also like to see us stick with the likes of Livett,Philbin,Patton and Julien and look towards phasing out the ridiculous mish mash of a 3/4 line we've had for nearly 2 years...

Give up Kevin Brown as a bad job (not likely I know)

Also with a favourable draw and the fact that we have the odd decent performance in us maybe a return to Wembley..

I'd be happy with each and every player putting in 100% each and every game. Nice to be on a winning streak again, an improvement each game would be good to see, but after Leeds we seem to have lost our way again.

Is it just Currie that is still on the long term injury list now who would be expected to slot straight back in?

Did I hear right that we have an interest in Mead from Brisbane and that he can be made immediately available salary cap permitting?

we`ll finish 6th or 7th quite a way off 4th position..but if i was offered a trip to wembley in august i`d take it in a heartbeat.just hope that the recruitement for next season is alot better than this years..leeds v wigan at old trafford..

We need to be in 5th by the end of Round 23 to have any chance of making the final 4 after Round 30. Well that's what the historical facts tell me

So that's 3 more wins and a draw better than Wigan or Hull in the next 13 games. 4 more wins than Salford or 5 more than Cas or Leeds.

With away ties against Hull, Wigan, Leeds, Castleford and Wigan at the Magic remaining this is a tough, if not impossible, ask.

Yes it's tough, but, not impossible and this year with seemingly more teams capable of taking points off each other, 6th might still give you a chance of 4th

6th could if the gap was very narrow, you win every game and 4th and 5th have a slip of form for a month.

Yes if we win about 80 per cent of our remaining games we will probably make top four.

It's like with a government majority of only 17, Labour only needs a net gain of 9 seats from the Tories in this election to win power.

I only need to chop 5 seconds off my 100m time and I will be able to beat Usain Bolt.

In 2016, before the split, 4th was 28 points. We would need to win 11/13 (85%) to reach that. After the Super 8s, 4th was 40 points. Assuming we made 4th above we would need to win 6/7 (+2/2 for the GF win)

So by that analysis, to win the GF we have room for only 3 more defeats in the entire season remaining of 22 games. For a team that is averaging 17 points per game and looking clueless in attack that is just a dream.

Well anything is possible, after all leeds won SL from 6th, but realistically we are in a battle for 8th. Leigh, Hudds and Widnes look to be favourites for three of the bottom 4 spots and I guess we need to get above Wakey or Catalan to avoid the middle 8's. Interestingly we play Catalan, Wakey and Leigh on three consecutive weekends starting June 24th. There could be quite a few people watching the games from behind the sofa by then.

I said before the Saints game, despite losing 5 in a row, I wouldn't be surprised if we won our next 6: there's not a lot between most teams (even the mighty Cas aren't all that you know!). The striking thing this season is how many teams are going on 3, 4 or more game winning runs or losses (or both!): unlike in previous years, I expect there could be a couple of teams make some big movements in the second half of the year.

I expect us to get over Wakey, Saints and Catalans before the split. We need to be within a handful of points of 4th by then (though if it stays tight, that might mean being in 6th), then win 5 or 6 for the top 4. Personally I think we've left ourselves too much to do, and will likely end up 5th or 6th.

A lot will depend on the cup run, which we will surely prioritise, even at the expense of making the Super 8s. We've been incredibly consistent in this for the past 8 years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see us go all the way again this season.

One thing I'm sure about. If Wire make the GF this season, they will win it!

Its absolute delirium to think we can get near the playoffs..... we have a tough game against Wakefield who are a better side than us.

then we have Hull Away ...always easy that isnt it...??
A rejuvenated Saints at Home
Wigan at Magic who mullered us at home
then Leeds away.....

We'll be out of site with our creative attack, pacey backs, and blockbusting Forwards...
I dont Know why i'm concerned I really dont....

We've lost one of nine games away to Hull in the past 8 years under Smith.

Saints didn't look too rejuvenated tonight

Come on mate, you know how it is, all doom and gloom, you can't let facts get in the way of some good old negativity or pessimism.

Hull have Danny Houghton back from the side we battered 22-22.....and while you mention the "lost one game away to hull under Tony Smith"..Widnes had NEVER beaten Saints at home in the whole of Super league, so those fancy stats and previous results amount to nothing.. especially given the type of Rugby we play. cant you see we aren't that side that went everywhere and more often than not won....???

yes again your right with benefit of hindsight Saints didnt look rejuvinated last night although i thought a number of non knock on's given against them, cost them the game, but dont forget we were battered by that Saints side..... please explain that with a lol....



You can pop all you want on this forum but the fact is i dont boo players at the game i dont stage sit ins or write to the guardian, and they'll have my full support again this afternoon..... i most likely will moan at the standard of Rugby and the complete average-ness (!) across the park, but they have my support....

i dont expect us to win I guess we'll look at someone like Tom Johnstone and David Fifita and think they'd look good in our side.

However we should win they've played Cas and Wigan over easter and we played the bottom two easy beats with an extra day in between.

please wait till after todays result before coming on here all clever like..... you super super supporters...

I think we can squeak into the Super 8's, Widnes did us a favour beating Saints last night. We'll have to improve, our attacking rugby is cross, and we have zero ability to make a line break. That said, same could be said for most teams bar 3 or 4. The standard is pretty low in general, Widnes V Saints last night was a chore.

Regarding our immediate run of games, Hull are shipping points at home like it's going out of fashion, Saints are beatable, as are Wakefield. Leeds and Wigan though, i doubt it.

Sod it. Play in qualifiers. Beat everyone as Leeds did last year, that will save Smith and give you the winning mentality, as Leeds did. Next year top four. As Leeds have... Maybe

I personally would like us to get into the top 8 and finish the season leaving the fans optimistic for the following season as I have little hope of us winning anything this season barring a complete turn around in performances on the pitch we could have a run at the cc but that would flatter the shocking season we have had.

On a positive note a lot of the younger players are getting some much needed first team action. If they can perform at their best consistantly and continue to improve there's something to look forward to in the future, its the clubs job to bring in the experiance and quality to play alongside them

had ratchford not have had a great run of games at fb I would be tempted to go with him and Patton in the hb spot next season with livett to cover if we can off load brown that would be gidley n browns wages freed up and I'm sure that there will be others who will not be retained also giving us a nice pot to go shopping

I would be happy if we put our faith in the likes of t king Patton julien livett. G king n philbin I'm not convinced on philbin has improved a lot and worth keeping hold of g king ?? I don know I would look to replace him with an impact prop to tear it up for 20min even first choice cooper n Crosby are not of that style.

My list would be Watkins Marshall and creative half back cannot think of one rift now but there are some pretty big desision to be made with regards to player retention and recruitment for next season. I just hope we get it right!!