It could be interesting IF Stains beat Leeds tonight. You could send Stains to Wigan let them batter each other and play the card that it would be beneficial for the rugby league public to watch a belter of a match. Which obviously leaves Huddersfield.

But all of that will be pointless if Leeds win as you will pick them.

Whilst I might agree with you, isn't your formula the same as virtually having no pick at all? in your scenario if Leeds win we can't choose them, Wigan are 'safe' because of their opening win meaning we are playing winners of last night's game unless Saints win then we'd have a choice, or are you saying that we could as the highest ranked first game wiinners choose Wigan?

It is complicated enough already ha ha

He also back-tracked on what he said and confirmed that players are motivated to win no matter what.

And that is different than what was said earlier on this thread and he was saying that the clubs we didn't pick would think we are 'avoiding' them which is total garbage.

It is just all hot air.

The grim thing is I'd be enjoying this if we won the final last year, but as it is I'm just dreading another failure either next Thursday or at Old Trafford. The whole thing is just plain doing my head in.

I think we'll pick the winner of tonight's game no matter what though.

Simple for me pick Leeds if they win regardless of their playoff form
If Saints win pick Huddersfield, you don't want a blood and thunder derby game for a semi final end of, too unpredictable.

I would much rather play Sintellins away, our home record is still crap.

I have a horrible feeling about saints... it think they will win tonight.. if they do, we have to send them to play the pies.

Man up!

Mick Monas leads us to the Championship!

I love these "Clutching at Straws" comments

Oh you better not pick us because...

I can see your point, but, I would probably pick Huddersfield in any event and send Leeds/Saints to Wigan. No disrespect to Hudd's, but, as you eluded to in your post it's not just about who you play, but, who we 'send' to Wigan and how that affects those teams' preparations. (I don't want to cause a storm with the Fartowners on their recent record at DW either)

On the other hand if they win pick Leeds and try and dispatch them at HJ rather than possibly at OT..,..

Cant wait NTW!!!

I'm not worried about who we pick. A few posters on here have eluded to Leeds & Saints recent form, but what about ours ? We've only lost 2 games in the last 15 in all competitions without key strike players in some of them ie, Myler, Atkins etc.

People say, we should pick the lowest ranked club...now, forget final standings, isn't this now, effectively huddersfield, since they lost week one, they've beaten the lowest ranked team in week 2, Leeds and saints are higher over all, so who regardless wins, is still holisticly higher ranked AT THIS POINT, than huddersfield.

So we pick the lowest ranked team, which is huddersfield.


no fuss, no muss.

Hudds fan using reverse psychology, 'please don't pick us, please don't pick us' the internal voice of every Hudds fan.

Im a big fan of the "well they beat you and we beat them so that means were better than you" argument.

If psychology really does have that much an effect (and it really doesn't) it can work both ways. Huddersfield might freak out that we can pick them as that will make them feel the weakest of the teams and we have picked them as they know they can't beat us.

Like I said earlier... load of hot air.

Frankly, if club call fires you up more than the existing desire you have to win the grand final, then you should seriously be questioning yourself as a sportsman.

The notion is utterly ridiculous.

Entirely my view. Strange how people keep carping on about it.

If you prepare right who you play should make no difference.

A noble sentiment, but, misguided in my view (sorry) as this in its purest sense only applies in a random draw " to win x you need to beat the best, or what's in front of you...."

Under a system of selection rather than 'luck of the draw' and one that not only confirms your choice, but, decides the make up of the other game, it is surely only natural that the majority might find a place for having a think about what suits them in the next game and musing "what if" for the following round (final) should we get through?

Hence the length of this thread and it's not all about arrogance, disrespecting Huddersfield's record or running scared Leeds/Saints as some have stated. Like it or not we are in a position to influence two semi final games and by default the Final.

To choose is not weakness, we have earned the right.

+1

Don't give a rats ass who we pick, as long as we beat them. And get the grand final

Think of it another way. Who do Wigan want to play? They have already beat hudds. Leeds or saints IMO would give them a harder game.

+2

Huddersfield, Leeds or Saints.............all of them have the ability to beat us. We have the ability to beat any of them. If I had to pick, personally I would pick Huddersfield.

There is still the possibility of what would be my dream scenario: beat Saints in the semi, and Wigan in the final. For that reason alone I'll be cheering Saints on tonight.

I'm confident we're good enough to beat either Leeds or Saints in the semi, and then either Hudds or Wigan in the final. That isn't to say I think we WILL!