We don’t need to finish in the top 4 after those fixtures. Just need to finish there after the Super 8s. So as long as we’re in the mix I’m not too bothered. Stay in and around, eventually finish there after 30 games and the season is two games long.

To be within the Top 4 at this stage of the season from where we were is an excellent progression.

Dead right. This season is so much fun for us compared to last year.

Really looking forwrad to the run in, we're ahead of where I expected at this stage - possibly helped out by some injury problems for Hull & Leeds - but we're going pretty well atm.

Much of our improvement I think for us to push on comes from Roberts and that right edge attack. Roberts, BMM, Atkins and Charnley with Ratch out the back looks very good. Hopefully Brown wont be missing for too long.

Looking further afield, Leeds are on the cusp of falling too far behind in the race for top four and could even get dragged towards the middle 8's again if their situation doesn't improve. Catalan & Huddersfield are battling for 8th and how will Widnes & Hull KR do in the middle 8's with Toronto and hopefully Toulouse in form.

If I had to pick a final table, I'd probably go

Saints
Cas
Wigan
Wire
Hull
Leeds
Wakey
Catalan

Huddersfield
Salford
Hull Kr
Widnes

Toronto up in place of Widnes to set the cat amongst the pigeons.

Considering we don't have a big squad, i think our back room boys need a big pat on the back for keeping a generally good team on the pitch & our season on track,so far.

You had to say it didn't you?!? Several long term injuries on the way now I reckon!

This ^^^

Easily forgotten that 4th place upwards only comes after the Super 8s. Hopefully we'll be in good enough form to secure 2nd-4th through that period.

Interestingly, if we had to finish 3rd or 4th I feel that we have a better chance of winning Saints away, than Wigan away. I feel we could upset Saints in a one-off game, whereas we've already used our trump card against Wigan this season and they'll be motivated for revenge.

I think we stand a better chance of getting to OT finishing 2nd or 3rd. St Helens are probably nailed on for top spot. If we were not to finish second, I would prefer to finish 3rd and take our chances away at whoever finishes second. Lets do Saints at OT in the "One Off" game.

Our record against Saints in play-off semis is 2/2 and our record at Langtree is very good. It depends who is in what sort of form at the time, but i'd be more than happy to be playing the team that finished first away and beating Saints in a semi again would be marvellous.

Can see 3 wins out of our games 4 at best

Out of curiosity where apart from Saints do you think our defeats will come?

Wigan will be playing Castleford over the international break without Bateman, O'Loughlin and Williams. They then go to Leeds on a short turnaround. Will be a tough ask to get anything from them two.

All of our away games are tricky? I definitely wouldn't mind a win at Wakefield to keep pace with Castleford who will be looking to pile on the points with their run of games .

I said Cas might be too early...they will beat Leeds and Wire and Saints.

If we accept that St Helens are out of site, then pessimistically I can see us coming in tied on points with Hull FC 4th/5th on 28pts trailing Wigan (3rd) by 4 on 32pts and Castleford on a good run to bag 2nd place with 34pts.

In a state of proper gloom sorry folks if Wakefield turn us over they will be 4pts behind and a game in hand....squeaky bum time can they put us back to 5th 6th? I'll get my coat

Cas have had a couple of false dawns already this season. Lets just see what happens next shall we . . .

Hard to predict as I didn't see the loss at home to Cas coming.

Wakey Wigan and saints and the hull kr game won't be a formality

Wakefield got a good result last weekend against a jaded Wigan team, who are having a small degree of internal turmoil at the moment. If Kev Brown is fit, hopefully we can put these away. Wigan will still hopefully be on the downward spiral, and granted Saints will be tough. I know that we don't have a great recent record away at KR but surely they haven't turned into a half decent side in the last few weeks.

Go with the right game & Saints are sitting ducks. Hull did it right but yellow cards let them down ,otherwise, they were the better team that day & certainly kept Barba quiet for most of the game.

+1

I doubt your coach will be silly enough and complacent enough to look at them as 'sitting ducks'.

Didn't they already turn you over with ease on your own ground this season?

They certainly are a better side than you make no mistake and I say that as a neutral.

Agreed. Saints are the best side in the league by a distance with 15 wins from 17. I think 3 games out of 4 they would beat us. But we have a chance.

We was beaten because the coach took to build on defence of the team that had only been fully together a fortnight, before addressing any attack.

I don't remember suggesting the coach would regard Saints as sitting ducks, but take the right game to them & Saints are vulnerable.