Knowing us we would beat Saints and Wigan and choke the final.

Quite relaxed in finishing 3rd.

It will be better for us if Hull KR beat Wigan this weekend and then IF we win our play-off home game we would then play Wigan at the Pie Dome in the Semi Final.

Hull KR should win their game, so IF we can beat the Pies, then either us or KR will be the new winners of trophy.

Let’s just not lose another game. Job done.

The saving grace in finishing third is that whoever finishes 6th will have already stated their knock-out rounds essentially. Each of those 5 trying to get the three remaining places will have to by near their best for the next three weeks, whereas we have a bit of breathing space.

Saints at home is a tough one, you’re not resting anyone for that. But Huddersfield could see some rotation, Williams in particular. Then get him and Dufty back on the field together for London hopefully. The only other players who haven’t had a break then would be Tai, Powell and Walker. I think each of them would get some managed time in the Huddersfield and London games.

Third is a great result, given where we were. But we need to arrive ready for the play offs, rather than chase what is an unlikely second place

It's a good point. As third place now seems pretty much nailed on, it could help to take the pressure off us over the next few weeks, and allow us to really concentrate on arriving at the play-offs in the best shape possible. Injuries and suspensions are always the great unknown, but right now, we are in a position where we can perhaps rest some players if necessary, without it impacting the big picture. If we head into the play-offs with a relatively fit and fresh squad, and with Dufty back, there is still plenty of scope for optimism.

3rd is much better than where most of us thought we'd be this season, so well done to Sam and his team.

If we can't get up for the playoffs then it matters not who we play as we will get found out. Either way, I don't care who we play, we just have to win, simples.

It is quite a strange situation. We are almost treading water for almost a month whilst those around us will be battling like hell. I think we'd have been happy at the start of the season to finish third but can't help being disappointed as we could have done better.

We lost 4 league points either side of the Wembley game.

The Wigan pre-Wembley game was a 4 pointer really, that we handed on a plate to them with the team we selected.

Viewed with the benefit of hindsight though.

I don’t fear anyone at any venue.
I think every defeat bar the fatigue vs KR, we just beat ourselves, with poor discipline, and/or playing an injured player.

Agreed but it also showed our younger players could compete en masse. Games like that and playing so determinedly when a man down in 2 occasions may yet prove to be the most important games of the season.

In addition, the nature of our narrow defeat was seen at the time as a boost, a moral victory and a 'just you watch out when we bring all the big guns back' scenario. Peet had missed a trick he'd made a mistake.

The rest is history.....

Yes indeed this is true. I still think we can improve the centres (attacking) and improve on Drinkwater for 2025 when hopefully we can nail our home form also.

More than just our league position I am more pleased with how we seem a "team" again.

Getting the basics of passing & retaining /respecting possession would go a long way towards winning the games that matter. We have some very good passages of play then the mistakes creep in & let us down.

As we all know it’s about hitting the peak at the right time, when it comes to play off rugby. Finishing third, just keeps that momentum moving forward, I think that’s probably best for this Wire team. Wire shouldn’t have anything to fear whoever they face in the playoffs. The teams who battling it out for 4th and below places are patchy in form, not got the consistency and flow heading into knock out rugby. Only Kr, Wigan and Wire are building up their own game in terms of form. The Gf will be one of those three teams.

There's a team 9 miles or so to the north West with a friendly bunch of fans that I would never rule out of at least getting to the final. I would hope to avoid them even in a 3rd v 6th game at the hj.

I don't really agree that finishing 3rd keeps the momentum rolling forward for us. IMO we have been patchy for weeks now. Our last top performance was Wigan away. We have stuttered since then and i wouldn't be surprised if we lose to Saints. Although they were turgid against Hudds, so i hope i'm wrong. I'm sure we will beat Hudds & London but they're not really great opposition to have going into the playoffs. I'm thinking our earlier perceived 'easy run in' is not that ideal now. Especially as we cannot finish below 3rd and unlikely to reach 1/2 spot. The glass half empty in me says we will lose to Saints, have underwhelming wins at Hudds & London and then we are undercooked for the playoffs.

HKR have three really tough games and could lose the next 2 easily.

Saints might not make the six at all.

I wouldn't count Leeds at home as a really tough game for Hull KR. I would expect them to beat Leeds comfortably.

i was expecting both saints and catalans to drop out of the play off places, with leeds and leigh, overtaking them (on form)

leeds were a bloody disapointment at the weekend, i reckon saints will keep their place but its due to leeds not getting their finger out and smelling blood.

I'd much prefer to play them at their classily-monikered home ground, since we seem to usually stuff them there! Strange how we struggle at the HJ though.

Amyway I agree, I have a bad feeling they'll somehow scrape their way there.

Saints will make it and hopefully they will finish 4 or 5th - so losing to them on Sat would be a blessing in disguise. Hopefully it will be Salford or Catalans that finish 6th - preferably the latter.

Catalans last 3 games are salford, london and hull. Can't see them missing out on the top 6. They would be my preferred opposition if we finish 3rd.

I couldn’t care less who we play you have to beat any of them to win the final.

Warrington still alot to play for.

If HKR lose both games in WN, 2nd place should be yours.

I get what you are saying and I'm only 50/50 with the proposition on the basis that final placings are yet to be decided and depending upon where we/others end up and how we all got there will determine whether the run in can be perceived as fortuitous or not....on paper.

Factor in facing a team hampered by the MRP, injuries, loss and or gain of form/momentum and don't mention the hoodoo and whether Rowley or A N Other has our number. A bit like us might be hoping for a particular result in the Wigan v KR game, this also applies to the others in this mini cup competition. We've even debated on here whether having a week off is a good thing.

Having said all that we'll have to play what's in front of us ha ha