That would be the one with Fax, Bradford and Leigh all finishing on 4 pts. All being said we are no longer favourites for that million pound game. This has been a grim few weeks for the club as a whole.

Hardly the end of the world though is it!! Been if far worse situation than this over the years.
The biggest disappointment for me is how we don't seem to have learned much during the play offs, that said it all seems a bit much for Champ teams in general - hopefully all the better for it this time next year.

Bradford beat one SL team, we should have beaten 2. The qualifiers are and we're always going to be a different beast to the league. Unfortunately we have approached it as a continuation of the league. The difference should have been spotted very early on and I actually think we will be very very lucky to finish 5th.

I don't think we've learned much that we didn't know already. Anyone who watches Super League regularly can see that the extra money on offer gets a better standard of player, and more of them.
All of the Bulls preferred starting 17 have recent Super League experience( or NRL) but it's obvious that that isn't enough in itself.............They all become de -skilled in a short period of time as we have been light years away from the standard required as shown by Wakefield, Widnes and Hull K R in our matches against them. Hopefully the other full time teams will be up for it next year and more of the part time teams will be able to improve. I always felt it would take a miracle for anyone to get promotion and now we've had a good look I don't think that miracles come that big.

Whilst I agree, it wasn't just the team that got carried away it was the fans too. I read many posts saying 6 wins out of 7 were achievable - with no substance or reasoning behind it other than a couple of good cup wins (against the worst 2 teams in SL).

When you take the physicality out of Leigh the defence really suffers and teams have worked this out in this qualifiers. Whilst I sympathise with you after having such an excellent Championship campaign, I can't help but think the lack of professionalism at times off the pitch put cracks in Leigh's attempt to get promoted. I think the club and everyone involved needs to take a step back and realise this and look at how to improve for next year.

Don't bank on that, we've conceded 40 points in 5 games and have by far the best points difference in the group.

So loads of points but not win is that your latest brain fart?

Yes. Many supporters think that ex Super League and NRL players are of the required standard. The clue is in the "ex" if they were still good enough they would not be playing for a Championship side. They are getting on in years, never quite made it or have baggage. It takes a special type of coach to get the best out of such players when the chips are down. It's relatively easy when you winning easy matches. You beat Wakey and Salford in the cup when there was little pressure on your team as it was all on the Super League teams who did not want to be beaten. The trouble was that in the Qualifiers many of your supporters and I suspect some of the team felt that you could just continue the same way to get the same result. After we scored that first breakaway try the first half belonged to you. This probably just emphasised that feeling as it was the first match and you didn't have anything to compare it with. The second half came as a shock to everyone associated with the Leigh Club. Our early first try set panic in your team and it was only a matter of time. Super League teams do not normally give up and die when the going gets tough and can grind out a win even when not playing particularly well. I did think you would learn a lot from that first match but again when things again got tough in subsequent matches your players have still been found wanting when the pressure was on.

That's one scenario.. Or does that go beyond your realistic negativity again!

How can a shed load of points be more important than a win?

It can't. It's called clutching at straws.

And don't bank on us rolling over...This qualifiers isn't over yet!

It is for us.

Boo! Hiss! Sod Off!

Yes correct,that's why we have given up on the qualifiers this season and handed a bye to the Bulls on Saturday,with Widnes waiting in the wings to play the reserve team.

Hopefully realistically realists will follow us next season with the same positive attitudes..

That's the wrong mindset. Don't give up! If HKR had that attitude you would have won that first match. If the players believe that Leigh will never win anything of value. Winning the Championship is of no value other than in a parochial sense. It does however give you the best chance of promotion amongst the Championship clubs A chance the lack of a plan B seems to be frittering away.

I think Atomic's post was just a tad tongue in cheek.

There could be a lot in what you say.

I think another major factor lies in the alarming way we have coughed up possession and conceded territory through penalties. In the Championship we have been able to get away with it, most of the time. Super League teams, and a good, in-form Halifax team have made us suffer for our indiscretions. Somehow, we have to learn to respect possession, cut down the indiscipline, yet still play the attractive rugby that has been a joy to watch. Not an easy balance to strike, but yet it has to be done.

Even a brief look at the highlights and I get the impression Halifax are a team where as Leigh are a group of individuals.

INDIVIDUALS WHO FINISHED TOP OF THE LEAGUE. you wouldn't be on our forum if you'd have lost yesterday. just be happy that your dream came true and you finally beat leigh.
you can take your expert analysis and shove it up your crevice.

Its just a game Terry, as many people can testify I would be on here win or lose(infact last 2 loses I were on here about subscribing to Leigh TV so I could watch the games back), unlike a couple of Leigh fans I know who seem to have gone in to hiding.

Not me GFB, obviously disappointed how the 'middle 8's' are turning out for us, but wasn't expecting promotion this season, just hoping !

Well I haven't given up yet. We will have 2 or 3 forwards back against Bradford. What we need is a win in that game and Fax 2 lose at Wakefield then beat Bradford.

We will obviously beat Widnes' we always do.

Indeed Frank....

Lets not go overboard.
We have played dire in 2 games in 2 SEASONS.
We have been damn unlucky in the Hull KR and Wakefield games and on another day could have taken 4 points, Salford and Halifax battered us and everything both teams did on the day stuck, that happens in sport.
And after saying all that we still have an outside chance of promotion that the players are more than capable of achieving if they play to the standards with the skill and controlled aggression they set themselves over the last 2 seasons or so.
If we don't make it then we try again next year and learn from the experience, I'm sure we won't get 3 SL teams for the starting 3 fixtures if we do qualify again next season, I'm sure the RFL will alter the transfer deadline day and I'm sure the SL clubs won't be allowed to organise the TV money for the 8's without distributing costs accordingly to clubs in the Championship so there are things that are changing and being looked at and that will include our club and how we improve for next season - its a journey not a race.

For me this season has been the best I've witnessed for years, pure entertainment from week to week - sure its been disappointing in the 8's but I'll take the disappoint over the 10 years of closed doors and stagnation with crowds disappearing and I also know our BOM will also be looking at what we can do to improve next season.

This season isn't over just yet so how about some very loud and solid backing for 80mins on Saturday as regardless of the last few results the team fully deserve that after the season they have just given us.