This is the weakness of the top 5 system. After beating the Reds and going into an away game against the leaders, our reward is a game on the back of a loss, against a team that has just won.
We therefore have a repeat of the last outing vs Reds but with the momentum reversed.

tough game coming up. i think the bookies have this wrong and its far more 50/50 than odds on wigan now.

I agree it will be a tough game but if someone said to you before the season we would have to beat Salford at home to make the grand final you would have ripped their arms off.

If we play well we should win if we dont we dont deserve to get to Old Trafford

Yeah I like having a top 5 and get that this system rewards finishing higher, but it's too likely to repeat games IMO. I'd go:

Week 1 - Wildcard weekend
A - 4 (Warrington) v 5 (Castleford)

Week 2 - Semi Finals
B - 1 (Saints) v Winner A (Castleford)
C - 2 (Wigan) v 3 (Salford)

Week 3 - Final
Winner B (Saints) v Winner C (Wigan)

That would remove the repeat fixtures and most likely give you the same final you would get anyway IMO. 1st don't get two bites at the cherry, but they do get a week off then a game against the theoretically weakest opposition who have just had to play a tough knockout game.

The top 5 system works much better for sure but isn't in need of being tweaked mainly, as you rightly say to cut out repeat fixtures,i like the look of the system you suggest.

The team finishing 1st should not get a week off as a prize, They have been given the hub cap as the prize for finishing 1st, Top 4, all 4 teams, two games, winners to the final, That'll do for me

I think this system is pretty good and has worked well for SL this season. It gives a purpose to every game in the play-offs.

This looks like one of our most embarassing home turnouts in a long time. Salford could actually come close to outnumbering us at this rate.

Because of how our attack is stagnate and no longer has the second pivot we need out wide linking to the backline. We're currently playing split halves with an 'old school' fullback. Anyone who's watched any of our season can see the lack of second phase out the backdoor off the 6 and 7.

I'm not blaming Zak, he's been great, best defensive fullback since Rads. Just doesn't fit what we're doing.

Just to remind fans... This game is from 1999, very mixed squad from Wigan, some obvious stars and legends from the game playing in cherry and white; but a number who never really made it. Yet look at the intensity and attitude they all start with. This is exactly what's missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgm7SJMFdjQ

Just to remind fans... This game is from 1999, very mixed squad from Wigan, some obvious stars and legends from the game playing in cherry and white; but a number who never really made it. Yet look at the intensity and attitude they all start with. This is exactly what's missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgm7SJMFdjQ

Quote ="Last Son of Wigan"Just to remind fans... This game is from 1999, very mixed squad from Wigan, some obvious stars and legends from the game playing in cherry and white; but a number who never really made it. Yet look at the intensity and attitude they all start with. This is exactly what's missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgm7SJMFdjQ'" I get that it's a good opening set but I'm not sure a game where we give up a shock play off loss to a far less talented side is the best thing to make your point The speed of the play the ball always shocks me when I watch these old games, makes the players look like superstars at times because there's so much more space compared with today.

Quote ="Last Son of Wigan"Just to remind fans... This game is from 1999, very mixed squad from Wigan, some obvious stars and legends from the game playing in cherry and white; but a number who never really made it. Yet look at the intensity and attitude they all start with. This is exactly what's missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgm7SJMFdjQ'" I get that it's a good opening set but I'm not sure a game where we give up a shock play off loss to a far less talented side is the best thing to make your point The speed of the play the ball always shocks me when I watch these old games, makes the players look like superstars at times because there's so much more space compared with today.

How do you know?

I know Salford have sold over 2.5k which is magnificent.

Unfortunately I can’t make it Friday because of work otherwise I’d be be going.

LOL! I was merely focusing on the start, the intensity which we played with, even with a team full of players who never really made it. Props flying in looking like they wanna smash through the line with each carry, fast line speed etc.

The first 10 mins v Salford will tell us everything we need to know.

A very good friend of mine from Salford has said they have sold the 3000 sent and have asked for more tickets.

I can believe that in all honesty.

If you thought they were loud the other week, tomorrow will be something else. Having the crowd noise behind you is a huge boost and could give them the edge.

We’ve really got to be on our game tomorrow to beat Salford. And at in any other season if you’d have heard me saying that you could be forgiven for thinking we’re mid to bottom of the table. It goes to show what a fantastic job Ian Watson has done at Salford with a lot of players who, let’s be fair, were discarded from other clubs. If Marwan came back in now and spent wisely; Salford would be consistently in the final’s and winning trophies under Watson.

Yep ideally weather the storm and score early to shut their fans up, who will be out in full force and vocal. We ignored chances at the drop goal late in the game last time when we were 6 ahead. I felt that was arrogant, game management needs to be better this time.

Our start is massive. If we nail it then we can hopefully put a few issues to bed (poor start last week, confidence, quieten Salford’s following). If we start slow again I doubt we’ll recover.

We have to dominate in the pack and stop their momentum, especially the likes of Josh Jones. Hit them hard and fair, spring off the defensive line, numbers in the tackle and the attacker flat on his back. None of this standing dancing until the referee calls held.

That’s how Saints knocked out our enthusiasm last week, gave us very little time or space to move. We have to be the same with Salford. Do that and we’ll win. Anything less and it’s anyones game.

Theres not much option other than to go with the usual team. Maybe add Sarginson somewhere although i didnt think Hankison was a problem last week so maybe bring Sarginson off the bench to play as an extra forward? Sounds daft but he plays like one anyway taking the hard carries so why not?

If you start moving players around you are not fixing weaknesses just moving them elsewhere and we dont have anybody really better to replace them with. Bringing in Navarette for Clubb sounds nice but hes been poor this year so we might as well just stick with Clubb.

That’s a quite interesting proposal and one which, on the face of it anyway, sounds logical for the reasons stated. I do have the feeling though that if we’re going to switch anyone into the pack it’d be Hankinson.

Navarette or Clubb is like choosing which testicle to be kicked in. I just hope whoever plays brings it and doesn’t go hiding.

Sarginson doesn’t make the team and it’s Flower in for Clubb. Otherwise same team as last weekend.

French and Smithies on the bench again

Started well, haven’t we?! Rattled

A worse start than last week. This is appalling.

Well that first half was truly awful, we have no clue what where doing, no structure what's so ever, shocking kicking game and sh*t forwards being battered again

Can only get better