We also have both Hull clubs away, not easy.

There is also the club call (poisioned chalice imo) and league leaders shield for the top placed team



Leeds losing has done us a big favor imo, i think they will come out firing for this one

the halliwell jones is statistically the toughest place to visit this season so far, so im not all that confidant of a leeds win

If you finish top you can choose to play the team who finished second at home in the semi-finals. I would say that playing at home is a pretty good advantage.

This isn't aimed at you btw but there is a lot of negativity on this board.

Why are people saying that we won't win our remaining fixtures?

There are only 9 league games left in this season I can’t see any decent reason as to why we won’t win these remaining fixtures? If you look at Leeds last year they managed to win all 7 of their remaining league games after the big one loss to us and that’s before they also won their playoff matches at the GF.

Why can’t we do something similar? We aren’t in the semi finals of the cup so we’ve got ample opportunity for rest and a break. We’ve also got some big game players who have either just come back like Roberts or are due to return very soon like Hansen, Lockers and O’Carroll.

This team has proven that once fully fit they are capable of going on an extended run of good form and getting big results and I see no reason why anyone isn’t expecting us to win the rest of our games?

After our mini comeback yesterday I’m honestly thinking about putting a wager on us not losing again this season.

TBF, finishing 1st or 2nd isn't really that much different, both get home games and both get a second chance if they lose. First place gets you the league leaders shield, but doesn't really guarantee a better chance than second.

Say Wigan finish 1st, Warrington 2nd, Stains 3rd and Leeds 4th, Wigan would play at home to Leeds and Warrington at home to Stains. Both are tough games and even if they were lost, to get the chance of playing teams like Hull FC/Huddersfield at home (no disrespect to them) gives a good chance of getting through to the final eliminator only for Wigan to get the choice of opponents. Whoever they would pick out of the other 3 would still create a tough game that might not be won...

At the moment.

2nd means playing Saints at home in the first game of the play-offs, we just lost that same fixture.

1st at the moment means playing Hull at home.

I know which one I would rather have. I would rather have Leeds than Saints.

Yes, but Leeds at home would still be a tough fixture, even considering your form against them at home. Finishing 1st or 2nd will give you a tough home fixture whoever you play really, because the teams must be of a good quality to finish 3rd/4th

That is the great thing about the new play-offs IMO, although I don't like how fair the system is but it will throw up some crackers. It didn't happen last year because Hudds and Hull KR overachieved and 3 big clubs did not reach the play-offs.

The first round of the play-offs could be

Wigan v Leeds
Wire v Saints
Hull v Hull KR
Hudds v Bradford

Amazing stuff! You can't call any of those games really.

Just a quick question about the play-offs, would the winners of FC vs KR play the losing team from Wigan vs Leeds and Hudds vs Bradford winners face the losers of Wire vs Stains?

Yes.

Which then means Leeds v Hull FC and Saints v Bradford

Final week could be Wigan v Wire and Saints v Leeds

Aamazing set of fuxtures.

If the positions end as you predicted them, then it would be a great play-off series, tough to call any games as you said.

I think the criticism of the new playoff system last year was that teams that didn't necessarily deserve to be playing playoff footie got in because it got increased to 8 teams. If the league got stronger and we had 8 very competitive teams then it becomes a very entertaining system, as you mentioned this year we could have sme big fixtures, but just imagine if Bradford got back to some sort of respectable levels once that muppet leaves for England, and the Hulls continue to improve, then we'll see the true potential of the top 8 playoffs.

I actually got that wrong, its just the highest ranked team plays the lowest ranked. Still amazing fixtures though.

If Hull FC and Hudds both won.

Leeds would play Hull and Saints would play Hudds. Assuming higher ranked teams win.

I don't think it matters in terms of the Grand Final whether you finish 1st or 2nd.

But for me the minor premiership should be given a lot more credence.
It is by far the best indication of who was the best team over 27 games, whereas the Grand Final is about winning 4 games on the trot.

I still think it should top 5 but thats just my opinion.

We could really feel the backlash from a lowered advantage for the team who finishes top. Saying that though the top 2 teams from last year got to the final so we should be able to do the same. But, saints had leeds were playing teams who had overachieved IMO, playing Leeds at home for us would be a different kettle of fish.

My top 5 system would see the top team go straight through to the final with the others playing straight semi-finals midweek having to win 2 games in 4 days to win the GF.

I don't think it matters about finishing top in terms of the toughness of the task, but I reckon that if Wigan were to lose top spot after being in such a strong position and putting so much into the season, together with being knocked out of the cup - it may instil a bit of doubts in the Wigan players' minds.

Still think you'll finish top comfortably though.

But surely in a better position than we have been in for the last 3 years we would have a great chance from anywhere in the top 4.

Absolutely, you're clearly a better team than those years.

This proves for me that we can cut it this year as long as we finish in the top 4, other years we left ourselves too much to do. We have proved we can go to the other top teams away and win.

After the last 3 years there is no doubt that Leeds and Saints will be a threat in the play-offs but like I just said on another thread, I am not sure wire will do well in the play-offs this year despite how great they have been.

Finishing second may have a bonus.

There is no real difference in finishing 1st or 2nd, but you don't give your opposition a possible inspiration by picking them, I don't think there's going to be an easy pick this year.

True.

Tbh no game is a walk in the park anyone can beat anyone proved when Quins beat you and Crusaders beat Leeds.

Whatever the scenario is though, i would much rather play Leeds at the DW than yourselves. Whether we picked you or not, a derby playoff match doesn't need any more inspiration.

There's always a danger of that with the strange concept of Clubcall but I would far rather play the best of the rest at home than play the only other three teams who IMO are capable of winning at Old Trafford. (Saints, Leeds and Wire).

I'm certain Leeds will still get above Hull into the top 4 despite yesterdays result.

If the team that finished 2nd wins their 1st game you cannot pick them. It is only the winners of Week 2 that you can pick.

Last year Leeds could not pick Saints who had won in Week 1