Has Wilkin perfected the St Helens Captains arm flapping technique?

The bggest thing in the top 8 for me is big attendances.
We'll miss Leeds but playing all the top teams will keep Carter's pockets full of notes rather than the small change from the visit from London or Batley (or Huddersfield)..not disrespect to London or Batley, I'm sure clubs feel the same about us.

Obviously being in a position to win some of those will bring our crowd in too.
We'd have to go on another Chester-run but it's possible. If not, I'd still like to finish higher than Cas.

For me, finishing in the top 8 is about extra crowds, a bit of positive publicity for the club and silencing a few doubters.

I also feel that there is a bigger picture, it is also about being able to plan ahead to the following season well in advance, ahead of some other teams, without the air of uncertainty. One of the things I mean regarding this, is the fact that those in the middle 8's may be apprehensive about making signings early for 2017. We may for once get the cream of the crop for any possible new signings, instead of dregs in some instances

Top 8 is about not being in that million pound game, nothing more, because whoever finishes 9th could quite easily be in it, with the other teams in there. This could be the last year of it being a problem. Bradford fans are already talking about going part-time because of the 500K they'll miss out on if they stay in 5th, and Beaumont at Leigh will start getting sick of pumping in money if they don't make a dent once more. Owners of Championship clubs might see it as a failed project soon if they all get roundly thumped each week. It certainly doesn't work in the top flight either. From 5th to 8th, it's a waste of time.

If we secure it, our focus should be entirely on getting to Wembley. Nothing else will matter if we can get there.

^ This, for me this season IF we make the top 8 will have been a resounding success, plus a Cc semi, and hopefully a final would be amazing.
We just need that one win this Sunday please.

There's quite a few on here with short memories, most on here Lyndsey Gill and myself apart were hoping to finish in nine or tenth position so we had four home games and the three away, personally I'd be quite happy to be bored to tears in the top eight without worrying myself sick in the middle eights.

Arguably our best ever season in Super League. I know we've had 5th before, and I know we've had a semi-final before, but we've never recovered from such a wretched position before.

Niggling worry is that the top teams switch off with a job done attitude allowing the bottom clubs that they play to gain on us. I know win from us and it doesn't matter but its still making me nervous

we, fc have leeds and kr at home after tonights game v hudds, we wont be taking our foot off the gas for them two matches!

Not a chance, they'll want to fill their pockets with easy points.

I hope that you win all 3.
good luck

thanks, same here too, the only game we may make big changes will be round 23 v salford, a week before the cup semi finals, by then you should already be safe in the 8 and not worried

Do you still think so after FC's performance tonight.

Shocking performance from a very complacent Hull FC + some atrocious decisions from the officials throws Shudds a life line.

bad result this for us they can still over take us- to be fair though this is probably the only result that has gone against us in the last 2 months- I am still thinking we need to win another game

3 games left for them - 6 points behind, they have KR Away, Saints at home and Wire away. They need to win all 3 and we need to lose all 4 for them to draw level and pip us on points difference.

Best chance we have is this weekend, Saints have been out of sorts. Can't see us getting much change out of Wigan and Catalan away. Cas at home is 50/50 at this stage, but don't want to be going into that needing a win.

i like to see this more as putting our win at Huddersfield last week into perspective....

that huddersfield team is a good team... and we kept them under control for the whole game

we are sitting 6th in the league and in the CC semi final yet some of us are constantly looking over our shoulders and shaking like a Sh4354ing dog!

I would hope we are targeting winning all of our remaining games before the super 8s... why qualify in a position which makes up the numbers and ends the season on a low?

take some form into the semi and have Warrington looking nervously at us! 4 games...,. all wins!

Im with you Spook think big be big.

I have been supporting us too long not to be looking over our shoulders. Until we are mathematically guaranteed a top 8 spot then I will not be confident.

Hull looked decidedly not-d about that game from minute 1; they were either knackered or complacent and their discipline was awful - Manu was in a particularly objectionable frame of mind - looked like he wanted to get sent off.

I would be more concerned if we were 8th. Tonight is the trickiest one to call. Salford losing gets rid of another chaser, but puts us nearer the rest. I think on balance I'm rooting for Salford, as if one does break away and puts some wins together, it keeps Cas closer. Similarly, with Leeds and Widnes. It's about us staying above Cas and Widnes, not about the pack that's chasing.

Aren't you forgetting salford points appeal and the impact of them winning it?

Pains me to say it but I hope Cas win tonight.

I also hope Widnes beat Leeds and Warrington beat hull KR.

mmmm, Koukash claiming on BBC RL website he has hard evidence in black and white that Salford did not breach salary cap, he states "We have not gone over the salary cap by a single pound or for a single day"

this could be getting interesting given the current Super League table.