It is, in theory, easier to win your first game when finishing 6th.
However, you said that the play offs now are "not as testing" when infact they clearly are given that the 6th placed team then have to go to the team that finished 3rd and then the team that finished 1st in order to reach the Grand Final.

Apologies, what I meant was that it's easier to claim a play-off win now than under the old format.
It's also easier to win a play-off game if you finish 5th. Previously you had to go to the 4th placed team and win, as we did in 2005 at Warrington vs Andrew Johns etc. Now if you finish 5th you get a home tie. So that makes it easier to win a play-off under the new system, wouldn't you say?
4th is easier too as you get 2 bites of the cherry, a right only earned by the top 2 previously, and you get to play a team finishing 5th at best, whereas before you had to play the 5th placed team. I think the current format disadvantages the top teams and think the team that finishes top should only need to win a GF eliminator to reach the final.

I think we have 1 big performance in us come the play-offs. Unfortunately I think we will need 2 to make it to OT. Making the final eliminator game would be a big achievement IMO.

Or, alternatively, you realised that you were wrong so decided to change what you "meant".

What a wonderful thread this is all positive posts whoopeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Even if that were the case, which it isn't, as a woman I'd never admit it anyway.

If the side can reclaim the defensive form from the beginning of the season then that would be a big factor . Longy and Horne back is a must for us to really trouble the big 4.

True.
Our defence was outstanding 1st few weeks, so we know it can be done. we have still done some good defending in most games so consistency needs to be addressed and I'm hopeful it will be done

Its our sliding defence thats the problem

In that it doesn't.

I'm not happy about us being in the play-offs, unless we can have a commemorative cheerleader thread to mark the occasion!

I'm expecting big things this year BONES, literally!!!

I hope we win it and support the team 100%. I just cannot see it though. I hope I am wrong utterly. I see us finsihing 4th, getting smashed at wigan, picking up injuries. We may then scrape through the next match, may do, but that will be the best we can achieve. After last season that will do for me. All I ever want is effort, and I still don't think we have it 100% of the time yet, but certainly we are an improvement on that score. It's our attack and gameplan that concerns me, and Agar's apparant lack of tactical sense and bizarre (or non existant) interchanges.

It's in the making.

Like Weird Science?

I think the problem is if we somehow hang on in the 4 we have a chance. The truth is though even if we beat Crusaders (which with halfs still out etc. is still a big ask) I dont think we can do Wire away and if I had to be honest if we dont get enough players back Leeds either. That means not only Leeds but unfortunatly KR could sneak above us. So from 7th it would be a real ask. As far as Rovers go I think they could win there last 3 games epecially/if Wigan have wrapped up the minor premiership and can afford to rest a couple of players in that game. Heres hoping for to sneak 2 wins from the last 3 with any sort of performance..

gloomily realistic I fear

Sorry wrong maths slightly - 6th - Hudd and Cru behind us..

phew! That's much better.

If hudds and kr win their last 3 games and we only win 1 then we end up 7th

Hudd will win 2 max.. they have Wigan away next week.

oh no! It's worse again...

If we do win 1 more of our games then Hudds and KR have to win all 3 games..

If Wire and Leeds get to the CC final, those two games turn into very winable ones. Add to that Crusaders at home and we really shouldn't be losing our 4th spot. We will finish exactly where we deserve to finish.

It's in our hands and it's very do-able.

Away at Wigan with a full strength side to really have a go with ! Who knows ??

with a couple of HUGE scores to settle to boot!!!
totally different kettle of fish this time around

In what way?

We had a near full strength team at wigan in a game which was a big one at the time in terms of each team's form up to that point. Do you not believe we put enough effort in that night? If not, why not?