Only problem is Leeds & Wire have nothing at all to play for now until the play offs they will rest anyone & everyone who is not 100% and no matter how they talk these games up they are really not very important to them. Whereas for Saints & Catalans it's everything.

I think that tips the scales heavily in favour.

Leeds maybe, but Wire need to beat Saints to hang onto 2nd and get home advantage v Wigan in week 1.

If we beat widnes and hull lose at wigan they could throw the saints game and take it out of our hands.

Agree with this, makes perfect sense.

I know that sky was not around then but years ago when rovers had to beat a team can not remember which, but if they lost it another team would have won the league it was the last game of the season so the RFL put all games on at the same time so it can be done

Not anymore sky calls the shots they have a TV schedule to full

are they still operating the winner picks who they want to play?

Yep. Club call still exists

Beating Leeds and Cas securing our place in the 8 with a couple of rounds to go is great news. Bradford have London up next and who can say what team Hudds will field if they've won the shield before the final game? With our injury situation, it is nice to know that the team have accomplished their first and main objective, and we're looking up, rather than over our shoulders.
A home play-off game would be great, but it might be gone by the time we start our supposedly easy-ish last 2 games. With our points difference and with Hull playing Saints in the final round, if any 2 of Saints, Hull or Catalans win their next SL game, it'd be 7th at best, realistically, even if we beat Widnes.
I would never suggest 'throwing' the game against London - especially if it is the last home game of the year and, y'know, London, who are pretty poor. But if it suits us to rest a few for the following week and defeat would only cost us a trip to Catalans, that is an option. Whichever 17 take the field, I'd want to give their all though - 7th is better than 8th and more competition points are better than fewer.

We could still finish 6th if Saints & Hull win their next game provided Catalans lose but we'd need Saints to beat Hull the week after and Catalans to lose again.

I tend to agree though that we'll probably not get a home play off game even if we beat Widnes & London.

Yep, you're right I miscounted.

If Leeds see off Catalans at Headingley, that'd be a big boost and mean that if we get a result against Widnes, we'd likely have a decent shot still, going into the London game.

London will be the last home appearance for a few players including Dobbo, can't see us giving that away even if it means going to Catalans.

I can't see FC wanting to finish below us out of choice.

I think that applies to both teams but both coaches are capable of making "tactical" decisions.

I think it would be more of an excuse than a tactical decision.

really? coaches will be looking at the best outcome for their team, even looking at the top 4, hudds finish top I bet leeds, wigan and warrington would love to finish 4th! no disrespect to hudds but they have had 1st place handed to them when they played wigan, imo a full strength wigan, leeds and wire will beat them come play offs

Despite saying the opposite, that is very disrespectful to the Giants.

By your man perhaps. He does have form for it.

Many a team has come unstuck by 'picking' their opponents. Nothing more of a motivator then telling a team that they think you're an easy choice.





Will someone dispel the myth Gentle doesn't moan. He starts every post defeat interview with, 'Look we've got injuries but we can't blame that'. or 'we got some bad calls but we can't blame that'. By mentioning it you are blaming it.

Don't shatter their illusions in this, of all weeks. Genitals doesn't moan that's just Sandy!

Gentle can be forgiven for his so called moaning up by getting his team to a major final. As for Sandy Cock. .......

Only if he wins it, other wise he'll be just the same as the majority of other clubs that have won nothing again.

So you're only allowed to moan if you win something? Where is this rule and when was it introduced?

There is no rule otherwise sandy cock would have been banned by now. I'm just saying our fans will forgive gentle because he has delivered a major final.

So did Agar and you never forgave him.