Looks likley in my opinion that the top 2 will be Saints and Cas and neither will be good enough to win it or even get to the final so alot is going to depend who plays who , i think any of Leeds , Saints, Warrington or Huddersfield will be 2 of the grand finalists although not sure Hudds will ever beat Wire

Sorry in meant Wigan not Saints for grand final contenders

So how come they were good enough to finish 1st and 2nd then ?

This will be the most unpredictable series there has been so far.

Any one of the top 6 can win it. Some you would fancy abit less (saints through injuries, cas on experience) but the teams are so evenly matched that in pressure playoff rugby anything can and will happen.

If I had to put money on it, I'd say it'll be a leeds wigan grand final. (ironically 2 teams that have been losing their league games lately). The way it's going in the table it looks likely they could be on opposite sides of the draw and would fancy both to overcome the likes of hudds, warrington cas and saints (for differing reasons).

Fair point.

Leeds or wigan with wire as an outside chance.be very surprised if any of the other three won it.

Think Saints go under the radar a bit. Think when the likes of Leeds or Wigan play it's always that more of a big deal to whoever the opposition is and their fans in most cases.

Also as I mentioned to a Saints fan the other day. If Saints had beaten us back in Round 5 of the cup and gone onto Wembley it would've probably been Leeds sitting several points clear at the top.

Wouldn't take much for Cas to end up at OT. They can definitely win games at home in the play offs. There is only really Leeds they would fear there. Agreed that we are goosed, just hope we can ruin it for one of the big three on the way down.

That saints side is no chance of winning the GF.no real half backs kills them.with walsh they would have been favourites but with the likes of wellens and turner in the halves come on!

Hudds will always bottle it in the big game,and wire are still a good side but lack the spark briers gave them, and they couldn't win it with him.Cas are a good side but as shown in the cup final have a way to go till they can be considered genuine contenders at the big game.

I may be wrong, but I really can't see past leeds or wigan for the SL crown.

Well if they finish 2nd (very good chance now) it's 2 homes games, so you're right. I could see them winning the first home game (against warrington/hudds?) but then I reckon they'd come unstuck in the final semi (against wigan/leeds?) that's the game that always catches out the ''very good but not quite true contender'' teams.

exactly my thoughts.........has he not replied to you then?.........it's a case of sour grapes with him ..and he talks daft..

I think this OP is off the mark I honestly think any of the top 6 are capable of winning it and I still think there will be plenty more twists and turns along the way even before considering the fact that other teams can easily pick up injuries or suspensions.

After last nights showing,I would not mind Leeds finishing 4th.I wouldn't mind that at all; the worrying factor would be who cops for Blunderwood or Child as the official.

Agree that any of the top 6 could win it. If I had to pick, I'd say Leeds or Wigan. Strangely, I reckon last nights defeats might be a blessing in disguise for both in so far as it takes the LLS pretty much out of the equation meaning that we can both rest players for whom it's needed.

Looks like it will be saints top and cas 2nd to me. I fancy our chances against both of those. Has there ever been a year when neither 1st or 2nd reached the grand final? This will be the year.

2011.

I think cas have good chance to make the grand final. Winning it is another matter. At wembly cas had stage fright. As powell quite rightly commented cas were nervous in the extreme.
Next time out cas will be up for it.
Whilst benefit of hindsight is a wonderful thing, looking at last nights match and the supreme effort we put in, I thought back to the relative easy points we spurned at london, wakey and the bulls match.
This is not a criticism of Mac it's merely an observation of life's twist and turns. Our last two matches will be energy sapping hard matches, at Wigan and and Hull were we are loved and acclaimed not!!.

no idea how you work out that out that Saints and Cas can not make the GF Saints have already done the double over Leeds and Cas have done the double over Wigan in matter fact I would say Leeds are the toughest position they look like there going to finish 6th and I don't think even this leeds side can win it from 6TH.

We all have opinions but the bookies back me up and on betfair you can get 16/1 against Cas winning it and nearly 6/1 against Saints whilst LEEDS and WIGAN are both less than 5/2

Have you not learnt anything from past years

well your capable but it is massive ask this year you been good on the big day but you not been consistent enough but like most things we will after wait and see.

The playoffs are a different kettle of fish mate.

Don't think Saints are good enough to win it but I wouldn't write Cas off completely.

We will indeed. I've been watching an inconsistent side for much of the last decade. Strangely, we've still managed the odd final appearance and even the occasional trophy during that time

Why can't Saints win it? Certain posters on here have being saying for weeks now that Saints would be losing due to their injuries. Obviously having no idea of the Saints players other than those injured. And yet they have kept winning.

Only time will tell whether it happens, but can't see how they are written off. Injury hit or not have they have beaten Leeds twice this year, despite at times having big territory in the game against them.

Anything can happen over 80 minutes and we do stand a chance of winning it. My worry is that our game is solely based on attempting to bully teams off the park by having as many big lads on the field as possible. You saw last night we have very little creativity in the backs and our chances rest with James Roby being able to create something out of dummy half on the back of good go forward. If we get to Old Trafford on a big wide pitch I'd fear for us. Especially against Wigan who would match us up front and have more guile in the outside backs.

If it had stayed 13 aside last night, we'd have lost by 20.