This has got to be our time!

As pointed out, we beat them at their place and almost beat them at ours when we had a few out.

I've played this game out a million times in my head today alone. We should win it. When you think about the way we destroyed Warringtons threat at the ruck and smothered Myler and Ratchford, it should be same again against another side who heavily rely on winning a quick ruck. Cas better be ready for a titanic forwards battle as our lads will certainly give it to them.

After my 6th CC Final appearance and my 6th loss, I said I wouldn't go to another, I was that fed up. But yes, got my ticket yesterday.

Should be a great game and too close to call.
We beat them at WR but that was after a short turnaround for Cas and they still pushed us all the way. At Headingley they were the better team for the majority of the game and deserved a point.
That said we have the experience of major finals and more importantly hopefully will be at full strength. Also our defense looks to be returning to somewhere near it's best.
Cas are well organised defensively and we struggle to break teams down at times. Cas are more prepared to chance their arm in attack and if the passes stick we could be in trouble.
Hard to make a prediction until the squads are announced and we know if we are at full strength, but if we are i think we may just edge it.

I hope whoever refs the final pings Cas for moving off the mark to give Clark the quick ptbs he uses to give Cas massive go forward.

Don't count on it.

Cas are the type of team that will throw in a few plays from nowhere and catch leeds out early. They'll end up doing a chip wide to the winger early in the tackle count, in the first 5 minutes and scoring. Something along those lines. They have the team play and inventive attack to really shock leeds.

Leeds better be ready for anything and everything because Cas will bring it, with the fury of a thousand gods.

Refs seem reluctant to police this area of the game, yet often penalise the marker when the player tackled gets up and walks into him. Cas have other players too who walk forward as they are about to play the ball - Carney being a regular offender. Bridges and Monaghan do it for Warrington and ..... don't get me going!

Every team does it.

Players stumble forward a few yards just as they are playing the ball. Refs are inclined to ignore because it looks like they are in the throws of trying play the ball fast, no one really blatantly moves forward then plays the ball, it's normally in one stumbling movement.

You overestimate this Cas side

They've matched us, and the other title challengers blow for blow this season.

You underestimate them.

Huby will do well to recover from a dislocated elbow in two weeks. One of their two most important players (with Clark). Would be a big miss for them if out.

See you all on the 23rd !!!

Watch the players I mentioned. Deliberate steps forward each time they PTB to put their side on the front foot. The rules are clear and it should be policed for all sides that are guilty.

you want a lift near neighbour?

Who were the "few players out" at yours?

Ian Kirke - he's so good we class him as several players.

Ha ha! He was the only one I could think of.

If Huby and Millington both fail to play then I think it will probably be too much for us. However, in the last 2 cup rounds we have played with more composure and intensity than we have in most league fixtures.

Think it's fair to say that for different reasons, this will be a particularly difficult defeat for either set of fans.

Just realised that I shouldn't have bothered questioning Old Fella who on his signature had us down for relegation this year - clearly an astute reader of the sport!

I think you'll find that my prediction record generally is pretty good.
In my defence I did it before the Bulls were deducted any points & their subsequent implosion.
I think that Cas have been a revelation under Daryl Powell & I bet most of the Cas fans cannot believe the turnround from last year to this.
Personally, I'd have loved to see Powell back here at Leeds, he was a particular favourite of mine when Hetherington brought him here from Keighley. A player who always made the absolute most of his talent & a thoroughly good man too.
I hope we see a cracking final, good spirit between all the fans & a Rhinos victory.
PS you were right about us having virtually a full team out when we drew at HQ, I meant to say that we had a few out when we still managed to win at your place. It was the Sinfield incident that was critical in the last game.

Previous meetings mean naff all remember 2005 when we were favourites against unfancied Hull?
It's 50/50 to be fair but I do think IF we play as good as we can and they do the same we should hold the edge.

Has anyone ever been on the Challenge Cup winning side as a player for three different teams ?
More specifically ... Has anyone ever played for three different sides that have beaten us in the final ?

If it ain't been done I hope Gaz Carvell ain't the first one to do it .

Alex Murphy won the cup with St.Helnens, Leigh and Warrington. Not all of them against Leeds though...

Had Lee Gilmour still been at Cas and not loaned out to Wakey he'd have had a shot of 3 different teams. Bradford and Saints being his others.

Did Gilmour play in the Wigan/Sheffield cup final in 98?

Yes, was on the bench for Wigan I think.

It is clear that stopping Clark will be a major concern for Leeds, much like stopping Tomkins for Wigan a few years ago. This is especially the case as we've tended to be opened up in the middle of the field rather than on the fringes in several of the bigger games we've lost this year. But of course over-focusing on one player could well be our downfall. Adopting a Wane style tactic of niggling players around the ruck could be an option to slow Cas down - albeit a high risk one in a final! Not sure the Leeds players other than Bailey would be up for this anyway.

I'm not sure if the greater big match experience at Leeds will be much help on this occasion - winning at Wembley is evidently a different kettle of fish to winning at Old Trafford (or even the WCC), in which we tend to be able to tough it out in the last 20 minutes. Leeds must start well - in past CC finals we have been unable to overhaul big first-half leads built up by the opposition. If we're more than two scores behind at half time I can't see us coming back.

Good post.

Clarks the danger man. one minute he's there, next he's gone. Such a quality hooker. Leeds will have to slow Cas down and if they can do that and be as disciplined as they were against Wire, Leeds stand a great chance.

But i'd suggest Leeds' big match experience will help lots. They've been to wembley before, know what to expect etc. Whereas Cas don't. Cas may implode under the pressure. Who knows. Leeds want the last monkey off their backs, Cas want to taste glory bad. Plenty of reasons for both to win. I just think Sinfield may pop up with another rousing bout of leadership which may edge it.