I wouldn't, some would though. If you win it again it's because you're the best team in the comp

Everyone knows the method used to decide the champions at the start of the year

Good call Gareth! Point being that they cannot maintain a challenge over the weekly rounds due to the deficiencies mainly in the forwards but still have enough class to win a few when it counts.

We won't cross that bridge because they won't win it this year.

No, it won't be 'papering over the cracks' because not finishing high up the league won't be a crack.

If we do it again, we will have proven the 27 rounds of SL matches are meaningless, as long as you make the eight, and can produce better performances in 4 games consecutively than other sides.

Which, in fact, would suggest that a tactic of allowing 'up for it' teams that can win a one-off game but not perform regularly (e.g. Wakefield) can blow themselves out while we have plenty in the tank for the P/O's.

That said, if we do win, I fully expect the RFL to overhaul the playoffs.

Why? Has anyone won it from eighth? Seventh? Sixth? How many have won from fifth? How many from fourth or indeed third? There is clear advantage to be earned from winning regular season rounds, but like everything, key actions at key times are what really matters.

If Leeds do it again from 5th then it still doesn't prove that the playoffs are massively flawed IMO. Not until we see other teams do it from the 5th-8th positions with squads that don't have a quarter of the playoff experience that Leeds' team contains will i think that. The SL has just reached a strange period where the previous top team (Leeds) have slipped but still have enough on the day to win big ones thanks hugely to having over half a team with 3, 4, 5 GF winners rings. Whilst the top teams weekly, struggle to get over that final hurdle. It will soon change as the number of GF winners in Leeds' squad decreases and other teams finally nail more Playoff success.

If Leeds did win, people would still say McDermott is clueless and it was the team that did it..

Maybe papering over the cracks is the wrong phrase

Dont get me wrong - I love winning the Grand Final and the novelty still hasnt worn off for me

This season more than any though my mind cant help but stray back to 2004 and the way we played all year and really long for that again...

We wont win it

I also agree that Leeds finished 6th in 2006 under Tony Smith.

Incorrect. 5th.

6th!

When Leeds were eliminated, there were still 5 teams left in the playoffs

That's stretching it - even for you!



Once Salford were eliminated in the same round, they were the 6th placed play-off team

Just worry about next week

Hey, it was that monthly mag which placed them 6th... remember?

You even emailed me a copy at the time

It was 5th...trust me

It's never a bad thing to win the GF but for me the most satisfying triumphs were 2004 and 2009 when we did it from first. 2007 and 2008 felt great too as we were only pipped to the top by 1 point. 2011 was good in terms of it had never been done before and people didn't think it was possible to win from that far back, however the novelity will wear off if it becomes the norm, especially as it will usually take relying on the teams finishing in the top 2 to not hit top form in the playoffs.

'04, '07, '08 and '09 felt like season long successes. 2011 felt like a 4 game success.

Perhaps... I thought they were listed as 6th.

Anyhow, when your team is eliminated and there's still 5 other teams left in the competition, you've definitely finished 6th in my book

2 game success.

Wins against whipping boy SL rabble don't count. But that's the beauty of finishing 5th - you get to play them twice

It'll be a pity if we lose McGuire (we probably will)....I said Leeds would beat Catalans, but play like that again and Leeds will beat Wigan too.....and then .......



Still wouldn't buy a season ticket though ....



.................and the RL really do need to reconsider the play offs format if they want to stop Leeds snaffling it.

Still have to play and beat them though and as Leuluai last week and McGuire tonight showed you always run the risk of picking up bans (injuries too) for when you get down to the bigger boys.

29 meaningless rounds of crap to determine what we all knew was going to eventuate all along - Wigan, Saints, Warrington and Leeds facing off in the semi finals. It's really not so much an achievement for the Top 4 clubs reaching the last 4 when the rest of the teams are rubbish.

Wigan will pick leeds and theres not a cat in hells chance of leeds pulling it off.

The wigan fans will be rabid, every split second too long at the play the ball by us will be penalised. Their fans will have to be held back from running onto the pitch and assaulting the leeds players, they;ve pretty much wished death on them anyway.

Me? I hope st helens beat those sons 'o' bitches in the final

I knew you were Lycra James all along

Like they did in the CC semi? Wigan will be praying Hull do them a favour tonight. They will be pricking it at the thought of club calling Leeds.