his is the situation that the franchising system avoided -- nigh on bankrupt clubs spending big to avoid a drop and blocking junior pathways. Locke will be definitely out to prove something and put himself in the shop window for better offers, so it will be interesting to see how he gets in in the remaining games.
Looking at the tables, I think the bottom 3 of SL are pretty much self evident...
- Wakefield, definite bottom
- Salford, will probably have to win all their last 5 games to avoid bottom 4 (which will be hard with games away to HKR and Leeds)
- Widnes would probably have to get at least 6 points from their last 4 games (Tigers (A), Dragons (H), Wigan (A) and Salford (H)) and favourable results elsewhere to stand any chance of getting in the top 8.
Then we come to the last place a tussle between Hull FC/KR but with FC having 2 games against Wakefield you might favour them until you see that HKR play Salford twice and FC at home. However, look closely:
- the Wolves are only 2 points above both Hull teams and and they only Wakefield below them (and all below them have a game in hand bar Widnes), with games against Saints and Wigan, although both are at home.
- the Dragons are sixth with 22 points so should be safe as they have a home game v the Giants and play both Widnes and Salford albeit away (I can't see them getting much out of their last game, away to Leeds)
So we end up with probably one of the Hulls, Widnes, Salford and Wakefield. Both Hull teams are actually quite strong so don't think that they'll collapse, leaving Salford and Wakefield. In the games that I've seen Salford in on TV they've been unlucky, including playing against Leigh with a very sub-optimum side. So its all on to take Wakefield's place.
From what I've seen Leigh are pretty strong and have proven that they can play with consistency at the intensity required to beat SL sides, and have strengthened their side over the last few weeks. Wakefield are strengthening as well. So it comes down to just how good are the Bulls? Its fair to say that everyone expected them to be where they are now, but they've hardly shown the consistency and intensity that are needed week in/out to take Wakefield's spot. So they need to really start building that consistency and some commanding 80 minute performances in their last few games.
There's a bit of a plus though - assuming Leigh and Bulls finish top of the championship, they get more home games than the bottom two from SL
