How many times has a team finishing fourth made it to the Grand Final?

But being top doesn't win you the title.

We've only had the new system for one season.

well it certainly helps!!!!

Youve not been saying that the last few years have you? You wouldnt be saying that if you were 2nd or 3rd either.

I would be immensley proud if we finished top, the team that does doesnt get the plaudits they deserve IMO. More should be celebrated of the League Leaders shield. Even if we dont win it that will be my opinion, it always has.

Yes. Yes I have.

Before last year no, but with the new system I was well aware it was alot more open. Had two teams more experienced than hudds and hull kr finished in the 3rd and 4th spots we may have seen more of a shake up.

No but if we do finish top it will mean we have had a very enjoyable seasons RL compared to inconsistent tripe of the last three seasons.

Dave

I disagree.

The grand final is what teams aim for, which will always distort things slightly as the top teams condition themselves to perform at their best in october. If you won the title for finishing top teams would go all out from week in one and you wouldn't get as many shocks that you do early season.

Didn't Leeds win 2 of the last 3 from finishing second in the league?

That's good.

But saints finished top 4 times on the trot and won only 1 title out of that. If you'd ask them to swap some of the sparkling rugby and consistency they had for abit more inconsistency and doing it when it matters you know what they'd choose.

I've also got good money on it happening!

MM on GMR just reported Mossop has dislocated his shoulder, could do with Harrison regaining his fitness at this stage of the season. He also confirmed that Gleason was dropped for OFF FIELD reasons.

You want to finish top as it says you were the best side that season. It makes it a bit easier going into the grand final. Like Dave said, means a more enjoyable season. You have to strive for the top spot or whats the point in any competitive game/sport??

So Saints were the best side when finishing top for years even though they lost to Leeds?

We might as well play our u20 side for the rest of the season then, theres no point trying. If fact lets cancel the league and just have the playoffs

No it doesn't. Winning the title get's you recognised as the best team that season. Bradford fnished 3rd in 05 but are remembered as the best because they won the grand final.

I wouldn't say teams strive for top spot. I'd say they take each game at a time and will aim for a high position in the playoffs.

So any team who beat Saints in one single game over that period were better than them?

Why?

Playoff positions still have to be decided.

When the game is the grand final, and the title is on the line, yes.

We could play our u20s from here and still finish in the playoffs easily. Why are we bothering wasting our energy?

If you played your u20s for the rest of the season you'd lose most of the rest of your games and would miss out on the playoffs.

Just got back now.

Joel and Pat for me were superb as were the rest of the pack. A really tough game, from the begging penalties dictated who'd win it and thankfully it was us. I thought Sam defensively was superb, he cleaned up everything, and was first to the ball every time.

Not going to talk about ref much, I though we were hard done by a little but thankfully it didn't cost us the game.

A very very tough game, but incredibly pleasing to come out of it on the right side. Good performance all round really, just thought Marsh was a little weak, but it's to be expected due to his age and experience.

Be a big confidence boost to the players no doubt.

So if a team finishing 8th beats top in the playoffs they are a better team? The grand final is a one off game and you can fluke a one off game. You cant fluke finishing top of the league over 27 games.

I understand what you are getting at but we've not had the consistancy Leeds have had over the past few seasons. Being top of the league is a massive step forward.

Finishing top of the league is a major step forward for a team which is pretty much the same as last year.

We are happy that we are the top of the league as we are now seeing the type of rugby we've craved for.