In my opinion the aims on any SL team are:
1) Avoiding the Middle 8s
2) Making the Top 4
3) Making the GF
4) Winning the GF

We've achieved 1 & 2 in the last two seasons with a largely fit squad. We've had a catastrophic mid season run of long term injuries to key players which, in conjunction with a significantly stronger Saints and Warrington makes 2 almost certainly out of reach. Making the top 8 would hardly be an "event" but missing that target would put us right on the back foot for all sorts of reasons. IMO the season is panning out a bit like 2015, where we scraped in and used the Super 8s as SL experience for emerging players. Whilst it would, overall, be disappointing, context is important. As joyous as our cup run has been, and I can't adequately put that into words, this year a week off might actually help us. It's not only me that recognises the downside of finishing 9-12. See coaches and directors of those featuring in them on a regular basis for details.

Yes, that's what I was replying to, he's unlikely to play before the super8's as was suggested.

I do get the point that you are trying to make. No one wants to be involved in the middle 8s for obvious reasons. I don't think a one off appearance in them is the end of the world. Teams who are in them year after year will struggle having no stability and recruitment will be harder because they can't guarantee what league they will be in from one year to the next. Just being in them once because of injuries or whatever is different. Obviously it makes for a few nervous weeks, but it isn't terminal as long as the unthinkable doesn't happen and we go down.

All that said. It simply won't happen now. For it to happen we need to lose every game. Go ask a bookie what odds you can get on that. Stick a tenner on it and you could probably retire off the winnings. Then, even if we did, two of the bottom clubs need to find more wins in 7/8 games than they have just found in 15/16. They are down there for a reason. It categorically will not happen.

As for your other comment about top 4 being almost certainly out of reach. Why is that? Leeds are wretched just now. They are playing like relegation fodder and they have injuries not that much better than us. I saw every game at magic and they were the worst side there. There is nothing at all to suggest they will finish above us. Cas aren't much better. They too have injuries to key players and are not playing at all well. They have two games in hand, but they also have a tougher run of fixtures than we do. Again, there is little to suggest they have the ability to finish above us. At this moment in time I feel we are more likely to make 4th than not.

I'm not forgetting because at this stage it is irrelevant.
Teams can still lose 3 games and catch us, it doesn't matter if they play each other.
It's only a bit of fun, but a mathematical possibility, I'd have thought with a name like yours you'd have understood.

Spot on.

Talk about the glass being half empty.

Crazy isn't it?

Some people on here must check the road about half a dozen times before crossing because there is just a chance they could be involved in an accident.

i actually think we are doing pretty well given all the injuries and suspensions and disruption to meaning players are being moved from their most effective positions to cover on a needs must basis (hadley being a prime example).

also who's to say that some of the other top 4 contenders won't suffer a similar injury run towards the back end when it gets even more crucial? If so, let's see how they cope.

(Apologies for the positive post).

4 straight league & Cup wins for Catalans they just said. Think they could well make the Top 8.

you must be gagging for them to get in the top 8 and us not to justify your ridiculous thread

at the expense of hudds if there play like that

Out of the teams in the bottom 4, i think they could pull themselves out, home form will favour them, kenny edwards looks a decent signing too


widnes, kr, salford and one of hudds or wakey

you honestly think one of rovers, widnes, hudds, Salford, will finish above us?

Yes, Catalans making a couple of good signings and showing more cohesion. Personally would be surprised to see Wakey in the Middle 8s.

Catalans should be comfortably top 8 with that squad but have struggled due to having no half backs most of the year

wakey seem to be hit and miss, 2 wins out of 8 is it? not great form, lot of chest pumping from their fans early in the season saying they had a great pack, doesnt seem that great atm!

Very weak Cas side named tonight. Rovers should be doing us a big favour.

Not going well so far



@DCravenYPSport

9 - And Eden is over. Picked up a stray pass 10m out and had no right to score but accelerated past some shoddy KR defence to mark his return from injury.

Vaivai loses ball coming out of his own 10 and now KR done for dissent.

14 - Cas’ third try. KR defence all over place but lovely pass Ellis as he takes it to the line and sends Foster over untouched. This will be killing Sheens after that defensive effort to beat Wigan last week. Ellis converts 0-16

18 - Another KR fumble and Cas over all too easily again as Matt Cook stretches through some meek goalline defence. KR in all sorts of trouble. Cas not even really in third gear either. Ellis makes it 0-22

Rovers only beat Wigan last week as the backlash from Wane saying he was leaving and the players being ed off

So it would seem, but Cas missing loads.

The weaker teams can catch the better teams on an off day but rarely string 2 or more quality performances together. rovers will be flying though once they get lunt, maguire and carney back and jackson hastings arrives

Like who,they seemed to have a pretty strong team to me barring Gale but you have a thing about exaggerating injuries unless it's us of course as for the game we were awful Cas where pretty good and Watts didn't do much

Rob Crossland doing plenty of Twitter defence tonight.
"Trust me Mike if this season goes the same way (as 2016) it’ll be the end." Oh no.

Top of my head
Roberts
Minnikin
Gale
Moors
Webster
?

Missing Roberts, Minikin, Webster, Gale, Moors I think. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8.

Like I said they had a pretty good side out and barring Gale I don't think they missed any of them