you never know now we just might sneak 6 or 7th come on you reds

Still think we will slip up at Widnes.

Top 8 sorted then. Here's how the table looks in matches between the play-off sides. Several of the teams above us have picked up a lot of their points against the bottom 6. We could ruffle some feathers here.

22pts Huddersfield (W11 L3)
17pts Warrington (W8 D1 L4)
14pts Rovers (W7 Licon_cool.gif
13pts Wigan (W6 D1 L6)
12pts Leeds (W6 L7)
11pts Hull (W5 D1 L7)
9pts St Helens (W4 D1 Licon_cool.gif
8pts Catalans (W4 Licon_cool.gif

Well first objective accomplished, now it's drive for a home draw. The 5 could end up anyway. I'd prefer not to go to cats but any other would do.

I'd be happy with saints either way, we have the edge over them this season.

beat widnes I think you will finish 5th

catalan have leeds and warrington last two fixtures and could end up 8th with us and saints battling it out for home advantage for 6th

Good result all round for both Hull sides

It's now looking probable we will be away in the play offs to either Catalans or Saints. They both need only 1 more win and then we can't catch them whatever we do in our games.

And indeed Catalans away would really be the worst outcome.

We had to do that 2 years ago and as I recall there were no direct flights and the team had 2 days of travel to get there. We lost 56-6 having won there only 2 weeks earlier.

This time we could even have to get there for a Thursday kick off if SKY so decide which leaves 3 days to arrange everything and then get out there and most probably with no direct flights available. Even if we got the Friday slot it would still be bad enough.

I'd say that anyone who has to play Catalans away in the play offs has the odds well & truly stacked against them there would be no time at all to prepare the team for the game. It would be well worth finishing 8th instead of 7th if it meant missing a trip to Perpignan.

My thoughts exactly,a home tie or away to saints,who I feel are set to be 5th.

Saints v Wire
Hull v Saints

I can't see Saints taking another point.

Leeds v Catalan
Catalan v Wire

Catalans wont be favourites in either of their games either.

Of course, we can always "throw" the game v London to avoid a trip to France. All our rivals will have played prior to the game, so we will know our fate going into the game.

SL really ought to take a leaf out of football's book when it comes to the final games. Synchronised kick off times make for fairer competition.

I was thinking the same, some teams, even the top 4, may look at who they want to play, agree all games should be on the same day when it involves 4 teams, but thanks to skys' football love in it wont happen soon

Only problem is Leeds & Wire have nothing at all to play for now until the play offs they will rest anyone & everyone who is not 100% and no matter how they talk these games up they are really not very important to them. Whereas for Saints & Catalans it's everything.

I think that tips the scales heavily in favour.

Leeds maybe, but Wire need to beat Saints to hang onto 2nd and get home advantage v Wigan in week 1.

If we beat widnes and hull lose at wigan they could throw the saints game and take it out of our hands.

Agree with this, makes perfect sense.

I know that sky was not around then but years ago when rovers had to beat a team can not remember which, but if they lost it another team would have won the league it was the last game of the season so the RFL put all games on at the same time so it can be done

Not anymore sky calls the shots they have a TV schedule to full

are they still operating the winner picks who they want to play?

Yep. Club call still exists

Beating Leeds and Cas securing our place in the 8 with a couple of rounds to go is great news. Bradford have London up next and who can say what team Hudds will field if they've won the shield before the final game? With our injury situation, it is nice to know that the team have accomplished their first and main objective, and we're looking up, rather than over our shoulders.
A home play-off game would be great, but it might be gone by the time we start our supposedly easy-ish last 2 games. With our points difference and with Hull playing Saints in the final round, if any 2 of Saints, Hull or Catalans win their next SL game, it'd be 7th at best, realistically, even if we beat Widnes.
I would never suggest 'throwing' the game against London - especially if it is the last home game of the year and, y'know, London, who are pretty poor. But if it suits us to rest a few for the following week and defeat would only cost us a trip to Catalans, that is an option. Whichever 17 take the field, I'd want to give their all though - 7th is better than 8th and more competition points are better than fewer.

We could still finish 6th if Saints & Hull win their next game provided Catalans lose but we'd need Saints to beat Hull the week after and Catalans to lose again.

I tend to agree though that we'll probably not get a home play off game even if we beat Widnes & London.

Yep, you're right I miscounted.

If Leeds see off Catalans at Headingley, that'd be a big boost and mean that if we get a result against Widnes, we'd likely have a decent shot still, going into the London game.

London will be the last home appearance for a few players including Dobbo, can't see us giving that away even if it means going to Catalans.

I can't see FC wanting to finish below us out of choice.