We're not yet at the point where we can expect performances consistent with Friday night, plus we're probably due another injury or two along the way. If we lose Briers again we'll take a step backwards, for instance. Best chance of glory is the Challenge Cup: we'll have to beat some top sides to do it but that still means just three outstanding performances against the eight or ten needed to get us into the top four. I think we should be happy, given the poor start, to finish anywhere from 6th to 8th and at least be involved in the playoffs again.

When the season started i said 4th, looking at the table last night i'm sticking with my 4th prediction. I can see Wakefield, Harlequins and Hudders losing a few place from now until the end of the year.

aslong as were in the playoffs i can see us doing really well semis or maybe final?

How does the playoffs work this year in its extended format? I heard the top team are able to choose who they play in the first round, or something along those lines. I'm sure one of the resident boffins on here will know.

[uWeek 1[/u



Qualifying Play Off 1

1 V 4



Qualifying Play Off 2

2 V 3



Elimination Play Off 1

5 V 8



Elimination Play Off 2

6 v 7





[uWeek 2[/u



Preliminary Semi Final 1

QPO 1 Loser

V

EPO 1 Winner



Preliminary Semi Final 2

QPO 2 Loser

V

EPO 2 Winner





[uWeek 3[/u



Qualifying Semi Final 1

QPO 1 Winner

V

PSF 1 Winner * (* - subject to choice of highest placed winner in week one)



Qualifying Semi Final 2

QPO 2 Winner

V

PSF 2 Winner * (* - subject to choice of highest placed winner in week one)





[uWeek 4[/u



Grand Final

QFS 1 Winner

V

QSF 2 Winner

Hull.



Man alive, they are terrible to watch. Easily the most dour team in SL. It wouldn't surprise me if they finished bottom three again, don't see the strike threat, or halves working.

I reckon they will just miss out as well. Their halves combination is terrible now Horne is at full back, Thorman just does not seem a SL half back to me at all.



However against us remember they were missing Manu, Hall, Raynor, Tony, Berrigan, Briscoe etc who count among their most exciting players.



I think Crocker would have been a massive boost for them, but his speeding tickets put paid to that. What happened to that New Zealander they signed Lauaki, is he still waiting for a visa?

If we played them, tomorrow, at home, first choice 17 V 17, I'd expect us to win by 20 points. We seem capable of doing far more with the ball than they do.

Is that right?

Isn't there the gimmick element where the top placed side (in the playoffs in week two??) gets to pick their oponents, the other fixtures are based around this... It's something like that anyway (I think)!

See the asterix on week 3...

I can see this scenario coming into effect, with Saints choosing to play us in the semis.

that is nailed on to happen, if i was them then i would pick Wires too