The race for 4th

[ERG2012]

Brian Carney said in commentary that with ball in hand both were average at best and we were "streets ahead" and "by a county mile"

[cogito ergo sum]

Brian Carney said in commentary that with ball in hand both were average at best and we were "streets ahead" and "by a county mile"

I suppose media talk is inevitable and deserved, but I wish they'd keep quiet now.
Every team will be after our scalp, a new experience this year. Losing to anyone in the semi will be a bitter pill. After the first half of the season, when people started taking us seriously, we have found it harder, but still come through. The "big" clubs would love nothing more than to see us upset, so all this media "odds on" and "streets ahead" talk is fanning the opposition flames.

[Lofthouse Tiger]

How good is it that we arent involved in chasing a space? We can be a little bit relaxed and watch everyone worry about the next 4 games. It shouldnt matter who we play because we have besten them all at least once and we will also be at home.

Nobody will want to come to WR........We have the tine and the squad to prepare for the next 4 games. DP will be ready as will the players as will the fans.

[old cas lass]

Tell you what.
Teams will be vying to not get that 4th spot.
No one will want to.play us at home.
Don't care if its wigan saints or wakey.
All 3 will be hoping to get 3rd place to avoid us.
Yes someone as to finish 4th, not our problem.
Let them knock lumps out of each other.

Nice place to be in.

[Lofthouse Tiger]

Correct OCL. Thats exactly how I see it.

[ERG2012]

Here here

[stuey]

Wakefield would be my choice for 4th, or anyone apart from Wigan or Saints.

If Wigan or Saints are in the top 4, one of them will win the GF. They have the big match nous and experience and always seem to peak at the end of the season. Easiest way to stop either of them two winning, is to make sure they finish out of the top 4.

Whatever happens now, we have won the big one. In my eyes it is by far the most important of the two. The best team all season, or the best team in a few k/0 matches. No contest for me.

A top 4 of Cas, Leeds, Hull & Wakefield and Huddersfield 5th will do fine. Keep the Lankies out of the top 4.

[duke street 10]

The only thing that is troubling me is the 4th prop situation. Andy Lynch has done great but looks laboured now,Gadwin's lack of confidence & Patrick's is hit & miss injury wise.

If we can keep key personnel injury free & Junior getting back to something like his early season form we shouldn't fear anybody. The League table doesn't lie...we hit the straps in the semi regardless of who we play we should get to the final.

[lurcher]

Don't write of wakefield. Could easily win their next 2

They have to beat Salford in their next game for me. Saints play Wigan so 1 will definitely go above them if they lose.

Wakey will trounce Salford, the red devils won't win a game in the 8's. I think Wakey then play Saints at home. Win that and think they will make the top 4.

agree there mate, a Salford mate of mine reckons that the Salford bonus payments were heavily weighted on their finishing position after 23 rounds. not much to play for now.

[InTheKnow]

Don't write of wakefield. Could easily win their next 2

They have to beat Salford in their next game for me. Saints play Wigan so 1 will definitely go above them if they lose.

Wakey will trounce Salford, the red devils won't win a game in the 8's. I think Wakey then play Saints at home. Win that and think they will make the top 4.

agree there mate, a Salford mate of mine reckons that the Salford bonus payments were heavily weighted on their finishing position after 23 rounds. not much to play for now.

If Salford win they are 1 point off fourth with 3 to play. It's all to play for.

[Tamworth Tiger]

Don't care who we play.
With their game heads on the lads can beat anyone

[Sharlotiger]

Tell you what.
Teams will be vying to not get that 4th spot.
No one will want to.play us at home.
Don't care if its wigan saints or wakey.
All 3 will be hoping to get 3rd place to avoid us.
Yes someone as to finish 4th, not our problem.
Let them knock lumps out of each other.

Nice place to be in.

I doubt very much Saints or Wigan would be worried about playing us , they have both been there many times and know how to handle high pressure games, come the semi we will find out if we can, we looked all over the place against Wakie early on with Minikin looking as shaky as Briscoe as. Great challenge for us whoever gets the 4th spot and a fantastic chance to make our 1st Grand Final in the SL era.

[gateman]

Saints had our number last time, I am sure the lads would be focused next time we meet, I honestly fear no one in the play offs

[InTheKnow]

Hotting up now.... 2 points separates 3rd to 5th with Wakey sandwiched in middle. Wigan and Wakey have better PD than Hull too. Saints are a further 2 points back so we need to win all remaining games to stand any chance.

Pretty sure Wakey have to play Saints, Hull and Wigan. 3 very tough games. Not sure who others play.

[Fumper27]

Hotting up now.... 2 points separates 3rd to 5th with Wakey sandwiched in middle. Wigan and Wakey have better PD than Hull too. Saints are a further 2 points back so we need to win all remaining games to stand any chance.

Pretty sure Wakey have to play Saints, Hull and Wigan. 3 very tough games. Not sure who others play.

Hull play Wigan H, Wakefield H, Castleford A
Wakefield play Saints H, Hull A, Wigan H
Saints play Wakefield A, Huddersfield H, Salford A
Wigan play Hull A, Castleford H, Wakefield A

Looking at the above, Saints have a favourable run in, with Wigan having a tough one having to go to Hull and Wakefield as well as us at home.

[HuddsTigers]

Wakefield have to play the 3 sides vying for 3rd and 4th with them. If they manage to stay in top 4 then full credit to them, if would be an outstanding achievement.

Salford and Hudds are gone so we are right to rule them out.

I think Saints are clinging on now. Need to win all 3 to stand a chance but they are playing two sides in their 3 who they can't have a material effect on to their benefit (e.g taking points off other rivals). Both a positive and a negative in one sense.

Can't see Wakey winning 2 to keep Saints out so need to hope they slip up.

Wigan are odd. They could either win all 3 or lose all 3 such is their form this season. I reckon they will go on to win at least 2

Hull could be 1/2. I'd like to think we'd take them down in final week before semis but they have been our bogey side this season.

For me, I reckon we will be playing one of Hull or Wigan down the lane. But it's entirely plausible all 3 will finish on 33 and only PD separating them.

[Lofthouse Tiger]

Ideally I would rather play Wakey in semi then whoever in final should we get through. Hull/Saints/Wigan would be much tougher in my view. If Wakey win their home games they finish top 4. Simple equation, not so easy to do of course. They could still finish 3rd and play us in the final?

How much nicer is it knowing we arent playing high pressure games every week?

:dance: :dance: :dance:

[Mysterio]

THE FUTURE IS NOW

We will never have a better opportunity to reach & win a Grand Final.

I'm feeling more and more convinced that we can do it; there is absolutely no reason why we cannot do it.

[InTheKnow]

Wakey on paper would be the easier game. Feel the pressure would be massively on us though. Imagine coming up short and Wakey getting to OT. However losing to an in form Saints, Wigan or Hull in the play offs wouldn't be a major issue.

At home I feel we will beat anyone but would be most nervous about playing Wakey.

[Lofthouse Tiger]

If we play Wakefield we wont come up short. I am certain we would beat them again.

Any of the other 3 would be a much more difficult prospect and although I feel we are capable of winning, the pressure would be more than playing Wakey. The other 3 are far better on their day than Wakey on theirs.

Having said that if we are on our best form we will beat them all. We shall see.