jools wrote:
Meaningless? Nah- not for either. Only one of us will make top eight -For the other team the million pound game needs to be avoided and all the other sides will up their game to claim a big scalp. If that same team that's trying to avoid the million pound game is in the CC it puts more pressure on and less chance for rest. It also means that intensity of games will fluctuate. One team could be playing Halifax or Featherstone the weeks before the cup final. Hardly the best preparation. For the other team who does make the top 8- well both our teams are blooding youngsters a great opportunity to develop their game and ensure that they have masses of experience playing against the top sides.
So I don't see that either club will see any subsequent game as meaningless.
I think you make a bold statement claiming that "only one of us will make the top 8". How about neither team making the top 8 ? You beat us in a tight game last night, don't let it go to your head. Only Watkins would be a certain starter in the backs if we had a full squad to pick from.Hardaker, Tom Briscoe, Moon, Hall and McGuire would all have played, and we had 4 forwards out that would have started if fit. The Million Pound game is not something that will concern Leeds, when we get something like a squad available, we have enough to finish top 3 in the middle 8's. Your claim that either club will not see a Challenge Cup exit rendering subsequent games meaningless, is something that the money men at either club will trot out. The cold hard facts are that not many spectators will look forward to paying out good money to watch either club play the likes of Fev at home. If the lack of atmosphere amongst your fans last night was anything to go by, many have given up this season already.