Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:09 am  

Phil Clarke wrote:

B

After all I can't see the Rhinos winning another league game this season

Didn't you say that after the Cas game last season Phillip? I recall that didn't work out too well for you

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:11 am  

Bang wrote:

Let's take it to a vote. This is obviously hyperthetical.

Would you prefer us to;

A) Finish 8th
B) Win the Challenge Cup & finish in bottom 4

A - Maintain our status as one of SL Regular Rounds everpresents alongside St Helens, Warrington and Wigan - the only option that allows Leeds to seek to maintain their SL Era Play-Off everpresent tag alongside St Helens although unlikely in 2016 - perhaps even for both teams.

I'd also like Leeds to win the Challenge Cup this year but to do that they will need to win a game away from home - something that has proved beyond them this year and not only when wearing the changed strip.

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 9:15 am  

Andy Gilder wrote:

Cup win or Top 8 finish with no chance of making the four?

Cup win every time. That new South Stand isn't going to pay for itself, and the £500k or so that a Wembley trip generates would do quite nicely.

The monies from the cup will only partially plug a large hole left between a 4 home games against the likes of Batley, Leigh etc compared to Wigan, Warrington etc plus the knock on effect into next season.

As you quite rightly say the SS will not build itself.

I can't see either happening tbh - no way Leeds wont make the 8 and I think other stronger teams will be too good come the crunch time of the semi and final

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 5:13 pm  

cheekydiddles wrote:

But...going by the last 2 years, if we were to win the cup again that could/would have a massive negative impact on our middle 8 campaign (if the latter were to happen of course. If we did sneak into 8th then it wouldn't matter if we lost a few pre/post Wembley, given we'd likely have no or little chance of making the top 4)

True we have struggled post Wembley before, but in the hypothetical scenario of reaching Wembley & Middle 8's then whoever we face afterwards isn't exactly the same as having Saints 6 days later and then Catalans away like last year.

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 5:20 pm  

Sal Paradise wrote:

The monies from the cup will only partially plug a large hole left between a 4 home games against the likes of Batley, Leigh etc compared to Wigan, Warrington etc plus the knock on effect into next season.

Hard to really know right now how significant the knock on effect next year will be as any potential coach/squad changes (or lack of) will be important in fans decision regarding next year.

McDermott stays with pretty much the same squad then tough to see people rushing to snap up ST's.

A new coach that people like the sound of and a couple of signings that look good could see people writing 2016 off as a bad year and prepared to comeback in 2017.

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 7:56 pm  

Jrrhino wrote:

Salford could be deducted points tomorrow that would help are push abit try to get into the top. I suspect they will probably get at least 6 points deducted, but we shouldn't have to rely on things like that to climb the table

Spot on, they've had 6 points deducted. I'm sure this won't be the last of the matter though. I can imagine some of the Championship clubs would've wanted them to start the Middle 8's with a a deduction also.

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 8:44 pm  

That news improves Leeds chances of scraping into the Top 8 somewhat. A few more breaches of the Salary Cap between now and Round 23 and who knows?

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Mon Apr 25, 2016 11:48 pm  

If GH isn't already planning for a worst case scenario (by that I mean no cup win and either meaningless Super 8s or Middle 8s not relegation) then he's not doing his job.

Playing wise unless we dump some players he probably doesn't have much room for manoeuvre - the loss of Achurch would probably only enable Leeds to pay Ferres more, which means the only position would be hooker assuming Falloon is released.

Re: Make or break fortnight. : Thu Apr 28, 2016 6:23 am  

Option B for me too.