Top five in order:



Wigan

Wire

Catalans

Saints

Leeds



Play off week one:



Wigan V Saints - Saints win

Wire V Catalans - Wire win



Week two:



Catalans V Leeds - Leeds win

Wigan V whoever from 6v7 fixture - Wigan win



Week three:



Wire V Leeds - Leeds win

Saints V Wigan - Saints win



Grand Final



Leeds V Saints - Leeds win

Yes.

We don't stand a chance now, they're timed their end of season run into 5th perfectly again.

on form - yes

on history - no





Anything can happen in the playoffs I wouldnt be suprised to see Saints, Leeds or Catalans win it.

Under Tony Smith our play-off record has been a steadily progressive one.



In 2009 we finished 10th and didn't make the play-offs

In 2010 we were knocked out in Round 2

In 2011 we were knocked out in Round 3



With these experiences and what we've learnt from them + our 2009 2010 and 2012 Challenge Cup wins + our 2011 LLS win + all our younger players being that much better and more experienced than they have been previously + the players we've added over the three/four years = I think we can make that next step and reach the Grand Final this year.

We're the only team that can, so we have a better chance than anyone else.



However, the unpredictable nature of a one off play off game means it's too hard to pick

Isn't the league basically a 14 team league of 27 games followed by a playoff sysytem that results in a Saints & Leeds final?

See my post earlier in this thread.

With the casual way the club have approached winning the hub cap this season, we're certainly the best prepared team to do it....



2 seasons ago we chased top spot in the league and the cup... we won the cup but looked out on our feet come the playoffs.



last season Wigan fought all the way in the league and the cup.. then come the play offs they looked a shadow of the team they had been earlier in the season and were easily beaten by a vastly inferior saints team.... The playoffs were then won by a team that spent half the season jogging round casually and getting walloped by all and sundry.



many people were saying you cant win the challenge cup and the play offs, as it takes to much out of you... i suppose that's true if you want to play your strongest side week in, week out in the league.

In all seriousness, of course we can - we can beat anyone on a good day. Will we actually do it? Who knows. You can't predict this stuff at all, as last year showed, and frankly I suspect any advantage from our rotation policy will be psychological more than anything else. Last season we came within an inch of beating the team that went on to win, with an average performance which can happen at any time, so this pushed-too-hard stuff is just rubbish.



If we win this year, then great, maybe the rotation policy had some kind of useful effect. But what if we lose, what are we going to blame then? Getting to the CC Final? Too much rotation? Or maybe just accept that there are half a dozen teams that could take a trophy with a good game or two, and we got unlucky.

Ahhh the good old average performance if you get turned over excuse. The play off semi last year was a great game and the speed and physicality of it was unreal. Leeds were the better side on the day just like Wire were at Wembley. End of.

If the worst happens then I won't be complaining. We've won a trophy again, and if you include the LLS we've won something 4 seasons in a row. I don't go with this 'Warrington and bottlers' rubbish. You're not bottlers if you win the RL Cup 3 times in 4 years. If we get to Old Trafford and win, then I'll be delighted, if not it's been another successful season. thirteen other SL clubs would love to have been in the position we were in at 4.00pm on Saturday.

I've watched the Wire since 1966 and some of the sides I've watched have been rubbish and we've been on the edge of going bust several times. Now we're financially secure and having a bit of success. I'm living the dream.