Looking at the squad we now have available, I'd say we could still make the 4 but it will take an unbelievable run of wins and obviously a lot of other results would have to be in our favour. If we can keep a relatively healthy squad, I wouldn't write us off just yet!

I'm not writing us off either, but it does look a long shot.

Hopefully we can throw everything in to this next few weeks before the split and reassess the situation at that point. To stand a chance I think we need to the lot before the round 23 cut off. If we get them though we could still do it as I'm sure the gap will be reduced by at least 3 or 4 points at that stage and that then starts to give you some belief and something to aim for.



Unlikely but not impossible.

Still pretty confident about getting there, but it will rely on us getting our season back on track pretty much straight away now we've got some players back.



Leeds at home is our only game against one of the top sides before the split, so you would hope that we'll make up some ground going into the middle 8s. After that, teams will start beating each other so, provided our form is up there, we could rise up the table pretty quickly.

On paper, we have a favourable run of games coming up now. Our closest rivals for the top 4 look likely to to be dropping points running in to the Super 8's. Tricky test on Friday for us though.



Wigan: Hudds (A), Widnes (H), Catalan (A), Wire (H), Leeds (H)



Hull: Wakey (H), Cas (A), Saints (A), Leeds (A), Hudds (H)

Wakey: Hull (A), Wire (H), Cas (H), Widnes (A), Saints (H)

Saints: Salford (H), Leeds (A), Hull (H), Catalan (A), Wakefield (A)

Hudds away is going to be a tough game. They've hit a bit of form recently and are on the up. As long as we don't pick up a load more injuries I'd hope we have enough to beat Widnes at home, Catalan away is never easy though they've been struggling, it will be interesting to see what difference if any McNamara makes. Wire at home is always difficult whatever their form is and Leeds are back on song this year. Not an easy run in by any means, we should be aiming for at least 4 wins if we ant a shot at moving into the top 4 in the super 8's though I suspect we may fall short in that.

Hudds are in fine form. There's an injury doubt over Mamo apparently and he's been the catalyst for them. He looks ideally suited to superleague and if he does play we'll have it all on to contain him.

Now we actually have bodies back, I've changed my mind, we will make the 8, question is can we get close enough to 4th before the 8's start ?

We're as good as playing knockout football now until the end of the season, big ask, but here's hoping.

It has to be 5 from 5 before the split. If we're 4 from 4 going in to the Leeds game it'll be interesting to see where Leeds stand at that point. They play Cas, Saints, Salford and Hull before that game. They're 8 points in front and have a much better points difference but that's a tough run.



First things first though, we need to keep our end of the bargain.

Just read that Mamo is out for quite a few weeks.

Sam Rapira 1 match ban

Would rather it be Ikahihifo - he's a beast.