I really hope either ourselves or Wire win the Grand Final this year and put to bed this myth that a 5th-placed finish is a legitimate target, better than finishing 4th, or maybe even better than going all-out and finishing top.



Twelve months before Leeds' freak run last year, we were heralding Madge's success in changing the attitude of the Wigan club from Noble's "start slow, peak in the play-offs" style. It didn't work, we repeatedly came up short. Finishing top gave us a real benefit, even if we didn't take full advantage of it when we lost the home tie with Leeds.



Finishing 5th means it's straight knock-out rugby all the way. Yes, you get a theoretically 'easy' first weekend tie at home to the team in 8th, who probably have a losing record across the season, but what if they're a side that's been on a red hot streak to finish the regular rounds? Play-offs are a lot to do with form and momentum - say Wakefield won every game between now and September to finish 8th (they won't, but let's pretend); would you say with confidence that Leeds had a walk-over of a game, especially when their last meeting involved being well beaten by them last night?



Everyone is capable of throwing in a poor performance every so often. We did in the Cup semi earlier this month; the team finishing 5th has no room for error like that. There's always potential for a freak result. Finishing in the top four allows you to get a performance like that out of the way in the first week. If anything, it's 4th that's the position that gives a greater advantage than it perhaps should do; turn in a winning performance in the first week, get a week off, then you've got a home tie to reach Old Trafford, and no direct involvement in the Club Call nonsense. Lose in week one and you've still got a second chance.



Leeds may finish 5th and still win at Old Trafford this year, but it won't be because they've worked on a carefully calculated plan. They lose games like last night because they're not the force they once were. Sure, they seem to step it up a gear in the knock-out games - they have the big-game-winning experience to do that - but if Hull wind up in 5th place, would anyone really see them as the most real threat?



5th is not the new 1st.

There speaks a very bitter Wigan fan who can't bring himself to admit that his team was beaten by the better side on the day.

My point still stands up does yours?

Interesting thread given last nights result, although the Challenge Cup Final showed its not simply a case of Leeds turning up when they want but what this side does have is the mindset that when knockout rugby starts they more then most make the final and give themselves a great chance.

Difference between the cup final and the playoffs IMO is Leeds start building gradually from the start of September and try to peak in the last 2 weeks of the playoffs. The cup final is more of a 1 off game that comes when Leeds are still coasting. When Leeds turn up a notch defensively, as they always seem to do in the playoffs, no team apart from Wigan 2 years ago has been able to live with them. You can moan about finishing top being more important and all that but Leeds play the system we have and I do believe they would be pushing Wigan and Warrington at the top if it was a 1st past the post finish to the season.