BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Tue Aug 29, 2023 4:36 pm  

The end of the season is nigh and despite the recent results we are still in with a minor shout for the playoffs , here are the remaining fixtures for the positions from 3 to 9 , how do we see it panning out ?

Bradford vs featherstone
Bradford vs York
London vs Bradford
Sheffield vs Bradford

Sheffield vs London
Sheffield vs Keighley
Widnes vs Sheffield
Sheffield vs Bradford

Sheffield vs London
London vs Widnes
London vs Bradford
London vs Keighley

Widnes vs Batley
Batley vs Whitehaven
York vs Batley
Batley vs Newcastle

Widnes vs Batley
London vs Widnes
Widnes vs Sheffield
Featherstone vs Widnes

Whitehaven vs Halifax
Halifax vs Toulouse
Keighley vs Halifax
Halifax vs Swinton

York vs Swinton
Bradford vs York
York vs Batley
Barrow vs York

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Wed Aug 30, 2023 7:31 am  

I predict they'll finish thus:

3rd - Sheffield - 34 points
4th - London - 32
5th - Super Fax - 31
6th - Bullies - 31
7th - Batley - 30
8th - Widnes - 28
9th - York - 28

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Wed Aug 30, 2023 7:57 am  

That means winning all our last 4, we've only done 4 on the trot once all season (which included the Bulls cup game). We do have the easiest run in, assuming TLoos put their cue back in the rack - if they win away to Newcastle and Bulls lose at home to Fev this week, they will be guaranteed 2nd. To be honest, I don't have much confidence in us getting a win at Haven.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:03 pm  

I think that it will come down to us and Batley for the final spot. And we will need to win all our remaining games to sneak in.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Wed Aug 30, 2023 3:32 pm  

Still not an impossibility but on form a distinct improbability.
Going up to Keswick for a week and will take in the Haven game where anything could happen.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Thu Aug 31, 2023 2:35 pm  

What would be everyone's team for sunday, we should be close to full strength mine would be.

Woody
Salty
Crooks
Maizen
Walmsley
Louis
Keyes
Fleming
O Brian
Calcott
Kav
Gee
Fairbank

Tangata
Lannon
Ben foster
Ingham

I am not putting all the blame on Sutcliffe for the 3 tries we conceded down our left side, he just didn't seem to carry the ball with much purpose and missed some what i would call soft tackles. And i would like to see if Foster could bring some energy and intent to our pack. Also Tom ingham should be brought in for Moore this would give us some energy and more threat out of acting half.

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Thu Aug 31, 2023 3:54 pm  

In the main would agree.Know nothing about Forster so would try Sutcliffe in forwards as he was apparently great there in France.Need to know now what he brings and whether theres anything more to come from fleming.Pretty tough on Pickers to get castigated for a very difficult dead ball call but id agree with JWH.Maybe try hammering the ball towards the touchline would be a better dropout option that dollying it in the air as with 80% of our general kicking game.We tried one thing different last week and it came off..

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Thu Aug 31, 2023 4:34 pm  

Not sure if maizen is fit has he was walking around with a boot on , on Sunday but certainly think he’s walmsley best centre partner . I understand why sutcliffe was played at centre but it didn’t work so would put him on the bench . I actually think maizen is a winger and would switch salty to centre and play maizen on the wing .

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Thu Aug 31, 2023 6:25 pm  

Miserybusiness wrote:

In the main would agree.Know nothing about Forster so would try Sutcliffe in forwards as he was apparently great there in France.Need to know now what he brings and whether theres anything more to come from fleming.Pretty tough on Pickers to get castigated for a very difficult dead ball call but id agree with JWH.Maybe try hammering the ball towards the touchline would be a better dropout option that dollying it in the air as with 80% of our general kicking game.We tried one thing different last week and it came off..

Spot on!

Re: BATTLE FOR THE PLAYOFFS : Fri Sep 01, 2023 8:00 am  

Miserybusiness wrote:

Maybe try hammering the ball towards the touchline would be a better dropout option that dollying it in the air as with 80% of our general kicking game.We tried one thing different last week and it came off..

NFL style analytics are coming more and more in to our game and we will see a lot more of it at our level over the next couple of years and this is one area where it will stand out. Teams are willing to give up field position from a drop out to try and have a contested restart and knowing that even if they don't get the ball back your goal line is the easiest place to defend on the pitch other than inside the opponents 10m. The question at our level is if there are the skill levels to support it.

Back on topic I reckon a loss to Haven, a win against Toulouse followed by a loss to Keighley. Its now very much win all 4 and we will make the playoffs, win 3 and its very unlikely and then any less and its the worst finish since Marshall left and the 2nd worst finish since after maybe the 2004 season.