Talk Sport World Sports journalism and enthusiastic debate

Super League – Nearly Play-off Time! by Daniel_Winters

With one week to go in the regular Super League season, it’s all about the last round, and the scramble for the all-important top eight spots. Here’s the team by team run down:

Leeds: Playing Salford last game, already two points ahead of Saints, and have the goal difference advantage. Top spot all but sown up.

Saints: Have to beat Catalans Dragons by at least 68 points, and require Leeds to lose against Salford. Basically they require a miracle.

Hull KR: With a tough game away to Wakefield in the last week, Hull KR, are one point ahead of Huddersfield in fourth. A top four place assured, but there round one play-off opponents are not.

Huddersfield: To steal third place away from Hull KR on the last day, Huddersfield require to beat Wigan at home, or if Wakefield lose, a draw will suffice. Watch out for these dark horses throughout the play-offs.

Wigan: With Huddersfield away as the last game Wigan may find themselves slipping from their fifth place. If Wigan’s result is equal, or better than Wakefield’s results, they will remain in fifth place.

Wakefield: To climb up a place into fifth, they need to better Wigan’s result with the home game against Hull KR, as Wigan have the point difference. They cannot drop a position though.

Castleford: Topping off a great season, Castleford will be going to the play-offs no matter what. Castleford are in seventh for the moment, but are four points from sixth, and only two points above eighth. Celtic Crusaders will be no push-over, but Castleford look to cement there seventh spot.

Catalans Dragons: Here’s were it get’s interesting. At the moment Catalans are in a perilous eighth position, with three teams looking to steal it from them. To get to the play-offs Catalans require either :

• A win against Saint Helens
• A draw and Bradford not winning
• A loss and Bradford not winning, Warrington not winning by 7 point margin, and Harlequins not winning by a 31 point margin.

Bradford: Keen to salvage something from this season, Bradford need to bring a grand showing to steal the last play-off spot. For Bradford to get into the eighth spot they will need either:

• A draw, Catalan losing, and Warrington not winning by 50 point margin.
• A victory over Hull

Warrington: Congratulates are in order for Warrington for a surprising Challenge Cup win, but to get into the last play-off positing Warrington will need the following to happen:

• A 50 point margin of  Victory over Harlequins and Bradford getting a draw or losing, and Catalans losing
• A 7 point margin of victory over Harlequins, and Catalans and Bradford losing.

Harlequins: With it all to do, Harlequins need the following to happen:

• A 70 point margin of victory over Warrington, and Bradford getting a draw or losing, and Catalans losing
• A 30 point margin of victory over Warrington, and Bradford and Catalans losing.

Hull FC, Salford, and Celtic Crusaders cannot get into the play-offs, no matter how many miracles happen. Celtic and Salford have proved to some that the franchise idea may be a good idea after all, with both teams showing glimmers of brilliance’s in a hard season. Both will look to build on the positives, and look to improve coming into the 2010 season. Hull FC, however, need a serious look at. They need to go back to basics, and spend a lot of time on the practice pitch in the off season. With players coming back, new signings, and the incentive for more home-grown players to come through, Hull FC can bounce back from this disappointing season.