I think I'm one of the few Cas fans who respects the grand final and think it should be kept.



It's all very well being clear of 2nd place and saying that's that and we should be the rightful winners of the league. But I heard few if any similar protests from fellow Castleford fans in previous seasons when we finished in the playoffs but were way behind the leaders. Likewise, when we failed to win the 2014 shield in the final regular match following the collapse at Catalans, many fans consoled themselves with knowing we had the playoffs to try for the grand final. I'll ask the question in future seasons when we don't finish 1st and see if we still think the winners should be the team who finish top.



The playoff format needs changing to make it more exciting (1st has 2 chances to get to OT, 5th needs to win sudden death matches), but getting rid of one of the showpiece occasions which is regularly attended by 65-75K isn't the answer.



Anyhow, looking forward to tonight and if we finish the season with just the 'hubcap' I'll be disappointed but not gutted - I've seen us humiliated and knocked out of the cup by Barrow, seen us play at Widnes on a Thursday when we took just 37 supporters, seen us relegated twice so this is a hell of a contrast.

Wakefield Trinity have only finished top of the League table once IIRC - in 1944.

Quote ="Tigerade"I'd like someone to show me where Powell has stated the LLS is more important than the GF. He has said it is a great achievement and an historic one but he also said "we will celebrate this" (why wouldn't you ?) and followed that up by saying "we will move on to the next target".'" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/aug/16/castleford-daryl-powell-league-win-bigger-grand-final">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... rand-final

Quote ="Tigerade"I'd like someone to show me where Powell has stated the LLS is more important than the GF. He has said it is a great achievement and an historic one but he also said "we will celebrate this" (why wouldn't you ?) and followed that up by saying "we will move on to the next target".'" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/aug/16/castleford-daryl-powell-league-win-bigger-grand-final">https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/ ... rand-final

Quote ="Willzay"F'ing hell, if I see one more "if every team were targeting it but they're not"... a026.gif" alt="a026.gif" title="Shoot Poster" /> It's another trophy. If it isn't regarded highly, why did everyone bleat on about Leeds doing the treble. Double standards ">here.'" This sums it up for me

Quote ="Willzay"F'ing hell, if I see one more "if every team were targeting it but they're not"... a026.gif" alt="a026.gif" title="Shoot Poster" /> It's another trophy. If it isn't regarded highly, why did everyone bleat on about Leeds doing the treble. Double standards ">here.'" This sums it up for me

Quote ="Willzay"F'ing hell, if I see one more "if every team were targeting it but they're not"... a026.gif" alt="a026.gif" title="Shoot Poster" /> It's another trophy. If it isn't regarded highly, why did everyone bleat on about Leeds doing the treble. Double standards ">here.'" Whilst I agree I don't go for the "other teams weren't targeting" line.....how exactly is it double standards wrt Leeds winning the treble? Someone wins the LLS every year, when the 2018 season kicks off half of the teams involved will have won it in the last 6 years. A treble hadn't been done for a decade and might be that long or longer before it happens again. They are hardly comparable achievements, it'd be like saying Cas winning the LLS only is the same as if Cas win the LLS AND the GF, one scenario will be a greater achievement than the other.

Quote ="Willzay"F'ing hell, if I see one more "if every team were targeting it but they're not"... a026.gif" alt="a026.gif" title="Shoot Poster" /> It's another trophy. If it isn't regarded highly, why did everyone bleat on about Leeds doing the treble. Double standards ">here.'" Whilst I agree I don't go for the "other teams weren't targeting" line.....how exactly is it double standards wrt Leeds winning the treble? Someone wins the LLS every year, when the 2018 season kicks off half of the teams involved will have won it in the last 6 years. A treble hadn't been done for a decade and might be that long or longer before it happens again. They are hardly comparable achievements, it'd be like saying Cas winning the LLS only is the same as if Cas win the LLS AND the GF, one scenario will be a greater achievement than the other.

Quote ="PrinterThe"Whilst I agree I don't go for the "other teams weren't targeting" line.....how exactly is it double standards wrt Leeds winning the treble? Someone wins the LLS every year, when the 2018 season kicks off half of the teams involved will have won it in the last 6 years. A treble hadn't been done for a decade and might be that long or longer before it happens again. They are hardly comparable achievements, it'd be like saying Cas winning the LLS only is the same as if Cas win the LLS AND the GF, one scenario will be a greater achievement than the ">other.'" Its not that other teams are not targeting it as every team wants to win every game, but if you were crowned champions from being league leaders the entire way teams approached the season would change, the early rounds would be ultra defensive as teams would be doing anything to scrap for points, squads would be more focused on depth and there would be even less superstar players in the SL etc. IMO the LLS is not the achievement the RFL wants it to be (especially as we dont play everyone home and away once). For some reason SL seems to be the only league in the world that has a playoff system but still wants to make a big deal about the league leaders as well. BTW Im not trying to slight Cas here as (unlike some league leaders before them) they have clearly been the best team this year so far

Quote ="PrinterThe"Whilst I agree I don't go for the "other teams weren't targeting" line.....how exactly is it double standards wrt Leeds winning the treble? Someone wins the LLS every year, when the 2018 season kicks off half of the teams involved will have won it in the last 6 years. A treble hadn't been done for a decade and might be that long or longer before it happens again. They are hardly comparable achievements, it'd be like saying Cas winning the LLS only is the same as if Cas win the LLS AND the GF, one scenario will be a greater achievement than the ">other.'" Its not that other teams are not targeting it as every team wants to win every game, but if you were crowned champions from being league leaders the entire way teams approached the season would change, the early rounds would be ultra defensive as teams would be doing anything to scrap for points, squads would be more focused on depth and there would be even less superstar players in the SL etc. IMO the LLS is not the achievement the RFL wants it to be (especially as we dont play everyone home and away once). For some reason SL seems to be the only league in the world that has a playoff system but still wants to make a big deal about the league leaders as well. BTW Im not trying to slight Cas here as (unlike some league leaders before them) they have clearly been the best team this year so far