Widnes’ play-off destiny remains in their own hands with four rounds remaining to secure a top six spot in the Championship.
The Vikings have to play three of the teams they are fighting with for a play-off spot – Batley (H), London (A) and Sheffield (H) – which you could argue are all must-win games ahead of the final round trip to league leaders Featherstone.
Featherstone are just one win away from securing top spot in the table, though given that guarantees them a week off after the visit of Widnes anyway, it’s unlikely they’ll take it as easy as Vikings fans might hope.
Toulouse will likely finish second, with Bradford then heading a group of seven teams fighting for the other four berths and the roulette wheel, as seen in the best payout online casinos, of the play-offs.
The Bulls are well-placed, holding a five point advantage over Widnes, who currently sit just outside the play-offs in seventh.
Between them are Sheffield (28pts), London (26pts) and Batley (26pts), while Halifax (23pts) and York (22pts) won’t have given up on making the play-offs either.
Championship run-ins
Bradford (29pts, +120PD): Featherstone (H), York (H), London (A), Sheffield (A) 4
Sheffield (28, +181): London (H), Keighley (H), Widnes (A), Bradford (H) 6
London (26, -6): Sheffield (A), Widnes (H), Bradford (H), Keighley (H) 6
Batley (26, -31): Widnes (A), Whitehaven (H), York (A), Newcastle (H) 4
Widnes (24, +71): Batley (H), London (A), Sheffield (H), Featherstone (A) 4
Halifax (23, +97): Whitehaven (A), Toulouse (H), Keighley (A), Swinton (H) 6
York (22, -28): Swinton (H), Bradford (A), Batley (H), Barrow (A) 6
There are a lot of games between the teams involved, which will mean the race will swing in several directions between now and the end of the season.
Widnes may end up regretting a home defeat to York, which came after a run of four straight wins. A win there would have meant the Vikings sat fifth with four to play, and probably would have removed York from the play-off chase.
As it is, York are still in the picture, and still have their part to play with games against Bradford and Batley.
Batley are on a downward spiral since their 1895 Cup final defeat to Halifax, who themselves have lost two key games against London and Widnes in recent weeks.
With points on the board and a superior points difference in the league table, it seems unlikely that Bradford and Sheffield won’t make the top six.
Sheffield, like London, have the benefit of three home games out of four in the run in.
Predictions
I’m going for Sheffield, London, Halifax and York to all win three of their last four games, and Bradford, Batley and Widnes to win two.
From a Widnes point of view, wins over Batley and Sheffield at home are a must – a win away at London would probably secure a play-off spot. What the Vikings don’t need, is to be going in to the final day needing a result at Featherstone.
Unless Widnes can pick up a win at London or Featherstone, I see them finishing outside of the play-offs.
3rd – Sheffield 34pts
4th – Bradford 33pts
5th – London 32pts
6th – Batley 30pts
7th – Halifax 29pts
8th – Widnes 28pts
9th – York 28pts
Don’t expect Featherstone or Toulouse to have it all their own way in the play-offs either – Bradford, Sheffield and London on their day all look capable of springing an upset.
Who will be relegated from Super League?
Coming the other way from Super League is a lot simpler – it’s straight shoot-out between two clubs.
Castleford have the edge, leading rivals Wakefield by two points following their 28-12 win over their neighbours earlier this month.
Castleford: Warrington (A), Hull (H), Wigan (A), Leeds (A)
Wakefield: St Helens (H), Catalans (H), Leigh (A), Hull KR (H)
It’s hard to look at any of those games and put either Castleford or Wakefield as favourites. Trinity have three home games, which may swing it in their favour.
But at the same time, two of those are against St Helens and Catalans, who are fighting for the critical top two spots in Super League.
If Wakefield can manage one win and Castleford lose all four, it will come down to points difference, and there is currently a 44 point advantage in Castleford’s favour.
You would think Trinity will need to find at least two results to give them any hope of staying up.
If Wakefield do get relegated, it will be the first time Widnes have played them in a league game outside of the top flight since 1998.
