Realistically we was never going to win a game in these middles 8's . We have done incredibly well just to get into top 4 at the expense of Leigh and Fev. We are at least been competitive and not been put to the sword thus far. Would have QLT back because from what I have seen Moss cannot break the line from kick returns, which reliefs pressure. We look a bit light in the HB and rely too much on jonno and Murrell. Fulltime might not be the answer (ask Sheffield).
Marshall is no fool and knows our limitations so we are in good hands with him in charge.

Spot on.

Marshall may know our limitations but its going to be pretty much a carbon copy of last season where we struggle to score points compared to the teams around us. He has to be backed with investment so he can go out and try and fix those problems. I think if he isn't then he will probably go elsewhere as he can't wait forever to try and take us to the next level.

But..if we aren't in a financially good position after making the top four in 3 out of 4 of the last season's where has the money gone? Just on running costs?

I expect this years windfall to be available for sensible team strengthening next season,which hasn't been the case previously.

That's what I am hoping for and how I see it, survival and consolidation over the last couple of years and maybe now a chance to take a responsible step forward especially if the likes of LS28 are still contributing.

One up one down is being heavily touted for 2019, if that happens a danger is that if 3 or 4 clubs go all in for that promotion spot those that miss out and overspend then boom and bust is back.

Same applies for the lower SL clubs who face relegation if 2 or 3 of them are in danger, 1 could overspend and fail to avoid the the drop and others could overspend even though they don't go down.

If one up one down does return, then the season may be over by May, (bit like this one,T W had it settled by then) then what is there to look forward to?

My thoughts: Top one up automatically, second v third play off to see who plays second bottom S/L , winner into S/L , still gives teams a fighting chance and all to play for.

possible moot point, teams in the middle pack will have dead rubber games, not good for crowd pulling.

While on subject of money for players i urge anyone to watch the rugby codebreakers documentary available on catch up bbc i player.An excellent view and we are featured including a clip with our club historian.We spent more on players in 1963 than we do now incredibly....

there will always be dead rubber games, the issue is how to cut down on them. I felt you get financially rewarded for where you finish in the league then you remove dead rubbers as you are potentially going to be playing to move up the table in some form (or down as well).

We must have some form of promotion and the one you suggested is probably as good as any, one up one down is notn. Clubs don’t like the jeopardy of P&R unless you are in the lower league, then you don’t like it if you go up. It’s accepted in football that you might get relegated and so it should be in rugby league.

Correct. Top goes up, bottom goes down. 2nd plays 2nd bottom of SL at home, rewarding success, winner to SL. Funding increases for where you finish in't table. Or is that too simple?

It's very simple and how it should be,so it won't happen...

Unhygienic make it simple when you can completely screw it up time after time. Most sports now want focal point games like playoff finals, i’m amazed how most sports managed before these changes to the American way.

Depends. Clubs getting ten times the funding of other clubs hasn't done much for Division Two, has it ?

A modest reward for success, yes. Drowning them in cash, no.

Remind me when these play-off thingies started in Rugby League*.

1906, was it ?



*When I say Rugby League, I mean Northern Union, obviously.

Was it? I bow to your greater knowledge on this though we certainly dropped them and had the end of season Premiership comp with the top 8 as a stand-alone competition.

Fax finished top in 1906-07, and then went on to beat Keighley in the playoff semi-final and Oldham in the final. The playoffs continued in this fashion until 1961-62.

Somewhat bizarrely, clubs played a differing number of games back then, with the league position being decided by the percentage of games won!

I may be getting on a little and have watched Fax since the early sixties but missed out on that great season of 1906/7. My (failing) memory seems to think the playoffs were devised to find the champions in a league where not all teams played each other. The clubs in Yorkshire played each other and the teams over in the dark side the same. Apart of course from Fax who often were sent by the RFL to travel across the Pennines to make up the numbers and thrash the non believers.

Apart from the number of clubs being too big, back in 1906, there was still a big problem getting there. Players often working Setdy mornings still and travel was generally by train rather than aircon team chara. Different world back then.

Eventually, the league settled on 34 games apiece but they still insisted on playing the same 17 teams twice and the other 12 not at all. And, of course, still a huge bias towards regionalisation until 1962.