For his support of the cap and an even competition.

Wilkin has had a whinge on BBC bout playoffs

wilkin is a tool

Great column.

A refreshing change to read. You can tell he cares about the game and has strong, logical, opinions.

Makes a change from the Phil Clarkes, Schoies, Robbie Pauls etc of this game.

He was only praising the top 8 system. Never said anything about "club call"

That time of the month again...for his interview

Did he mention if he'd got over his hatred of camera's yet?

only when it shows him getting "punched" aka slapped by Senior....

It will only 'reward' them when / if they win a Grand Final ... Where did Dewsbury finish in the 'league' in '73 when they beat Leeds in the Championship Final at Odslum ?

I Just asked Jamie how it works he said you mix 4 heaped tea spoons with 50ml boiling water, mix till all the lumps have gone then pour over your yorkshire puds and enjoy.

In 1972/73 Leeds finished 3rd with Dewsbury finishing 8th.

Les Catalans (from 8th) will be lucky to see next week let alone a Grand Final.

Taking this season as a form guide and going with home advantage through the play off's for simplicity:

15-Mar-09..... SL 14-05..... Wakefield 30 Les Catalans 10

Just suppose Les Catalans win, that would send them to Hull KR next:

26-Apr-09..... SL 14-11..... Hull KR 44 Les Catalans 10

And just suppose Les Catalans win again that would send them to Headingley:

27-Mar-09..... SL 14-07..... Leeds 42 Catalans 14

I suppose. I'm not sure historical precedent alone is enough to make it a great idea though. I'm not really sure that having more than half the teams in the play-offs is a wonderful idea though. It's actually stastistically more likely that you'll qualify than not. Doesn't add up for me. Granted the 8th placed team won't win, because they're not that good, but that in itself is surely enough to question the point of them qualifying?

But to extend that criteria to it's logical conclusion in past seasons (under past formats) a top two playoff was all that was really needed bar 2005.

Did he think that up all by himself?

I'm no great fan of following things to their "logical conclusion" really. Lots of things which work perfectly well in practice fail if taken as far as said "logical conclusion" which often isn't really that logical. A top 5 or 6 play-off wasn't so bad as it didn't tip that balance over half the competition getting a shot at the championship. In practice, there's no reason to expect that the 2 best teams over the course of the season won't be the 2 that are most likely to win the final, it's a question of who you feel have earned the right to the opportunity. Clearly that's a subjective decision, and the powers that be are as entitled to their view as I am, and more entitled to act on it. It's my personal view that 8 out of 14 is too many.

All that matters is will there be an audience willing to pay or tune in to watch the number of games put in front of them. Game one and two don't really have that much riding on them which I think is a weakness of the new system. Whenever it's not sudden death I find it less attractive.

If a top four team doesn't come through to win the Championship this year then there is something wrong with the top four teams not with the format.

Under past systems it was the top two now we'll have to wait and see how this one plays out.

Mine too. However, there are also financial considerations.

It is also worth noting that our Scouse friends only completed the top-of-the-league + winning the Championship Final on a mere two occasions, whilst the other 4 pre-SL league titles were acheived from league position of other than first ...

i've been told bluey will flip a coin if leeds have to "choose".

Yeh, right! Source?

I heard it's live on tele

On TV eh... someone told me he would do it live on the BBC world service broadcast at 4.00am GMT!

ryan hall!!!!! that ok for ya????

Just so long as the result of the coin flip agrees with his carefully considered option.