Yet the "top 8" system in the SL STILL rewards teams with play off games even though the 7th and 8th placed teams will lose more games than they win!
Also the National team coaches ,players etc have been screaming out for reduced number of fixtures yet after 22 rds there's a minimum of 7 more games then the semi's and GF no?
Also as AG pointed out the bottom 4 SL teams have a completely different SC and overseas quota how does that make it a fair play off between the middle 8?

You were right the first time. It's a stupid circus of a decision.

I have no problem with top 8 play offs if that is what they want. But the fixtures should be home and away in a 12 team league, simple as that.

Carrying over points playing each other again in an 8 and it not being a fair system regarding home and away makes a mockery of it.

I like the championship side of it, but I watch super league.

No it doesn't.

It's a Top 4 play-off system.

So that's 5th place well and truly screwed!

No I don't understand it.It took me all the time to keep up with changes to the playoff system.I need to see it in practice.Has there been any feedback from the so called rebels?

Ban Gary Hetherington and his good looking wife from having anything to do with RL

If I've understood it correctly though, with the new system it should, in theory, be even harder to win from lower down the 8 as the points carrying over system is like they've used in previous cricket world cups meaning the 'new' competition to determine the grand final teams heavily favours teams that have qualified higher up the table and/or at least got great records against the other 7 in the 'regular' part of the season.

Therefore a team winning only 1 or 2 games against the other 7 in the 'regular' part of the season could possibly have to win 6/7 of the games in the 'final round robin' part of the season and hope 1/2 teams in the top 4 after the 'regular' season lose most of theirs to then leapfrog them into the new top 4 after the final round robin stage to get into the semis and then beat one of the 'new' top 2 again to get into the GF

So IF we win it from 7th surely even the Wigan fans couldn't grumble this time

Its bonkers in my view - if you want more intensity simple reduce the SL to 10 teams with the same monies, they play each other three times. Scrap the joke that is the Etihad weekend. Have a top three play off i.e. top side goes straight to the GF, sides finishing 2+3 play off winners to GF. That should ensure no team can coast and the quality of the regular season should improve. The monies that would have gone to the four other SL teams spread evenly over a second tier of 10 teams. Give SKY the rights to cover the second tier.

The problem with this proposal is the teams finishing 7+8 will most likely have no mathematical chance of making the 4 so what is their incentive once the split has occurred? The lack of funding to the non-SL clubs makes it impossible for them to compete once the split occurs - you will end up with the same 12 clubs in SL, the only movement will be fiscal - i.e. clubs going bust being replaced by the next candidate for financial obliteration.

As a season ticket holder - which the financial model of every club is significantly underpinned, I read GH's annual pleading last week - what are you buying? Are you buying 4 fixtures, 3 fixtures and against whom? Should you be expected to pay top dollar for fixtures against side in a lower division?

On international rugby - the world cup was superb, if you go back to GB then you are effectively taking three teams out of an already limited team line up. Perhaps to could have GB for overseas trips not unlike RU - let's face it they know a bit more about developing the international game than we do.

I would be more interested in an extended WCC - although I am unsure how that would work. It will interesting to see how Wigan get on this time.

They simply couldn't make it up - this sport is run by amateurs always has been and will continue to dwindle away until it gets the correct calibre of individual at the top who has vision, the strength of character and ability to put it in to practise.

Couldn't agree more.

Out of interest, how many times has a team outside the top four with 7 games left, actually finished in that top four at the end?

Strange enough I asked GH that very question to his face at a Wigan v Leeds academy game last year. He wouldn't (or couldn't) answer.

Season tickets should be sold as 14 tickets (11 from the "regular" season and 3 after the split). You might get one bonus game free on top of that depending on your regular season finish. Not that complicated if approached that way.

If you can't get your head around these proposals then you probably shouldn't be allowed out on your own.

The new system addresses various Rugby League specific problems. They aren't problems which generally affect Leeds and Wigan but the wider game has been suffering without a clearer pathway for smaller clubs to progress, or at least dream of progressing. So why not put in place a system whilst also trying to smooth the process rather than just dumping them in the top flight and watching them sink or swim. Like it or not, SL can't just follow the policy of casting adrift the smaller teams.

Given how much, Pie Eaters especially, have been moaning in the past 16 months about meaningless games, a switch which makes many more games much more meaningful is good news. I think it will be exciting and successful.

How does this address the problems in RL? the two biggest of which are:
1. Lack of participation
2. Lack of finance in the game.

It's not supposed to. Improving the competition structure isn't supposed to be the solution to all of RL's challenges. Participation levels will not vary significantly according to the structure being used by the professional teams.

Whilst a free game might seem like a bonus to you, I'm sure it doesn't seem like a bonus to clubs

The bonus for the clubs is they get 14 (or 15) home games instead of the current 13.

It's not as if the clubs hosting an extra game are going to lose money doing so, even if season tickets effectively get in free for that. There are enough away fans/walk-ups/bar & merchandise sales to more than cover overheads.

There are plenty of problems with the restructure, but the 14/15 game season ticket issue isn't one of them

Emperor [delPalpatine[/del Hetherington always gets his way, Karth Vader had the deciding vote.

Given it'll be a Top 4 play-off format (1 v 4, 2 v 3), I'd be astonished if anyone won it from 7th.

Or even 5th!

That's just one way you get to [deljames[/del rule.

Buying a season ticket, Mr Eve?

Wouldn't it make sense if the 7 games were tied in with magic weekend? Either by having the magic weekend in the last 7 games, or by the team which is at 'home' in the magic weekend getting the Extra home game in the 8s section

Nope, because I'm a fan of the game rather than a one-club supporter.

Anyhow, the last time I checked, Super League in 2014 remained a 14 team, top 8 play-off farce, therefore there's still one more season of meaningless regular season SL fixtures which do not interest me in the slightest.

I meant for 2015 but fair comment.

You know what I was saying....7th after the 'regular qualifying' season to then make the top 4 shoot out for Old Trafford

So exactly which challenges does it solve?

I would say that it:
makes the season more competitive - more games that mean something.
Gives us a decent play-off series
Provides a means to have P&R
Spreads more money to the lower leagues
Gives teams in the lower leagues something to aim at