I agree that week 1 makes no sense, and invariably ends in repeats in the same games in week 3. Other than a week off and home advantage, winning in week 1 gives no benefit.

I quite like that cut-to-the-chase format. I think we'd have seen the same Semi Final line-up had that system been used this season because there's only 4 genuine competitors in SL.

[uWeek 1[/u
(2) [uWarrington[/u V Huddersfield (7)
(3) [uSaints[/u V Hull (6)
(4) Catalan V [uLeeds[/u (5)

[uWeek 2[/u
(1) Wigan V Leeds (5)
(2) Warrington V Saints (3)

Still doesn't solve the dilemma of a team like Leeds coasting it during the regular season, finishing 5th, and only having to turn up for 2 tough games to win the title. I'd prefer the route to be tougher for a team finishing as low as 5th to win the title - where they'd have to turn up for 3 tough games and beat all the genuine competition away from home in successive weeks. Therefore the Top 5 system still gets my vote.

5 team format as it originally was. League leaders deserve a 2nd chance at any stage. League leaders also deserve to only have to play 1 game to qualify.

An away trip to a team finishing above you should always be considered a tough game, even if it doesn't fit into your neat little classification. Its just that the last 2 seasons 4th has been occupied by teams who haven't lasted the pace.

The 5 team play-offs were the best though, but we won't see them again unfortunately

I approach masturbation a lot like Leeds do the super league season

We all know what the real prize is and the end result is all that matters, start slow don't rush and save your best for the business end, if people want to pay to watch that's fine.

Whereas I approach it a lot like Huddersfield.

Start very fast, promise a lot, but it's all over very quickly.

Not many people willing to pay to watch, unless I offer knock down prices.

I'm a bit more like Crusaders, it's all very excting to start of with, with a smile on my face, but ultimately I'm doomed to failure, and everything ending in a damp squib !!!

I'm more like Wigan. I did it a lot more often in the 1980s.

You're more like Saints I hear, you do it in a shell suit and Argyle socks.



[size=85This is a better direction for the thread than those boring fekkers re-hashing for the fiftieth time the tired old discussions about playoff formats.

[/size

W*nker.

I suppose I'm like Wakefield then. I need a bit of assistance to get where it matters, but ultimately I don't last that much longer.

Great innit?

How would I know? I wasn't watching.

There's a subscriber to my web feed that user the name El Diablo. though it was you. My bad.

This is a clear breach of my, err, that person's, confidentiality. You promised me, erm, I mean, you promised that person, who I don't know or anything, anonymity.

Saints are like a guy with no feeling in his penis.

They can always go the whole way, and give pleasure to others, but never get that feeling of satisfaction for themselves

My girlfriend is like Hull, very physical and smells of fish

My mistress likes men from cas. She is quite loose down below and the extra fingers help.

My missus is like Bradford. Spends too much money and doesn't even go down.

There is also the St Helens way and I'm sure there are some appropriate wittysism's on them

So,if we lose to Wigan on friday is the general feeling that Mac will keep his job?

Just asking as heard a few murmers that should we bomb out early in the play offs GH would pull the trigger so would 5th place and falling at the semi final stage be enough to keep him safe?

For the record im happy to see Mac continue.Would just like to see a bit more during the regular season as we all do.

I'd be happy enough to give him another season, particularly given the transition we're in at the moment. I think defensive structures need a lot of work and that's where I'd like to see most improvement next season.

It's hard to know what happens behind the scenes but form in knock-out rugby suggests (to me, and this is pure internetty speculation) the motivational and leadership side is not a problem, he can develop as a coach. If we were to bring somebody else in I'd want to be very sure they were going to be a big improvement.

Off the top of my head, CC record under the current coach is played 10, won 8 lost 2.

Play-off record under the current coach is played 6 won 6 at time of going to press.

We need to get better, but I have no objection to the current coach being given the opportunity to do that.

Celtic, London, Hull, Castleford
=#FF0000Wigan
Wakefield, Salford, Leigh, =#0000BFWigan
=#FF0000Warrington

Not sure how much credit McDermott should be offered in this regard after the dubious quality of most of the opposition faced. Of the eight wins only Wigan this year came as a surprise albeit a very pleasant one.



He has a very impressive group of players under his control .... that is when they choose to be.

Same coach different group of players another 100% record having never taken London to the Play-Offs.



If the alternative was appointing a James Lowes or a Francis Cummins then I'd also stick with a Brian McDermott.

Cant argue with any of that and i feel the same way.Whatever we think about his ability as a coach,his record is in the comps. is up there with the best.