It appears to be the only reason they changed the playoff format was because the top 2 were competing in the final year after year.

EVERY year bar 2 (03 and 05) in fact.

Well, la di da if the best 2 teams compete for the big prize, heaven forbid it eh?

So they mock up this new system which basically makes it harder for the top 2 to make it, now needing to win 2 games instead of one and the ridiculous club call rule designed to motivate the semi final oponents.

But it failed because once again saints and leeds will grace old trafford, the best 2 teams in the competition.

The playoffs were really poor this year compared to other years.

At least the best 2 teams in the comp are in the final. Anything else would be criminal.

All the best games have been in the cup this year.

The last two play off games have been excellent and up there with the best of the year for me.

Agreed, that's twice in two days, I must be mellowing.







Maybe I need to go on Red Vee for reality check.

shows that top 4 is the best way, however, dragons or wigan wouldnt have been in the semi with a top 4..............

I still think that the top 5 was the best system.

I personally think they should expand the club call idea. Top team chooses 7 other teams for the playoffs.

I still think that the top 1 is the best system..

No. They changed it because the league was expanding in size, there was no relegation and they wanted to give the lower teams something to play for.

The play off's were killed by the silly format this year.

It was reflected in the attendences and in the popular opinion of most players it would seem.

Daft gimmicks rarely work and it would be a good idea to revert back to the top 6 format we had last year.

Completely agree and in the end the best 2 teams made the final and all they've done is extend the "end of season" bit.

I think we might beat a couple of teams at once but seven teams in one match is pushing it Saddened.

Now there's a novel idea. How about we let the team who finishes top win super league. Does anyone think that might work??? For me you can stick ya play offs up yer a**s!

I hope it goes back to the origional play of system.
not a fan of this one.

Me too - after seeing the Oz version were 4th played 8th and the potential for that happening here nearly happening, it's changed m views on the whole play off system. Perhaps top should mean that and then a separate end of season competition like in the days of the Premiership

What about the side finishing top picking all the play-off games?

Someone mentioned a few weeks on GMR ago a top 7 instead of a top eight.

First week 1st gets bye

2nd V 7th
3rd v 6th
4th v 5th

winners to week 2

week 2

Clubcall 1st chooses from 2 lowest ranked teams.
highest ranked team left in plays at home against team not chosen

week 3 final

This means all games are eliminators, you need a top half finish to qualify and shaves a week off the season.

must admit i thought it was a rubbish/stupid idea but when it came to it i think it created a good talking point and a bit of excitement which changed my mind about it a bit. i say keep it how it is. i agree tho that some of the play off games were boring but u cant say that about the semis.

Totally agree, I'm a Wigan fan but i think the Saints team that had 4 consecutive top of the league finishes in 05, 06, 07, 08 was one of the greatest rugby teams i have ever seen, to only have 1 championship in that period is almost criminal.

Scrap it I say. First means First. Then we enter the premiership. Another triphy to go for.

OR go back to the Top 5 at the most. The friggin league isnt good enough for a top 8 for gawds sake, you can shove the top 8 up yer daft wrinkly bums the RFL.

Top 5 or top 8 we would still have been left with the 1st and 2nd playing each other.
How about the top 2 playing each other over 2 or 3 games at the end of the season.
Now that could be tasty.

I agree, They could have just had a 7 team playoff system that had 4 vs 7 and 5 vs 6 then played the rest out like the top 5.

Completely agree. The team that finish top are Superleague Champions. Then have a playoff of the top 6 for the Premiership Champions. A lot more needs to be made of the league winners. You get a hubcap trophy that no one cares about, and is riduculed. You have been consistantly the best team in 27 rounds of RL and it means nothing!! Its a joke.

just to throw a spanner in the works if in the unlikely event saints or leeds finished 7th next season and the rfl reverted back to the top 6 what would be your views on the format then?

We obviously weren't good enough to make it and would have to suck eggs like every team below 8th place have this season.

I don't think you'd get many Saints fans, at least from those posting here, complaining, as I reckon many believe we haven't played well enough this season to warrant our current grand final place. Or at least that seems to be the impression given off by the complaining we've done throughout the year lol.