I would have thought that the clubs chairman of the highest finishing side will have a say in who his club chooses to play in the semi-final eliminator
Imagine if Saints finished top and "chose" to play the Rhinos at home and subsequently lost.
how much financially would that cost the club in lost revenue?

Imagine they played anyone at home and lost.

It is the gamble of knock out sport...

Would it be better to just get to the final by playing a side that you realisticly thought you could beat, rather than playing a side that you'r not too sure of beating in the GF?
Hetherington reckons that the Rhinos can make well over £250,000, in merchandise sales alone in the run up to a major final,now that is seious money

Thing is, though, we've twice beaten the Whinos in the semi (or whatever that match is called just before the Grand Final!) and then gone on to lose against them at the final. If we pulled a home tie and could choose them for that match again, we'd knock them out this time, which would be fab. We wouldn't have the monkey on our back any longer and could turn up to the Grand Final with new opposition.

That's if we get there, obviously! Our inconsistency this season means I'll be just holding my breath with each round.

The thing is when we have played knock out games in the play offs we beaten you in 05,07 and 08!! The game at your place would be different from 07 and 08 as in the last game there are no second chances! Which makes it just as tense as a gf which even at your place is advantage Leeds!! I think the chosing a team is a poisoned chalice!! Whoever you choose, that team will use it to wind themselves up big time!!

Huh? We didn't need one. Leeds did. We got through first shot. So if we follow on from that pattern this time, Leeds would be out! HA!!! Fab.

cos thats how the game works,

why on earth any team would pick their biggest threat in the semifinal i dont know,

regardless of winning or losing, this would be the two best teams going hell for leather in a knock out game, at the end of the season, it will take a hell of a lot out of both sides leaving the winner probably at their weakest in the biggest game of the season

none of the other 6 teams in the comp come close to leeds and saints, it would be stupid to pick those

Soooooooo????? when there were no second chances in 05, 07 and 08 you lost!! Ha Har advantage Leeds!! Looking foward to you finishing top!! You have one mighty angry team coming your way!! Whoever you choose?? Good luck with that

Huh? Are you talking about the Grand Final in 2007 and 2008? Because we beat Leeds in the semi, but not in the final. If I've understood you right, you're saying that the only reason we beat Leeds in the semis in 07 and 08 is because we had a second chance? I think not. We didn't get a second chance in the CC semi last year, nor did we get a second chance in the first Superleague round of the CC this year, but we beat Leeds both times. We don't need a second chance option to beat Leeds. We like to do it anyway, just not at the Grand Final. So the best option is to get shot of Leeds, who we seem incapable of beating in the Grand Final, at the semi final level. That way we will be in with a better chance of winning the Grand Final with whoever is left as our opponents.

this is pure comedy gold!! LMFAO

quality!! I love this part of the season!!

Out of the others.
Wigan have beat Saints and Leeds.
Wakefield have beat Saints
Hull K.R. have beaten Saints

Huddersfield are a good side.
Catalan have favourable fixtures and will come strong.

I thought the highest ranked team after week 1( if Saints finish top and win in week 1 then thats you) could only choose from the 2 winners in week 2 of the play offs. Thereby if Leeds finish 2nd and win in week 1, that would not include them?

Thats how I undersand it but quite a few haven't twigged yet!! I'm just Waiting for the offical press release instead of waisting time arguing about it!!

Have to agree with McManus that this really is a gimmick too far. The play off's from now on will be nothing more than a glorified cup competition and I really don't see too much advantage of finishing top.

It's a stupid idea.

I for one hope that Wigan are still in there and the "top team" pick us.

What an incentive that would be for us.

If we are in that position, i wouldn't bet against us picking wigan, financially its the best option as we would be guarenteed 15k+ on the gate.

If Saints finsih top, I fully expect we will pcik the lowest ranked team which would reflect how miffed Mcmanus is with the concept.

I certainly would not expect us to do anything controversial with the pick, just plain old common sense and a lot of 'the system is far from idela, and we reluctantly have chosen the lowest ranked team but they wiull be accorded full respect' type statements from Potter and McManus.

The gate receipts in the playoffs all get pooled together nbd the prize money is then allocated on "finishing places"

Last season for instance Wigan got through to the elimination semi-final v Leeds and lost so for prize money purposes were deemed to have finished third in the competition.

Thats a bit pants, i know we would have had share it with you, but into a pool? I now hope quins dont make the playoff!

Because we would have a much better chance of beating you on home soil. If we have to beat you at some point, surely it makes sense to play you where we feel more comfortable about our chances.

I said I wasnt gonna get into this but!!!!! If we finish first or second we can't pick each other in the final week

i've heard this but i've not seen it anywhere, have you got a link to the relevant bit?

lets just see what the rfl have to say they will make it all clear in good time!!

and all are still a few games back from leeds and saints,

wigan beat leeds last season, and the season before, but in both play off semis were comfortably beaten,

the big games see big performances from the big players, leeds and saints are the biggest and best sides by a fair bit, barring an injury crisis at saints or Leeds it would be a suprise to see anyone but those two in the final

Didn't I read somewhere that EM is going to put the names of the teams in a hat and draw it that way if you finish top rather than 'choosing' someone?