I was thinking about the various Playoff scenarios, but am not 100% sure of the method for the 3rd round.

Let's assume the top 4 is:

1. Wigan
2. Wire
3. Saints
4. Leeds

First round, I know we would play Wire at the HJ, and Leeds would play Wigan at the DW .... or Widnes

If Saints and Leeds win those games (quite possible), and then Wire and Wigan beat their opposition from the 2nd round, Am I right in assuming that:

a. We would get the "Team Pick" as the highest placed qualifier from the first round
b. We couldn't pick Leeds, as they qualified from the first round too - so we could choose either Wire or Wigan
c. The 2 teams who qualified from Round 1 get the home advantage

If that's right, then we could potentially play Wigan in the last ever game at Knowsley Road.

I've heard this mentioned before and it seems to be everyone's dream scenario.

Unfortunately the reality is more likely that on current form we'll lose at HJ then get a home tie to either Hudds or Hull K R then lose that one as well.

Chr1st your optimistic about our chances.

If you win your game and Warrington and Wigan lose then you will get coaches call if i am correct

dont give up on 2nd though as your right back in the mix if you win this and next week

Its being so cherfull that keeps you going then eh!

God!!!!!!!...You don8t think you will be going to OT this October then?

I was just trying to temper the OP's optimism



I'd love it if his "dream" came true, we know that on their day Saints can beat anyone but we're also capable of losing to anyone

If we beat Wire and Leeds beat Wigan, and then Wigan and Wire go on to win their next match to leave the semi's featuring the aforementioned sides - I would have thought Wigan would get the club call, because despite losing the opening playoff match, they are still the remaining side to have finished highest in the league table.

Thats exactly what I thought!!!

Interesting point,

If they lose their home game do they then lose the right to choose???

Nope!

No

If the scenario was as stated that Wigan and Wire lost their opening fixtures against Leeds and Wire then Saints would have the club pick, and would have to pick Wigan or Wire (assuming those two won their second round games).

The games would be played at Saints and Leeds.

I still believe that the top 5 system was the bast of the play off systems, in that it really rewarded a team for finishing top. I'm not sure the current top 8 system does that.

Yes & Home Advantage

But then that negates the importance of the weekly rounds even more so - the team finishing 3rd would than have more of an advantage than the team finishing 1st?

Makes no sense.

It absolutely doesn't I felt that last year when we ended up in second there was no real penalty, 1st and 2nd are rewarded pretty much the same, home games and second chances - the only difference is the highest team gets to pick in week 3 and unless it is a really poor play off year there isn't going to be a great deal of difference between the teams on offer.

Even 3rd and 4th get second chances and then home ties, 8 out of 14 is far too many but by creating that extra week of fixtures its not likely to go away any time soon.

Well not really as the team finishing 1st will have lost in week one and given up the advantage that had been gained

Still, they should be rewarded with it for being the best over 27 rounds, not one game. A one-off can go either way.

"Highest rank week 1 Qualifier WINNER" gets to choose.

Still my personal preference to have the league leaders be champions and have a separate lesser trophy on offer two weeks later played for between the winners of the two major trophies, or where those trophies are won by the same team, the top two teams in the league.

That way the team that finishes top is rewarded for its consistency over the season and a) it gives more time for the international squad/s to get together and prepare, and b) it gives the players a bit more recovery time in the off-season.

The most intense games of esch year tend to be local derbies or play off games, with the lack of a SOO style competition we need these games so our players are battle hardened when it comes to internationals. Too many games in the league allow players to switch off for 20 mins, do that in the play offs and you can be out.

Eight out of 14 is probably too many, but seven wouldn't work (I'm of the opinion that the five team system was the best) and with the scrapping of relegation (a good thing given the amount of youth starting to be used by the teams in the lower end of the table) means that lower ranked teams have something to play for. The only problem with the eight is that there is no difference between first and second, if a poor team gets into the eight, they will be knocked out the first week.