Hello, I am looking into writing a book about the idea of play-offs deciding the Champions in sport. I was wondering what the opinions are of fellow Rugby League fans on the play-offs. Do you think play-offs are the best way to decide the champions or do you prefer whoever finishes top being champions? And what do you think of the current format?
Personally I think play-offs are a great concept, sport is about peaking on the big occasion and beating your biggest rivals head to head when it matters.

I like the idea of playoffs and having a big finale to the season but...

8 teams in the playoffs is too many. You're essentially rewarding a team for being not very good for most of the seasons by giving them a pop at the big prize, not matter how difficult it would actually be to win from 8th... I think it should be limited to the best few teams rather than teams who have lost more than they have won and have a points difference of nearly -200.

This sort of format isn't new to RL... all that has happened is that the 'playoff' have replaced the 'premiership' and greater significance has been placed on it. Where as previously the league was the main priority with the premiership essentially being an end of season cup competition, it is now the main focus of the season with the league being more about trying to qualify for the playoffs. In fact, looking into this (I wanted to check a few facts before posting) it looks like historically the league was always decided by playoffs until the early 70's.

Swings and roundabouts... I don't think this format rewards a team enough for being consistantly good throughout the season and can punish them if they have a few injuries late in the season... but if a top team has had injuries early in the season it still gives them something to play for and the chance to storm to a GF victory beating all challengers...

Yes, I think the play-offs are a great way to finish the season. I do believe it should be brought back down to the top six, for many reasons already stated above.

Agreed.

The playoffs are a great idea, but I would definitely like to see them tweaked so that the advantage of finishing higher is much more than it is now. At least the top 2 should have a distinct advantage IMO, whereas at the moment, the top 4 have that in reality.

It definitely needs to go away from top 8, as the idea that a team finishing in the bottom half of the table can be champions is ridiculous. I'd like to see just the top 4 involved, but that might mean a lack of games in the playoffs.

That's the angle I wanted to take too, but like you mention it would mean less games.

I think it should be extended to top 10.

To pose the question whether playoffs are "a bad idea" is as nutty as asking whether sunrise is "a bad idea". There is about as much chance of there not being play-offs as of the sun not coming up.

Because a playoff system has been in place pretty much forever in RL, everyone is used to it, and it is not simply a league, of whoever finishes top "being champions". The team that finishes top whingeing about this (if they or their fans do) are being purely illogical since the format is agreed by all the clubs, and so if you don't like it - resign!

That being so, all the regular season is (since relegation was suspended) is jockeying for position for the playoffs coupled with aiming to reach your peak at the business end of the season.

I can understand the team finishing top claiming a moral as well as mathematical right to be called champions, if there were no playoffs. But there are. And therefore in our sport the team that we crown as champions is that team which did the following in the best combination:
a) attained a suitably high enough table position in the regular season; by
b) marshaling its troops in such a way that they win enough games and get enough points but
c) peak at play-off time and not too soon (or not at all!!) and
d) then are able to survive and win, no matter what, whatever sudden-death playoff fixtures necessary, to get to the Final; and then
e) handle and emerge victorious from the white-hot pressure and stress of the GF at a packed Old Trafford.

A team that finishes top but then gets knocked out has achieved only (a). They couldn't hack b,c,d or e. And they do get a hub cap for their trouble anyway.

Totally agreed with that one, i rather it went back to six teams too

Would it be a good thing if a team won from eighth? Or would it make a mockery of the whole league?

The team at the top should be champions

How about the challange cup is played at the end of the season, so there is still interest

the same format as the playoffs where the team top get a bye etc so clubs lower down are playing for something still

or maybe not

there's nothing wrong with how it is imo. it's so massively weighted in the top 2's favour that any final without them in is generally a surprise. I don't think the CC provides the same entertainment.

I would say it's massively weighted in the top 4's favour. The only advantage 1st and 2nd have over 3rd and 4th is a home tie in the first match. All 4 have a "second chance" at home if they lose their first game.

i forgot the top 2 don't play to make the final.

Surely any discussion on the merits of the play offs is of little interest to your average Bull's supporter?

Unless of course, you are following the fortunes of Yorkshire's Premiere Team, and the winners of the last 3 Grand Finals?



A mediocre season can get you into 8th spot, so for me a top 4 play off would represent a better acknowledgment of a teams efforts throughout the season.

Where were you when you were ?

Kindly funded by The Bradford Bulls Iestyn Harris Foundation.

I can't wait for the "recession" to end!

Are you still shelling out for that piece of duplicitous and underhand action? GH must really have kicked ass



So I'll thank you in advance for funding the new South Stand being built next year. You must come and visit.......

I personally like the playoffs it's a great way to end the season.