It's sad to see the Sky commentary lauding over the fact the weekly rounds don't actually matter (in response to Saints terrible form at present). I've just heard them use phrases like "you only have to be in it to win it", "teams used to think you had to finish first or second but that myth has been disproved" and "perhaps we'll see a team win [the GF from 6 or below."

Sorry, but all those things are negative, in my opinion. We shouldn't have a competition were nobody really cares if you lose in the weekly rounds and where you can be crowned "champions" after being consistently poor. And how bloody short-sighted can you be, broadcasting with glee the fact that the very thing you're commentating on every week doesn't really matter! Idiots!

On a more positive note, well done Bradford!

Eddie's St Helens bias was embarrassing tonight.

Leeds have shown the unimportance of the regular season for many years, dump your season tickets kids the play offs are the only games worth seeing (well not the first few play off games)

No, that cannot be right surely. Everyone knows that Eddie is a Warrington Wolves supporter.

<sarcasm mode - off>

What do you expect from them? All they talk about on commentary is about how this should have been a penalty and how that should have been a penalty.

All they need to do to tip the negativity scales over the edge is to hire Jonathan Davies.

A team who have been involved in finals and plenty of playoff matchs could probley afford to finish lower where as for teams who have least experience could do with advantage of top 4

Last year was the exception not the rule. Since the Grand final started only 3 out of the 18 finalists have been from outside of the top 2 that season and 2 of these were from 3rd place. And of the 2 of the 3 that won it from outside top 2 i'd say both had bad injuries to key players at start of season that disrupted the teams final league ladder position.

Bring back the original top 5 system. Finishing place meant something, while leaving room for an upset.

l agree top 8 promotes mediocraty top 5 was right

All this talk about the regular rounds being unimportant is ridiculous.

Leeds came up with something special last year. Winning from 5th has never been done before last year, but people seem to go on about it like it's the norm and any old team can scrag themselves together for the playoffs and magically blow everyone away.

If leeds had their way last season, they'd have been consistent and finished in the top 2 (like every other season when they won the grand final). Look at the way they've started this season, pretty consistent, and gunning for the top 2 once again.

But, if you think it's that easy, then go right ahead. See what happens when your team tosses it off and finished 5th or 6th. Then has to go away to team from the top 4 in consecutive weeks just to make the grand final.

It ain't no picnic, even if leeds made it look relatively simple last season.

The winner this season, will in all probability, come from the top 2 like it normally does.

Bulls 05 also showed early season is pretty irrelevant if you can sort it out in the last few months

Yep, six maximum. It's ridiculous that a team finishing in the bottom half of the table makes the play offs.

I don't think Saints' form has anything to do with the competition structure. We're just not very good. We've got a poor backline, junior half backs, no front row and a no bench. We're about the 7th or 8th best squad in SL at present, so away games at those around that level are going to be tough.

Saints aren't deliberately starting slow, we're just not very good.

Certainly nobody is suggesting that Saints are deliberately starting their season badly, but it's been suggested by plenty recently that a team need not lament too much over early form or losses in the league as "the competition only starts in September" (or words to that effect). I just think that's a rather harmful and pessimistic way to portray our sport.

Saints' start has been similar to Leeds' last year so I wouldn't panic just yet if I was a Saints fan. However I've been very disapointed with Perry and the rest of the pack for that matter. Hohaia is a jack of all trades type player, I really don't know why Saints signed him.

I'd agree with you if we still had the likes of Graham, Long or Cunningham. But this side isn't in a false position really. Perhaps one or two positions south of where we should be, but there isn't the quality in the side to 'do a Leeds'. With Leeds, you still had the class of McGuire, Sinfield, Burrow, Buderus and the pacey young players.

I disagree. Leeds had a number of issues at the start of last season.

Not just a new coach, but a completly new coaching team as well as injuries to key players. Despie this, they still showed signs of quality in certain games and performances, just they were inconsistent and were televised getting thrashed by some of the other big teams but probably made the casual viewer on here thnk they were worse than they actually were.

Saints have their own issues, and i wouldn't write them off.

I just don't think they bear comparison to leeds last season.

The situation with the regular season fixtures isn't good and needs to be changed urgently.

I'm rapidly losing interest in the Super League competition. Wigan will be in the 8, no question about that. Very difficult to muster enthusiasm for the regular season knowing that - its like 27 glorified friendlies.

Either reduce the number of teams to 5/6 or change the structure so there is a real, significant reward for finishing in the top positions.

only one thing will solve this.....Champions = League winners.......end of.

If Saints don t start to win a few they will have every opportunity to prove Eddie and Stevos hypothisis. Also I would think avoiding going to Perpignan in the playoffs would be a strong motivator to all clubs to make sure they win a maximum amount of regular season games.

It has to be an odd number. Without that the bottom of the play off positions turns into straight quarter finals, which might as well be a lottery. What you want it to be is a "here's what you could have won" moment for both teams with a very outside chance of it turning into something special for a team that's outstanding when the chips are down.

1 bye
A: 2 v 3
B: 4 v 5

C: 1 v A-Winner
D: A-Loser v B-W

E: C-L v D-W

It's the only system that ever made sense.

Wouldn't you have 2 v 5, 3 v 4 so that the higher the league position the better the advantage?

For mine I'd like to see a complete change. How about:

League Leaders v Challenge Cup Winners = Champions

Ok, I don't know what happens when League Leaders and Challenge Cup Winners are one and the same, but...

I've been banging on about this since I joined this flippin forum.
Sky is taking us down a path we shouldn't go.
Comments Eddie made yesterday shows his lack of appreciation for the fans who turn up week after week. To us it does matter who wins the weekly games and who wins the league.
Just stick to telling us who scores the tries Eddie & Stevo, it's our game, not Sky's.

totally agree , plus there needs to be more recognition for finishing top of the league