Cheers i HTH too

It's not really very complicated at all.
I think the vast majority of RL fans are probably cabbies/factory workers/some other northern stereotype and arent too intelligent.
I fail to see what's complicated, it's the best system out there on a par with the NRL top 8 system which is better but easier to win it from lower down

This explains the system perfectly well, I dont know how some people can still not understand how it works.
I like it, its better than the old top 6 which had 1st playing 2nd who went straight into the final to play each other again.
I like the idea of teams choosing who they play as well, form teams are not always the highest ranked.

I know the big debate is about week 3 and "oh god how complicated they get a choice!" but what I find odd is that a LOSING team get home advantage in week 2.
I know it's a reward for table ranking, but that rewrd is already factored in by the second chance round for the top 4. I think maybe a neutral venue for week 2 might be an idea - could make it a double header as well.

a double header will bring in heaps of cash

hmm I know but they lose it for week 3, probably the most importand game. Its the reward for finishing in the top 4 when people say the league isnt important.

except the winnersof the 2/3 playoff [i can't[/i pick the winners of the other week 1 game - they only get to choose btween the two winners of the week 2 games. Read the email in the OP and wellsy's post ( esp the bit on bold) again.


I think part of the problem is some people have decided it's complicated and are creating their own problems with understanding it even when it's explained clearly

You can pick who you want to play except them, them, them and errrr them

If anyone out there would like to pick us (the once mighty Fc

) as opponents then feel free to drop an email or phone call to the KC stadium.
We are willing to play anyone, anywhere, at anytime, we're not too fussy these days.

Speaking as a neutral who will be watching from the outside



it should make interesting viewing.

Apparently the Lower Grade Play Offs are using the old top 6 system. Nice of the RFL to clarify that one to us fans as well.

Exactly.

I bet most of these people couldn't work out how the top-6 play-offs worked at first (if at all), yet would still prefer to have that again despite it also being "complicated".

It's a verbally hard to explain system, granted. But that doesn't make it complicated.

I did read it but missed that part

I've no intention of even trying to understand it - much more exciting to not have a clue as to what's going on.

I agree. It's not like the playoff idea is new, they;ve just stuck a couple of extra teams in so it had to shuffled but works for me.
Picking the team is straight after the week 2 game as well.

this is a great poster

Trying to explain the play offs to a few non rugby supporters they were not impressed. One guy said if they applied this to a tennis final, you would have a 5 set final, one competitor winning the first 3 sets then the competion organizer says play off another final set winner takes all.

If all the home teams in the play offs win there 1st round games, the home teams win there 2nd round games. Would Leeds and St Helens have to beat Huddersfield and Hull KR twice, if so isn,t once enough.

It would have been better to have the winners of the games between 1v4 and 2v3 play each other in week three, with the winner going to the GF and the loser playing against the winner of the other week three game (between the week two winners) in week four.

That way all of the top 4 are guaranteed a second bite of the cherry and there isn't anyone choosing opponents, which a lot of people are having trouble understanding.

remember the top 5 semi's. the minor prems would have the 1st week off 2nd vs 3rd, 4th vs 5th

my biggest issue with the new system is that even if Leeds and Saints win this weekend, they then can lose to the same teams in 2 weeks and miss out on the final. There is no real benefit to finishing higher up the league.

Except that the top four get two chances, the winners in the first week from the top four get a week off, and those finishing higher in the league play at home. No benefit at all, really.

It could end up with Leeds choosing HKR again and Saints having to play Hudds again in games g and h (i.e. a repeat of the first week matches) with the winners to the Grand Final!!!!

Week 1
a) Leeds v HKR
b) Saints v Hudds
c) Wakey v Catalans
d) Wigan v Cas

Week 2
e) Hudds v Wigan
f) HKR v Wakey

Week 3
g) Leeds v HKR
h) Saints v Hudds

GF - Leeds v Saints

I thought they were not allowed to chose the team they have already played or is it that they cannot pick the other winner in WK1?

the top ranked team in the semi cannot choose the 2nd rank team in the semi - i.e. the other winner from week 1.

IMO Leeds will have the choice of playing Saints or Hull KR in the semi final - and will choose to play Saints, leaving Hull KR and Hudds to battle it out for the other GF spot.

It says that Highest ranked winner from matches a / b can choose a team of their choice from the winners of e / f. The lowest ranked winner of a / b plays the other winner from e / f.

So if Leeds and Saints both win and Hudds and HKR win their second games, Leeds could choose to play HKR again leaving Saints to play Hudds again.

Explained totally different on Boots n All though