The basic premise of the thread - that there's no intesnity to games, which are being played as dead rubbers - is frankly ludicrous.

Look at the Bulls. Do you think they are near the foot of the table because they're not trying? How bloody stupid! And we've had some cracking, close games on Sky. What have you been watching?

I agree that 8 teams in the playoffs is too many, it is a blatant atempt to inject some interest for clubs and fans in the bottom half. Several of which would already have nothing but pride to play for.

But the dottiest thing of all - someone who claims to want to see intensity in games, at the same time wanting to scrap one of the two comps which provides as much intensity as we get!

Weird.

The fact that FC are in the play offs so far despite losing more games then winning just shows that a top 8 was a bad idea.

We should be nowhere near the play offs the way we are playing.

If you'd been playing as you are now throughout you wouldn't be. And if you continue to play this way you probably won't be sooner rather than later.

It's funny how a Saints fan wants to scrap the playoffs, it's similar to Wigan not wanting a salary cap.

I've said several times through the thread that scrapping them probably isn't the best idea, but that they need to be changed.

The games I've watched this season have largely been painful, low intensity trots with no real desperation from the sides involved. I'm not suggesting there hasn't been the odd good game, but on the whole the product, certainly on Sky, has been terrible in comparison with previous seasons.

I think the number of games should be cut in order to make the games more meaningful. This would raise the energy levels of the players and mean each game was 'bigger' in terms of its impact on the final standings.

Perhaps you should change your team then. None of the games I've watched this season match that description

this is because of no relegation of course.

Of the 120+ games so far this season can anyone name say 4 classic games so far, personally I can only recall 2 games up to the mark.

Even the superleague show is poor now, they show the "highlights" with 50% of the trys kicks to the corners.

We don,t see much skill on show, I think our friend "Glorious" is perhaps right after all.

to be fair, Leeds are 2nd and we should be nowhere near the playoffs the way we have been playing!

Though that has nothing to do with the playoff systems, but more to do with the lowest common denominator chasing of the rfl,

If we had 10 teams playing the rugby of big 6 were 4 or 5 years ago then whatever playoff system we used we would have close, intense games all the time, but whilst we are allowing spoiling tactics to keep games close, and allowing weaker teams to win games through slow play and the lottery of penalties at the ptb have such a huge impact we will see "workmanlike" triumph over skill,

Let's look at the reasons the weaker teams aren't producing quality players, not change the game to try and cover for it

This is exactly what a lot of supporters, past players are saying, because the way games are orchestrated the weaker teams have been given a better chance of triumph....but the RFL will try to convince us its all levelled out because of the Salary cap.

The slowing down at the p-o-t-b and the refs making sure everyone is in place on penalties eliminating the quick tap which could sometimes if the teams were not paying attention result in a try. Is a backward step for me and i don't understand the reason for changing it.

Another thing im seeing is carbon copy tactics. All the teams just seem to be the same. 5 drives and a kick rugby with whoever has the dominant pack wins.

The playoffs should be reduced to 5 teams too, 8 is far to many and rewards mediocrity.

We've played like this all season and last season for that matter.

Think it shows the lack of consistant quality throughout SL, we wouldn't have won a game in the NRL this year.

The only games I can think of worthy of quality were:

Leeds v St Helens and Leeds v Catalans

I,m struggling to find anymore.

KR v Wire in CC

I'll take entertainment over technical quality any day. It's why I've always preferred watching the English Premier League over Serie A.

The difference is that when a Premier League side play an Italian team it could go either way.
When we play Australia or NZ we usually know how it's going to end.

When England football play somebody good we usually know how it's going to end.

Making it the top 8 is a replacement for relegation. Just a poor one.

As a very rough idea from the top of my head, would it be worth reverting the playoff system competing for the SL title to the top 5 and then establishing a second playoff series for the also-rans for positions 6 – 10.

This could be for the SL Shield (for want of a better title) and whilst not as desirable and being in the actual playoffs proper, it keeps the competition interesting for the teams outside the top 5 whilst also exposing other teams to a little bit of intensity that perhaps they would not ordinarily experience in the regular season.

Think of it as a similar system to the qualification requirements to the Champions League and the Europa League in football.

This ensures that no matter how unlikely, a team perhaps finishing with more losses then victories will never have the chance to be crowned champions.

I'd go one further.....lets get rid of the ball.

No it doesn't - in any league system it is possible (though improbable) to finish second (or any position below first) with more losses than victories. Even the team finishing top could only have the same number of victories as losses (if all the teams finished that way).

Are you Kevin Penny's agent?

Having worked hard all season , fonished top of the table , which shows you are true champions . Then lose it to the Rhinos , well i think that makes a mockery of the season really .
And this is not sour grapes to any Rhinos fans out there ! . There are a great talented side . But how can they be crowned champions , when we finished top of the table , after working hard all season to get there , and then not allowed to be called champions .

Scrap the playoffs ? ... Too right , the sooner the better .