They don't have to agree, but fact is champions are decided by the grand final, and if some people don't like it, that's tough. Because the day The RFL go back to first past the post and scrap the grand final, will be the end of RL.

Wasn't aware anyone was poring scorn, but the fact is cas fans seem to want the rules changing to suit them, and suddenly want to be declared champions and been singing championies and their coach declaring that the LLS is more important than the GF.
Plus it was only about a month ago cas fans wanted the LLS after the 23 rounds not after the super 8's

Cas fans are so jealous and bitter themselves and have such an inferiority complex that even when they have won a trophy they still have to have a op at Leeds and like to play the victim and the little old town violin, even sky got in on it with the town of only 40k complete petly forgetting the Castleford catchment area included pontefract normanton knottingley allerton bywater kippax and is around 150k

Oh by the way we don't dine out on the treble we dine out on our dominance of the grand final era.

Wigan are still reigning champions and will be until they either fail to make top 4 or get knocked out in the semis.

Cas are the leader's shield winners and have been rewarded for that and the benefits that honour that brings.

Cas have been a beacon of how to play the game.

One home tie to get to the BIG ONE.

Up to Cas now to complete the task....

I certainly don't want the rules changing, and I haven't seen many Cas fans who do.
Powell's point was that the team finishing top has demonstrated consistency over the season as a whole. I don't think there is much of an argument against that.
This trophy has signifance for Cas as it's the first one we have won in the SL era (and indeed the first time we have finished at the top of the league).
The first of every trophy goes down in the history of a club.

Yeah, but that doesn't mean it's a bigger achievement, just because that's the way it is.

Cause it does, the grand final is the biggest prize and the hardest to win. That's when the pressure is on the most.

Totally agree with this as I've had to do the same thing plenty of times.

Cas need to make sure they don't end being Hudds and/or Wire.

Edited for accuracy

Cas fans could be in for a treat depending on who finishes 4th and pays them a little visit for the semi-final. They must be praying Wakefield cling on to 4th

Yeah - prefer Wakey - they will bring more support than Wigan or Saints. Watching Saints last night though and I don't think there is too much to fear.

Being a Cas supporter, I will be pessimistic whoever we play.
Wakefield - how they would love to get to the GF ahead of us.
Saints - the only team to win at the Jungle this year.
Hull FC - we really struggle against their size.
Wigan - often pull it out in big games.

In reality, I see the semi final and Grand Final as 50-50 games. I reckon anyone who finishes in the top 4 has 25% chance of winning the GF.

What I didn't know was that the team finishing top chooses when to play the semi. Cas have elected to play on the Thursday night to give an extra day's rest IF we win the semi.

I think you will find that cas in 86 had to go to Wigan in the quarters...a Wigan side full of international players,a Wigan side that probably was one of the best Wigan team in the last 30 years.
Easy run in, eh ?

We (Tigers) get massive criticism for playing "we are the Champions" for finishing top of the pile, a first in our 91 years history and yet last night it's OK for Rhino's to play "Jerusalem" to a stand.



Rugby League - the only sport in the UK that shuns good news stories.

Oh come off it you know it was a stupid thing to say. We all signed up for the same deal did we not, you can't move the goal posts to suit yourselves. It's a fabulous effort I can only dream but it's by far the lesser as it stands.

Had cas finished second but then went on to win the GF would you or your best mate DP be arguing the same way errr no.

The GF winners end up as SL winners end of, didn't matter what anyone thinks.

Best way for Cas and Powell to make the point is to crack on and win the GF. That will shut the elitists on here up once and for all. I think you're more than capable.

Spot on. I remember after the 2015 season ended Lee Radford said that the points should be set back to zero at the start of the 8's (when Hull started in 7th place)......didn't see him say the same thing last year or this when they've entered the 8's in 1st and 3rd place respectively.

Yup it's annoying.

It's like the bottom four, some teams were just a game off being top eight. Do we give them extra points for artistic impression? No they have to slog it out with teams who have clearly been far worse than them all season. Never seen Powell or Radford complain about that.

Look at the Grand Final Trophy as "Sky's" cup. I'd love to win it as it's perceived as the pinnacle of the our sport but that is all it is - another hoop to jump through designed to thrill the TV audiences by our paymasters.

who are you trying to kid. None of this nonsense would be coming out if you'd have won a GF from outside 1st place.

Maybe they should get rid of the NRL GF, the Super Bowl and other American playoff series, the playoffs in league football, only allow Chanpions actually play in the Champions League and not 4th placed team, only allow teams that finish top of the group qualify to the knockout stages of World Cups and Euros.

In RU only once in the last 5 years has the team finishing 1st been crowned champions after the playoffs. They manage it just fine without all this whinging and apparent damage it does to the sport.

If Cas don't win the Grand final they can take comfort in being remarkably consistent throughout the season and having been rewarded for it.

If one of the usual suspects wins it could you argue their players have taken things easy at some parts of the season?, not a problem with me but after the euphoria of winning the whole thing could fans ask "why didn't we play like that more often"?

You would feel short changed.

Deary me that's poor - maybe Cas should notify the RFL that they don't rate the GF and don't want to be involved next year. Give those who do a chance

It a flaw with a play off system that's true - personally I'm not a fan.

My argument though is that's what we all signed up for which like it or not makes the LLS no more than a footnote.

Nobody wants to see the smug smile knocked off the faces of Wigan, Leeds and Saints fans and I don't really care who does it - but trying to shift the goal posts fools nobody IMHO.

I didn't state getting rid of the GF - it's here to stay and I would love us to win it. I just think the hardest part is finishing top after 30 rounds.

Question - After the Stones Bitter Championship, you were champions for finishing top, then we had a 8 team play-off for Old Trafford. Win that and you were Premiership winners. Other than the wording, what has changed ?

What's changed is who are considered to be champions for that season. Back then it was whoever finished top. Now it's who wins the Grand Final.

Also it's not really Sky's trophy. We of course had a playoff system to decide the champions well before TV even existed never mind Sky.

No one cares about the hubcap. Even the players looked embarrassed celebrating.

Regards

King James

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