Think it's about time in SL where the champions are only recognised as the TRUE CHAMPION TEAM by first claiming top spot in the league then backing it up by winning the GF. Could next year see a clear leader emerge?

True Champions of SL:

Saints (2) 02,06
Bulls (2) 01,03
Leeds (2) 04,09
Wigan (1) 98

No.

Next year will only complicate things as Wigan will claim their second 'true championship'

Stranger things have happened

so if team A wins the league leaders' shield and team B wins the title-deciding GF, we have no champion for that year?

The 'true' champion is the one who wins the Super League competition - ie the team who wins the grand final.

The person who finishes top of the league table stage of the competition are the league leaders.

HTH

That logic is far too simplistic for the VT. Begone, sir!

So 96' and 97' wins for Saints and Bradford don't count as Wigan won the old Premiership trophy both years?

Isn't it only soccer that doesn't use a play-off format to determine the champions in a league campaign?

The use of the 's' word implies you are talking about our American friends. If so, then yes they do

Association football then...in Europe. MLS use play-offs, yes.

Cricket's County Championship doesn't use play-offs.

The 'Undisputed Champions', if you like

...the standard word for association football in Leeds "when I were a lad" was soccer. I'm assumining that had been the case since the Victorian English came up with the word as an abbreviation for Association. Nothing American in that....

Does anyone think that, now the competition is stronger we could revert back to the table toppers being champions?

Would this is be an exciting competition bearing in mnd the number of games the tops clubs lost this season?

Or would the tops clubs simply try harder in the weekly rounds and run away with the league?

No

Yes

I thought that may be the case, but the cricket world cup does, doesn't it?

Anyway my point is that several sports use a play-off in some way, people can't say the superbowl does not work.

Why would anyone in their right mind want to get rid of the spectacle that is the Grand Final?

To find out who is the best team over 20 odd rounds?

We find that out now, the best team is the one which performs well over the weekly round but then can also perform when the major pressure is on.

That's my point, do all the teams try 100% each week to win games? ATM as long as they are in the top 8 they are happy. So currently maybe the best time in the league doesn't finish top.

If the play-off system were abolished we may now find that we can sustain a competition were "first past the post" wins the title.

I should imagine if Leeds and Saints meet again next year in the grand final the RFL will again be doing there quick fix and try doing something different.
We,ve gone from top 4 to a top 2 in 3 easy seasons so far, whilst proclaiming the salary cap is working and more competitive.

It's NEVER been a top 4, I dont know what you're smoking

Saints, Bradford, Leeds, and Wigan in that order from 1996 to 2006.

If you have only been watching the game from 2007, then you are correct.