This system seems to be a bit Marmite for some. You either love it or hate it. Personally, I've really enjoyed it. It's been different and brought a lot of interest from a neutral point of view than ever before. Here's my positives:

It's brought a lot of interest in the league earlier in the season. I've never been so interested in League positions by July! The split was such a big deal to clubs around the area. In years gone by, July wasn't too significant a time.

The Qualifiers have been a great series to watch, even if the results have been pretty expected in the most. You have to say, Leigh have spectacularly failed in them and will learn a lot from it (they'd be confirmed if it wasn't for their collapse at against Rovers and the close defeat against Wakefield). The Championship clubs have had, in the main, a good effort against them and will learn a lot from the experience for next year.

The tussle for the top spot has been great in many years, but having a direct knock out to Old Trafford takes away the faff and gets right down to business.

The disappointment for me is that, once the split happens, there's not much chance in getting into the top 4 for a few clubs (and this year in particular, it has been settled fairly quickly). Resetting the points isn't an option as it makes the first 23 rounds almost meaningless to many (even worse). However, the great thing about The Qualifiers is that it's basically a new competition (whereas the Super 8 is a continuation of an almost settled competition).

I'd personally like to see us work towards an end of year competition for the Super 8 independent of the SL. We don't have the clubs for a European Cup like other sports, so it would either have to involve NRL.
I'd love to see the Top 4 playoffs straight after the split and then a World Club Series straight after, but we know that'll never happen!

But maybe they might go for extending their playoffs and including 4 SL clubs. We could have a World Club Qualifiers series after SL then and thus a new competition starting from zero for the top 8? (Would probably need to be 2 groups to reduce fixtures).

I think it's worked very well. The top 4 isn't even decided with 1 round to go, the middle 8's are a bit of a free for all, the games are more exciting to watch, etc.

The only thing I would change is I would move the signing deadline way way back. Wakefield effectively bought an new team before the business end started which put them at a significant advantage to clubs in the Championship.

I forgot to mention the signing deadline. Yeah, that definitely needs addressing.

Really enjoyed the whole season, the Qualifyers have been reasonably close, certainly not the blow outs predicted by some, the Super8s have again not seen clubs throwing in the towel as predicted , so yes the signing of players needs a deadline of some sort, but other than that, bring it on again next year

Yeah, agree with all of that.

It would be lovely to have a mini-comp with the Aussies, but unfortunately the insular NRL just won't be interested. As long as they have their precious Origin, they think that's the be all and end all.

I think it's worked really well. I'm not sure how you can make it so that absolutely every single match matters for every team right the way through the season. I think there's a massive responsibility on teams to try and position themselves so that they aren't too far adrift at the end of the normal season. This is sport after all and I think we're bordering on molly coddling if we're trying to do our best to ensure that things remain interesting for teams that aren't looking to do that for themselves.
From a personal point of view and aware that I'm in danger of sounding patronising (which isn't my intention) the qualifiers have been pretty excellent. Even though we are theoretically sage there is still a level of nerves around the place and that was definitely the case on the drive over to Wakefield last week. I think the million pound game will possibly be as interesting if not a little more so than the GF because for many fans of teams not involved the thought of watching the same teams playing each other in the same finals is getting a teeny bit stale now. Hudds getting there would make it more interesting obviously.
I would definitely move the transfer deadline for the same season back to make it fairer.

All in all I think it's been pretty good. I've been incredibly (almost hysterical at times) critical of the RFL in the past but credit where credit is due. This has been another case of the game of RL moving forwards in the right direction.

You'll always get some people complaining no matter what the system is, but for me this has been a successful first season and so hope the RFL stick with it. Top 4 battle is as good as it gets, all 4 within a point going into the last game.

I also think its right that only the top 4 can make the grand final, because if a team from below goes on a good run in the old playoff system (Leeds) and get to OT, it's more of a cup run that's got them there rather than league performance over the season. The current system eliminates the opportunity to coast at points during the season and only turn it up at the back end when it matters.

The fact that Hull Catalans and Warrington have been out of the top 4 run in for a while isn't an issue for me. It's just the way it is, they weren't good enough before the split to challenge for the top 4 and they knew before the season that they'd need to be close to have a chance. I would hope that in future years the top 8 will be a lot more bunched come the split and make it even more interesting.

As for the qualifiers, a success I believe. ots good to expose championship clubs to the intensity of playing SL clubs. It can only help them going into next years series should they get there again. The games have largely been close, and there's still interest in who will be in the 4V5 game.

Transfer deadline needs changing as mentioned already, other than that stick with the system it will only improve I reckon.

If it keeps affecting the crowds i can see some clubs seeking some tweeking to the format. Thursdays don't help and neither do dead rubbers. Only leeds and wigan seem to be able to report healthy crowds in the top 8

Thursday were here last year though and would remain under a different system because Sky want them.

I think in terms of crowds you have to give it a few years. The old system drove some away over a number of years, you weren't going to get them back straight away in a single year by just introducing a new format. People will have needed to see it in action first before being attracted back, especially considering many had doubts about this new system at the start of the year.

It's not needed.

We have a great first 23 rounds then for some reason we extend the season for another 7 games plus semis and GF so we have 10 weeks after the split and the excitement dies out especially when half the games have no meaning.

A much easier and simpler to market would be an intense 23 rounds with a top 6 play off series with straight knockout games. No 2nd chances or club calls. Maybe 2 leg quarters and semis to add a few more games and drama

i know thursdays were here last season, if it starts hitting clubs financially they will look at something else to try and get the crowds back, people wont pay for meaningless games


personally i wasnt a fan of the concept when it was first announced and nothing has convinced me to change my mind yet

No they didn't.

HTH.

There are a few things that need addressing. Much as Derek lives up to his name- he has a point about the cap. Those from the championship aren't going to be able to compete, they may win the odd game but can't sustain that over all the qualifying rounds.
Imagine if we said to hull KR, Widnes, Salford and wakey-
right, well done lads up you go back into superleague- oh but you can only spend 1 million on players whilst the other 8 teams in the competition are going to spend 1.82illion. Is that ok?????

That reason is money. 11 home games isn't enough for one season.


It's a fair comment. It doesn't apply to all, and ironically I've enjoyed Hull's Super 8 games far more than the regular season game despite knowing we've no chance in making the top four, but I can see why some wouldn't be attracted to them.


Doesn't solve the money problem of only having 11 home games to make money from. Clubs need money.

I'd like to see the play offs and GF at the start of August, straight after the split. Move the CCF back to May and try MW at start of season again.
After the GF, two groups of 4 (with one cross group game) to play 4 games. Expand the NRL playoffs to 12 teams. Straight knock out.
Top 2 NRL and top of each group to come in at quarter final stage. Others to come in round before. SL teams to play away no matter what (for now).

The money is in the NRL at the moment. We need to get a part of that in some way I reckon. They'd increase their TV value over here if it had more to do with the British game and that would help us gain from it.

It's been a great year of Rl.

Some great matches, I agree we are rewarding mediocrity to start going much below the top 4.

Warrington had enough money to sign sandow at the end of the season. If they spent it earlier they may have been in with a shout.

For me.the signing deadline needs moving to maybe 4 weeks before the split.

1 point between the top 4. No clubs going bust this year. Next year's attendance and season ticket figures will be a.good reflection of whether the public have bought into the concept.

I think it's worked well. The top and bottom have been exciting and there is still all to play for with 1 round remaining. OK the mid table teams don't have anything to play for but that's their problem, not the system.

Anyone who thinks every team will have something to play for in the last round in every season is deluded. It's impossible to do.

Still a few issues to iron out, the transfer/signing deadline needs to be brought forward. I'd like to see the salary cap raised for the championship clubs (but try and put in some safeguarding options to avoid boom & bust if possible)

But i think it's worked well and i wasn't a fan of it when it was announced.

Change the points scoring system in the super 8s.
3 points for a win would mean it is more possible for teams outside the top four to catch those in the top four IF they can perform well enough in the super 8s.

I like this idea.

There has to be aa fighting chance for teams below the top 4 to make the semi finals.

Does anyone think we may get a season where we have a team finish 8th who mathematically can't even reach the top 4.

That will be real bad.

Why does there have to be a chance for 5-8th to make the finals? They know at the start of the season how the structure works, if they are too far behind after 23 rounds they have to deal with it, we shouldn't bend the structure in their favour. reward the best teams for being the best teams and its up to the ones in the group behind them to improve and give themselves a chance rather than rely on the structure to help them.

Problem some teams have is mindset.

We need to be in the top 8 after 23 Rounds
Then
We need to be in the top 4 after 30 Rounds

If they take the approach that they should be in (or as close as possible to) the Top 4 throughout the year then maybe they wouldn't find themselves so far adrift come the Super 8.

Look at Hull for example. Throughout the season it seemed their focus was just trying to stay ahead of HKR and Widnes.....not keeping on the coat tails of Wigan, Hudds etc. That is their failure, not the system.

40 points looks like the target you need to achieve to be a Top 4 team. Target that at the start of the season.

But what do the clubs who don't make the top 6 do from July onwards? Surely they cannot have a seven month off-season?!

I really like the new system. I think it's been a great season so far. I can't remember a more intense regular season for a long time. Four teams have a possibility of topping the table going into the final regular season round. With bigger prize money than ever before for finishing top and for each place higher in the table you finish, a chance for the top two to have home advantage in the semis, plus Wire and Cas are going to want to finish the season on a high and scupper a home semi game for their opposition without either team actually having a chance themselves.

It all still shows that games aren't meaningless for almost all teams even in the final week, also that there've only been a handful of "meaningless" games (even with teams who couldn't make the top 4 they were still playing teams who could most weeks so all those games had something big riding on them, only really games like Wire v Catalans yesterday that really had nowt riding on them) where in seasons past teams have cruised through a whole regular season and still knew they'd make the Play-offs and string a few wins together with a fresh squad and you could get second chances if you lost as well.

There was a huge lack of jeopardy. Now you have to do well most weeks to have a chance and the no second chance of the Play-offs is going to be intense and making the GF more of a prize than ever before as it's never been harder to get there because as Cas Wire Catalans and Hull have experienced this season, every minute has mattered to make sure you're in with that shout and none of us are.

But they'll also be relieved that there's no chance of getting relegated. A team could finish 9th on points difference and then go down with a terrible run of form or an unprecedented amount of injuries and see themselves finish 6th in the Qualifiers and be in the Championship the year after. I'm sure a club would rather have nowt to play for in the Super 8s than have hat threat.

Speaking to Fax fans last week before and after the game and to a man they were unanimous that despite the fact theyd lost every game up to then ( and expected to lose to us ) theyd enjoyed the structure