What do people think, now that we have had two full seasons of it? IMO:

Positives
- League games feel more important than under the top 8 play offs. As top 4 is a tougher challenge, and the consequences of bottom 4 are severe.
- More games against opposition at a similar level is better for the fans and players.
- The middle 8s provide some of the most exciting games of the year, and IMO will improve the quality of the top Championship clubs by regularly exposing them to SL opposition.
- Whilst it does feel a bit barbaric, the MPG is a highlight of the season.
- Simplified play offs which have clear importance. Win the game and you're in the final.

Negatives
- The Super 8 tends to be a bit of a foregone conclusion with only 5 clubs standing any chance of making the top 4 by the time of the split.
- We have yet to see whether clubs are able to cope with P+R. I don't know enough about Bradford's situation but have seen it mentioned that at least part of the issue was gambling on income from making the middle 8s.
- Attendances for the 8s phase don't seem to be great. Possibly due to lack of notice?
- Not sure whether it's just Wigan but I think the demands of the system seem to have increased the number of injuries.

I like it overall, I'd like to see them increase the points on offer for the Super 8 to keep things interesting but can see why that wouldn't be popular.

I think we've learned a lot from it and it has been worthwhile. But u don't think it's the final answer.

More games between SL and Championship is great TV as it offers variety. But 7 games is too much to organise. I'd prefer just an expansion of the playoffs to include SL and Championship clubs.

"Whilst it does feel a bit barbaric, the MPG"
BIT!!!!!
I NEVER want to experience it again; my team won.
And as it being a highlight ....

I'll probably better shot down and called bad loser by wire fans but the LL Shield should be aware design after 23 rounds, home and Away games v all teams

The top 8 fixtures after the 23 rounds are play off gameso leading up to the top 4 play off

An extra 7 games shouldn't decide the LLS unless echo team played each other home and away

For me, the middle 8's are a hit! They have produced drama, suspense, surprises and exciting rugby. My team have been in the MPG once; not a pleasant experience (even tho we won) but nevertheless, compelling viewing even for the neutrals.

The Super 8's and the Championship Shield seem to need some more thought; I am not sure what the answer is but they have not been inspiring competitions so far.

Ive been saying this for ages.....the LLS should be given after 23 rounds when Super League finishes. They should then rebrand the 8's as a seperate comp...

SL Premier 8's

SL Qualifier 8's etc.....

Something like that.

So do you:
A - Keep the points - in which case surely the top team after 30 games is more deserving of the LLS
B - Lose the points - in which case we have the same problem as with the previous system whereby you can get to a position where you are sure to make the 8 then relax (assuming you aren't in with a shot of 1st). Only it would be worse as at least previously there was a small incentive to finish higher up.

The LLS will always be overshadowed by the Grand Final whichever system we use.

I like our new structure.
Only thing I would change is after the split the top of the championship start with a 2 point advantage and the bottom of super league start with a minus 2 points.

I'd also scrap the million pound game and let the top 4 be safe and the bottom 4 be demoted.

I'd possibly have a small cash prize for the top of super league before the split.

I also think the magic weekend could be the first 8 games after the split and scrap our extra game now.

Years ago we had the top 8 play offs for a cup and the champs were already the champs before it started

We need to change the mindset about the MPG. If you finish 4th in the middle 8's, you have effectively finished 12th in the top division. Under any other promotion system, you're gone. It should be thought of as a second chance, not a one-off.

What is perhaps nervy about is that you could finish 9th by some distance, with no chance of being relegated, and then end up in it, as the points are wiped.

As for the Super 8's, on the whole a waste of space until the final couple of weeks. The 8th place team might as well put out the kids to give them some experience, because there is no chance of getting into the top 4. Perhaps have the old top 8 play-off system. Or a short play-off between 5th to 8th to create a top six, and then go to the top six play-off system, so the top two clubs have a chance of going straight to Old Trafford.

The 8's are loooooooooong, with huge amounts of pointless games.

Its a terrible idea, poorly executed.

exactly, there is only so much 'prestige' to go around, prioritise the LLS it takes it from the GF, prioritise the LLS you take it from the GF

The Super 8 s have been disappointing due to the gap being between 5/6 th , but next season we might see a clutch of clubs up to 7/8th , that is after all what we want/need

I'd keep it for another season to see if it develops the competition further. I don't like the idea of the MPG. Top 4 of the middle 8 should qualify for SL.

It's a decent concept so far,the middle 8s were good entertainment this year. it also gives the lower clubs a chance and something to strive for and Leigh have just shown what can be achieved with hard work. The super 8s have still to take off but i suggest we will have some seasons where it will be tight as a drum and thrilling to the last with nearly all the 8 teams involved...and others like the first two years where there were lots of dead rubbers due to the top four being sown up.

It's far better than the dull as dish water and not fit for purpose (at least not in ESL) top 8 play offs we had anyway. Lets stick with it, we never give any concept a fair crack to come good.

its somewhat ironic that thought the MPG seems to be hated (i would say feared) by quite a few fans it is becoming an event that gives the game a wider audience and profile, things that the game is always banging on about wanting, especially when it provides drama like we had this season. we get the kind of one off drama that the media focus on, hence the greater publicity for the game. in a way its car crash TV and rightly or wrongly that is what a lot of folk want

really? I didn't see much media or mention of it and it wasn't particularly well attended.

It's too nerve-wracking, I think, for the fans to enjoy. I avoided the MPG the year before for that very reason. I thought I'd just watch it on TV and give the cat a good kick at full-time.

MPG should go and the top 4 in the middle 8's are safe. I'd like to see a little more emphasis put on the LLS, maybe scrap it and call it something else with a trophy instead of the hubcap, with some financial reward for becoming 'League Champions'. Super 8's maybe could be the 'Premiership' with top starting on 7 points, moving down to 8th with 0 points. Maybe the first round should be very simple top 4 (home) against bottom 4 (away), so 1v8, 2v7 etc.. which would further reward the top 4, in theory giving them the best chance of increasing their points lead early in the competition, but with 8th going to 1st knowing that an upset could potentially put them just 1 win from 4th with 6 to play. Top 4 after the 7 rounds I think should stop as it is now. I think we have to stick with the concept, but maybe tweak it a little to keep the 'every minute matters' as achievable as possible, but still rewarding the top teams for being consistent through the season and finishing up the table. I'm sure we all have our own ideas as to how it might work a little better, this is just mine.

After the regular season the prize money will be distributed as to where you finish and the leaders will get a shield/trophy whichever,then top 4 play off in a mini league like this.... 1st plays 2nd 3rd & 4th at home. 2nd plays 1st away 3rd at home & 4th at home. 3rd plays 1st & 2nd away and 4th at home and 4th plays 1st, 2nd, & 3rd away then top 2 will be in the grand final.

5th 6th 7th & 8th will do the same and the top 2 of that mini league will play a curtain raiser before the grand final with a trophy going to the winners, and a small cash prize which would still not be more in total prize money of whoever finishes 4th in the regular season.

I rather like the middle 8s so i would leave that be.

Bad attendances. Bad tv ratings, low quality games mainly, predictable top 4-5. It was a poor idea gimmick from the start I don't know anybody or very few who liked the idea. We should have stuck to the franchise system fot at least 10 years. need to go back to 12 franchise's or if we must have P&r 1 up 1 down

Agreed

If the Champions are the GF winners, they ought to get rid of the LSS altogether, after all, it's only a consolation prize (just in case the "top" team doesn't win the GF.)

Conversely, crown the champions after 23 rounds and then have a separate competition, this might be like going back to the 80's when we had the premiership for the top 8 clubs in the old First Division



Ultimately there is no easy way to have a truly competitive top 8 competition unless you start the 8 teams on zero and its strange that a club can miss out on the top 8 on points difference and theoretically get relegated - I know it hasn't happened yet but, it's possible that this may happen in future

The super 8's should involve all of the top 8 after 30 rounds.

Just go back to the old 'Premiership' style competition

1v8
2v7 etc etc

I love the MPG. Great drama both years. Why would anyone want to get rid of it?!

Yep , sometimes you have to wonder why these people actually watch any sport , for me it's about emotion , and this creates emotion