Old top 5 system was better than the current top 8 arrangement, largely because the team finishing top went straight to the final if they won their first game.

Regardless of this though, I wonder if all this bleating would have occurred had Warrington ever managed to win the play-offs from a similarly low position as Leeds just have done.

Again, check back on this forum, we've been having this debate since the shocking attendances in week one of the play-offs.

And how the hell do you justify playing the 8th placed team from 5th in week one, when fourth play top. This doesn't take into account my feelings for Wire, that is massively unfair on Huddersfield. You get a nice warm-up game before you play them the week after them gettin demoralised.

We did it in 1986 from 4th, though I don't think we had the temerity to suggest we were better than the true champions, Halifax, even though we'd battered them in a play-off final....

Lucky that internet messageboards weren't around back then...

According to Stevo after last nights game. If you don't agree with the playoffs the way Sky have manufactured it you don't love the game like he does.

Pretty sure he's a Leeds fan

Wow, the debate has been raging for a whole 4 weeks!

The season lasts 8mths, can you honestly tell me this was a problem back in february?

We all know the rules when the season starts.

And who cares if football fans think us being champs is a joke? Football, the sport, the players, the fans and the finances are one of the biggest jokes in this country.

Yes it's been a problem since the play-offs invited 8 teams to play in them. Rewarding mediocrity from day one of the season. During the season we'd talk about results week to week, sometimes atmosphere, the league table. For 6months nobody gives one about the play-offs. When the play-offs come around we'd talk about the play-offs because it's the current topic as it's happening (or just happened) now.

Nobody is currently talking about the Challenge Cup because it's not that time of the season but there really shouldn't be a huge gap between the quarters and the semi's REALLY shouldn't be just three weeks before the final. Every year when the summer comes around I say this. The topic goes away as the time moves on but it doesn't mean I still don't think it.

Millneium Tragic is a joke. It's massively unfair on some clubs who have to play harder games than others yet the points count towards the league table. The attendances are embarrassing and the stadium is far to f*ck*ng big. I would personally love to see that whole weekend binned-off as I don't think it's good for Super League. The topic goes away as the time moves on but it doesn't mean I still don't think it.

Just like the play-offs; the curret set-up is wrong. And that's true whether I talk about it 365 days a year or never.

Well unfortunately you dont make the rules, so we just have to lump it.

At the end of the day, Leeds Rhinos play to win, they began the season with the task of finishing first knowing that would make them the best over the weekly rounds and the best chance of making the GF.

We lost some games as did everyone, we got on with it, made the CC final, made the playoffs, made the GF and became SL champions.

Magic wknd is just another game, its over and done with in round one, move on.

So if the playoffs are currently the debatable subject then I suggest if Wire and wig had made the final there wouldnt have been an issue about a team from 8th winning for obvious reasons.

Maybe we could win from 8th next year? Eddie and stevo would love it

Not interested in Leeds, this is a question as to how you would change it instead of just moaning.

This isn't some injustice thread or Leeds didn't deserve it thread.
The main reason people haven't been talking about the p.ayoffs [sicis that it wasn't relevent, it wasn't the a topic that needed to be brought up, people have said in the past they don't like it, do we really need insecure Leeds fans coming on and arguing the point.

Insecure?

A person who is insecure lacks confidence in their own value, and one or more of their capabilities, lacks trust in themselves or others, or has fears that a present positive state is temporary, and will let them down and cause them loss or distress by "going wrong" in the future. This is a common trait, which only differs in degree between people.

Pretty much sums up warringtons end to the season

Leeds insecurity stems from them winning it and having to do a little self relection, no serious Leeds fan thought they'd win the GF 3 weeks ago, they have won it and they are rightly happy and now feel the need to defend it rather than just be, that need to defend your win shows your insecurity.

I class myself as quite a serious Leeds fan who believes Leeds will win every game they play! Any other way of thinking and whats the point?

So all the fans who didnt think we would win the GF 3 weeks ago will have been singing, celebrating etc sat nite but were not all doubters and Im definately not insecure about Leeds winning the Grand Final from 5th.

It doesn't get much debate space in February because it (grand final) doesn't take place in February.
Yes we do know the rules before the season starts and ultimately we all want our team to finish top of the table come september.
If they do it means they've been the best team over an eight month period and not crowned 'champions' for winning 3/4 games on the trot.
Can you hand on heart honestly say that your team are worthy of a 'champions' title after finishing 5th out of 14 teams.

Yes because thats the competion and rules we play to, which begins in Feb and ends in Oct.

Would you have put your mortgage on it 3 weeks ago, Wire and Wigan fans may have done, a few Saints fans possibly but Leeds fans thought they were on their way out whe faced with a top3 side, i have no issue btw with you winning, well done.

I don't have an issue with leeds winning the play off. They played for and got in my opinion and well done to them.
We did it back in 1986 when finished 5th (if i remember correctly) but didn't think of us as 'champions'

And I wish we had won from 8th because until the RFL change the rules then its a possibility.

Exactly. 2 seasons ago when TS took us to wembley and we won the CC, we missed out on a top 8 place by a whisker.
The way we were playing ..... who knows lol

I wouldnt put my mortgage on alot of things but that doesnt mean I dont believe we'll succeed.

Ive paid my money, ive turned out week in week out, for me the competion is unpredictability, this season the predictable turned into the most unpredictable.

I did a comp at the beginning of the season, put Leeds vs Saints in the GF with Leeds winning, so for me we were always gonna win no matter where we finished in the top 8!

"Its been emotional", Vinny Jones - Lock Stock & 2 Smoking Barrels

We should have picked Wigan in the call end off and this thread and a lot of others would have never happened. Pick an in form team just cos they finished below the others easy option. Pick a team on it's 5 day turn around.

Based on discussions with some of the rugby media at the championship playoffs, the RFL dont think its good for the reputation of the game that neither top 2 sides got to OT........................so "watch this space".

IMHO
The league should get better recognition and scrap MM.....its all team home and away.

End of season playoffs is different comp (just like the premiership) and should be top 6

week 1 ---- 3 v 6
4 v 5
week 2 ---- 1 v 2 winners to OT
winners of week one games play each other, highest placed side at home
week 3 loser of 1v2 plays winner of other week two game at home

Greater reward for being the best teams all season. And does away with the club call nonsense (although still trying to find out if anybody has coub-called a team that was NOT the lower ranked team they could have chosen)

It aint sour grapes to complain about the format. Many spectators have been doing it since the top 8 came in and also since SL (well SKY really) decided that the league winners were not the league champions.

Its not rocket science to see that league and play-offs are 2 completely different comps. How can you call a team that finishes 5th and 13 points behind league CHAMPIONS! The champions of super league, confused? ditto.

Its quite simple really, dont know why your confused? Do ya not watch Superleague?

I don't mean to be rude but why have you lifted your head above the trenches on this thread.

I assume it is to test some new bait. The fact is a lot of people are happy for Leeds, although dismayed and a little embarrassed at the circumstances involved.

I thought Leeds played very Wireesque in the first and final 20 or so mins and I congratulate the team on being better in the playoffs than everyone else. However, Leeds are hardly the best team in the competition this year. I can name 4 teams (according to the league) which performed a lot better.

It is a bit like the scrawny kid going round thinking he's the bee's knees after the school bully has seizure while beating him up.

If we look at this realistically (and the history books will not) but Leeds had one good game where they dominated in the playoffs (and infuriatingly it was against Wire- who didn't turn up and aren't use to playoff footy) Saints were dominating Leeds on Saturday until Wellens and Shenton were forced off; after that it was a formality.

Well done on winning the 'big one' but i am perfectly content with watching Wire tear every team, next year, a new bum; just like this year.

top 4 play off i.e 1 v 4 and 2 v 3 play it over 2 legs