In all honesty the only big team that has changed tactics for this year has been Leeds who have bought into the new system by going out to win all they can instead of being content to sit on the rails as in previous years. Saints & Wigan have done their usual inter club rivalry by striving to finish each above their rival. Cas & Huddersfield should be commended for their efforts this season & with better away form Catalans could have also finished the normal season better. Warrington have totally not been ready for this season for whatever reason & maybe apart from the CC it has to be a write off with ,hopefully , a return to more consistency next year.

As mentioned earlier in the thread.

We're deservedly where we are. Turning up for the big games really doesn't cut it and the team and Smith have been found wanting badly. Yes we've had injuries, but so have many other teams.

Horrendous home performances against Huddersfield, Cas and Hull have quite rightly bitten us on the derriere.

We may have Wembley to look forward to, That would at least keep the team focused till end of August

If we don't I fear quite a few drubbings for this team with nothing to play fo

Wembley must be almost sole focus for us now.

If Wigan beat FC, we're secured 6th.

If we beat Cas we'll be 4 points from Hudds in 4th, fingers and toes crossed that Wakey do the unthinkable and beat Hudds, meaning we're only 2 points away from Hudds.

In 6th, we'll play:

Home - FC, Cats, Wigan
Away - Leeds, Saints, Hudds, Cas.

Given the likely results this weekend, to get 4th this must happen:

- Hudds get 4 points or less
- Cas get 6 points or less
- We have to beat Cats, Hudds, FC, Cas and atleast one of Leeds, Saints or Wigan.

Not impossible, but highly improbable.

If we are 4 points behind Cas and Huddersfield and beat therm both in the Super 8s, then we are only two points behind each of them. Who plays Catalan home and away might have a big bearing. Also, Wigan are currently due to be home to Cas and Hudds and away to us. Another two point move there. See, it is quite easy to imagine us making it to fourth.

Most of this thread is typical, knee jerk Neanderthal reaction of rugby league fans.

I honestly think if we have a shot at the 4, it'll be at the expense of Pies. Huddersfield IMO at better than them.

I see it as this:

Best case scenario: we beat Cas, Wakey beat Hudds - 2 points off 4th.

Middle: we beat Cas, Hudds beat Wakey - 4 points off 4th

Worst: Cas beat us, Hudds beat Wakey - 6 points off 4th

The real problem with the worst case scenario is that it will take two clubs above us to completely implode

I haven't watched either side recently but if we can atleast instigate the middle scenario and put pressure on them, they'll likely buckle.

Exactly, the real difference between 4 and 6 points isn't just the 2 points.....I think, especially as we will play both teams and they play each other.

We need to 'start' the play offs with a win against Cas next game

Instead of blaming the system, we need to blame ourselves. None of this would be being said if we were in the top 4, and it's only our fault that we aren't.

This season we haven't been good enough, we need to accept that as a fact rather than just blame the system.

We haven't been good at all this year and some could argue we're lucky to make the 8, but we should take that as a blessing and take 4th anyway, just to annoy everyone else!

They could go 3 points for a win in the Super 8s, that would liven things up a bit

I quite like the fourth v fifth jeopardy game mentioned previously by RD, especially given our current points deficit and my clutching at straws mentality

Thanks.

What it does is actually make almost every game count.
Split in to top 4 and bottom 4, each top 4 team must play to win to avoid the extra 8th game with no week off, which all the top 3 will then receive.
The bottom 4, well I don't need to explain, once again almost every game matters to be 5th to play double jeopardy to stay in the comp.

Because of your support, I just emailed the rfl with the idea.
Thanks again.

Yep!!! You're spot on.

Totally agree with what's been said earlier that it's our own fault that we find ourselves in this position. However we are going to have the situation every season where nearly half of the teams in the top 8 have virtually no chance of getting into the top 4. I can you imagine the crowds dropping off for the last few games. "every minute counts" well possibly not our last 3 games!

I almost find myself wishing we finished in the bottom 4 for some cracking life or death games against Widnes, Leigh, Bradford, HKR, Salford etc.

How about at the end of the regular season, the points are wiped clean and 1st place starts off on 8 points, 2nd on 6, 3rd on 4, 4th on 2. The rest on zero. Or perhaps 3 points for a win by 12 points or more.

Wire may as well put all their eggs in one basket and concentrate on the Challenge Cup were you have more than a realistic chance.

Getting to, and winning, the Grand Final is well out of reach.

Next season will have to be 'your year' instead.

Quite possibly not FB but I never really looked into. I gave the format time like everyone else. It's vela now that it is flawed. Keep the 5,6,7 and 8th in with a shout and the play off is still alive for almost every game matters. The elite 4 trying to avoid 4th spot and the bottom half scrambling to stay alive at 5th.

This idea is not an excuse to cut ourself back in because of our failings, I totally blame ourselves for not making the 4, but that doesn't take away the fact that every season there after there is always going to be 4 that miss out on the elite unless it's addressed.

That is exactly why Leeds ,Saints & Wigan have gone all out to finish in the best positions & why Cas & Huddersfield have had the brass neck to finish higher than us in the league. They all read & understood the new rules.

I do think the best way to restore some competition in the 8 though is to scrap all the points after next weekends fixtures ,pay the league leaders, & a straight knock out 1v 8 etc with no second chances.

That is then the Old Premiership format.
I've no problem with that.

Thought it sounded familiar, sometimes the old ones are the best.

elite [inoun[/i a select group that is superior in terms of ability or qualities to the rest of a group

How many teams should be in the 'elite' though???

The best four teams should be in the play-offs, if teams are too far behind before the split, which leads to 'meaningless' matches after it, so be it. Wire will finish with either a 12-11 or 11-12 record - if they can make up the points difference to the top 4 in the remaining games, fair enough, if they can't, well, that's tough tits, frankly.

Thanks for the English lesson.
I differ in opinion to the format, but I respect your stance.